The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-19
STEAMERS KILL HUGE WHALES.

The coast of Southern California Is pro-
tecfed, TO certain extent, by the islands
on shore The group begins at Santa
Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz. Anacapa, and
farther out To sea, thirty miles. San Nico-
las. The next following south are Santa
barbara. Santa Catalina, San Clement,
and then with "A break of seventy miles
the Coronadoes. These islands are al
most parallel TO the cost range and con-
sfitute virtually an out t-to-sea coast range
OF mountains. which IN al probability.
were thrust up at the time the coast was
formed leaving deep depression be-
tween them and the mainland.
This region Of extremely deep water is
a famous roadway of whales. says a
writer OF the Scientific American. several
kinds being found here feeding upon the
vast schools OF Jelly fishes which are
nearly always present. The whale most
common is the California gray, which
Gulf OF California to give birth to its
Young then moving north along the Cali
fornia coast, in what is virtually great
possession. AT this time the channel is
the sporting ground for the huge animals.
and nearly every steamer that crosses
sights school. the scene forming one OF
the attractions Of the trip as the whales.
far from being wild. or timid. sometimes
evince a playful mood, or melted by cur
iosity. come near the steamer, anording
the passengers near view OF the largest
OF living animals
This sociable disposition has resulted I'm
several encounters between the whales
and vessels in which the former have al
ways come OF second best. Some years
ago steamer on the trip from San
Pedro to San Francisco struck some body
supposed at first TO be a log Several or
the men were thrown TO the deck: the
wheel thrown down. and the steamer for
the moment came TO standstll. All
hands were called. the pumps SOUNDED.
and as the mate ran aft he saw a large
whale lsshing the water astern. The ves-
sci had struck IL directly back OF the
right paddle and evidently crushed IL
down, rising over IL. This whale drifted
into Santa Catalina some days later and
was towed into one OF the little bays
OF the coast where IL was cut up by the
fishermen.
During the simmer of 1900. the steamer
Hermosa killed whale of San Pedro,
which was at least eighty feet I'm length.
The steamer was plowing along at rate
OF twelve miles an hour when suddenly n
large whale rose to spout directly In
front. of her. placing itself inadvertently
across her bows, SO that the blow was
struck fairly. The shock created a sem
sation on board and the blow was 40
violent that several people were thrown
from their feet IL was snpposd that the
vessel had struck sunken rock; she
stopped for few seconds trembled. then
rose about three feet. heeling slightly.
then resumed her course, passing through
a mass of blood. which colored the water.
showing that she had plunged into. some
large animal. dead whale was sighted
two days later and for several days, on
account OF it's size, IL drifted up and
efforts of speculative fishermen 10 secure
It. Finally n heavy sea tossed IL on the
coast at the resort OF Redondo where it
was hauled in at high tide. anc when the
latter went ont left y marvellous specta-
Gle OF the remains OF one OF the largest
of living animals. Hundreds OF people
visited the spot before IT was disnember-
ed a long wound told the story OF its
contact with the steamer that was who'll
ly uninjured.
Doubtless IL the records OF shipping dis
asteIs were examined many instances
would be found where vessels had crash
cd into whales with results fatal To the
vessel. In this connection n curious in
cident may be related regarding tho ac-
tions OF school of whales az the island
OF Santa Rose. Cal The channel between
the island 81 narrow aud often extremely
rough and during storm IL was believed
by those on the island that the whales
became demoralized. as they deliberately
ran ashore, and the remarkable sight OF
five or six large whales was observed
helpless or the sands. Their bones re-
mained for long while on what became
known as the whales graveyard.