Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-03
THE BLACK ORCA
happening the Killer Whale is
Lively Sport.
NOT WITHOUT PLENTY OF DANGER
For He's a Vicious Brute and a
Fierce Fighter.
HE IS ALSO A CANNIBAL

Holder.
The orca as a sea fighter came into no.
tice upon the return one season of a whal-
ing fleet, which had wntered in the Boring
sea. One of the ships during the late fall
had secured a large whale, and the men
were engaged in towing It alongside the
ship, having 1t well in hand when sud
denly school of whales from twenty to
twenty-five feet in length charged them
The animals were jet black, with the OK
ception Of singular white patches about
the head; they had the tall dorsal fins and
moved with marvellous speed. They at
once attacked the dead whale, tearing enor-
nous pieces from it's lips and Sides leap
ing over it's submerged body with won
derful agility and continuing the attack
until the water was dyed red.
The killers were so powerful and In such
force that the men could not tow the
whale, and laid by, striking at them with
lances. In a very short time the whale
began to settle, and the whalers realized
that the ferocous orcas were actually seal
ing their property. Guns We're brought INTO
play, and several orcas killed by the expo
sive bombs, whereupon the animals turned
upon the dead bodies of their companions
and tore them in pieces, and ultimately,
despite all the efforts OF the crew, TINS
band of sea wolves carried on the Whale,
dragging 1t down out Of sight. witness
to this incident later in camping upon ore
of the islands had an opportunity to join In
an orca hunt, without doubt one OF the
most dangerous and exciting OF all pas
times.
Walrus Caught by an Orca.
The Indians of the locality had for sew
eral days been gathering, waiting for the
breaking up Of the Ice. when 1t was said
the killer whales would be found in great
numbers; that this was true was shown by
the fact that the whales were already on
the ground ravenously hungry and going
to great lengths to obtain prey. While
waiting the Indians continually patrolled
the ice pack, saying that the killer some
times came up through the Ice. This was
demonstrated one day when the men were
hunting walrus. A small herd of the latter
was discovered on the edge of an Ice lack.
The Indians were creeping upon them, &C
companied by the white hunter, who was
anxious to take one OF the animals, when,
to his amazement, up through the ice came
a huge black figure, sending 1t crashing in
every direction; two large jaws, abundantly
supplied with teeth, opened, seized small
walrus, and the two sank out of sight. The
whole appearance was only comparable to
a gigantic jack in the box, but was
graphic Illustration of the clever general
ship Of the orca, which had ceen the wal
rus lying on the ice and sinking down had
risen like a catapult. crushing through the
Ice cake, and in the confusion selling
young one and making on.
Several weeks later the ice broke up and
an off-shore wind left the harbor clear,
In and about which the spouting of orcas
could often be heard. The long-expected
hunt began early one morning, three boats
putting out, each provided with four or
five roWers, a harpooner and steerer. Once
out in the bay they took different direc-
tio IN n he
south. while the third kept to the center
or west.
happening an Orca.
mile out the orcas were sighted: first
a school of four. their high dorsal fins
standing out distinctly against the horizon,
their black forms gistening in the sun.
Their movements were very slow and delib-
crate, and they moved on in single file, so
slowly that 1t was comparatively easy to
approach them The men had muffled their
oars. and when near the quarry rowed as
gently as possible, avoiding the slightest
splash but urging the boats on at mar
velous speed The leader, the largest Orca,
was selected, and as one of the boats with
a rush went directly over it the harpooner
with all his power threw his weapon into
the black back.
AS the harpoon struck the boatman
backed water violently. not a moment too
soon. as in the air rose the huge creature
six or seven feet in a marvellous jump,
then dropping back with a resounding
crash, sending heavy seas chasing each
orca struck water it sounded, tearing the
rope from the coil with such velocity that
Il fairly smoked. Two or three hundred
yards were taken in this way. then the
animal must have struck bottom, as up it
came like a rocket, near the boat that
there could be little doubt that the object
was to crush it. The orca. with its tons
of weight, fell with mighty crash, and
for q moment dashed its powerful tail
doubling up into a U, then Strengthening
out with a violence that brought its tail
upon the surface with a crash that sound
ed like the report of gun. 1t was endeav-
and now began to swim upon the surface
In circle, its back exposed-a movement
which suggested that 1t might be search
ing for Its enemy But the native hunters
were not afraid. They Immediately COM
menced to take in the line, hauling rapidly
This disturbed the orca. which plunged
down, then swan rapidly out to sea, tow
ing the boat
Lively Death Struggles.
For several miles the pace was continued
through seas which kept the men bailing.
Then the animal turned in-shore, towing
them back to the bay. during which time
they gained on the line until they were
within $50 feet of the orca.. The other
two boats had now thrown lines and were
also being towed. and with much shouting
the men hauled gaining foot by foot. un-
TIL finally, they were nearly over the orca
which was surging along the surface, its
black back exposed. Suddenly it sounded.
to Immediately appear, striking one OF the
boats fairly amidships sending 1t into the
air, then lying on the surface. swapping its
ferocious teeth and striking powerful blows
with its tafl, completing the destruction OF
the boat. The men SO uneeremoniously
thrown into the water swan to the other
boats and were pulled In.
When the orca had ouieted down. at a