The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-08-14
THE WOLF OF THE DEEP.
EXPERIENCES WITH THE ORCA IN
 FIFE WORTH PACIFIC.

FIFE NORTH PACIFIC.
 Member of tho Whale Family, to Hunt Which is One of the Most Dan- gcrous and Exciting of All Pastimes.
 The orca as a fighter first came into notice upon the return one season or whaling fleet which had wintered in the Bering sea. One of the ships dur ing the late fall had secured large whale and the men were engaged III towing it alongside the ship, having it well in hand, when suddenly school of whales from twenty to twenty-five feet in length charged them. The animals were jet black, with the exception ot singular white patches about the head; they had 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, leaping over the submerged body with wonderful agility and continuing the attack until the water was dyed encar- nadine.
 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 very snort tune the whale began to settle, and the Whalefs realized that the orcas were actually stealing their property. Guns were brought into play and several orcas killed by explosive bombs, Whereupoh the animals turned upon the dead bod ies of their companions and tore them to pieces, and ultimately, despite all the efforts of the crew. this band Of sea wolves carried off the whale, dragging it down out of sight. A witness of this incident later, in camping upon one or the islands, had an opportunity to join in an orca hunt-without doubt, one or the most dangerous and exciting or all pastimes.
 The Indians of the locality had Tor several days been gathering, waiting for the breaking of the ice, when, IL was said, the killer whales would pc found in great numbers. That this was true was shown by the fact that the whales were already on the ground, ra- yenously 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 pack. The Indians were creeping upon them, accompanied py the white hunter, who was anxlouS to take one of the animals, when to ms astonishment 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 H. 1ustration of the clever generalship or the orca, which had seen the walrus " ing on the ice, and, sinking down, had risen like a catapult, crushing through the ice cake and, in the confusion, selz- ine 2. young one and making off.
 Several weeks later the ice broke up and an off shore wind left the hatpoi clear in and about which the epouting of orcas could often be hearu' lhe 1ong expected hunt began early one morning, three boats putting out, each provided with four or five rowers, d harpooner and steerer. once out lh the bay they took different directions, one to the north, one to the south, While the , third kept in the center or west. A mile ont the orcas were sighted; first a schoo, of four, their high dorsai ms standing out distinctly against the mo- rizon their black forms glistening Tn the sun. Their movements were slo" and deliberate and they swan in slngle file. so slowly that it was comparative 1v easy to approach them The men had muffled their oars, and when the ouarry rowed as quietly as posslple' avoiding the slightest splash, put urs- ing the boats on at marVelouS speeu' The leader, the largest area, was se- 1ected. and as one of the boats with q rush went directly over it the harpooh- ar with all his power threw the weapon into the black back. AS the harpoor etrucp the boatmen backed water Vlo- lentlv. not a moment too soon, as Tn the air rose the huge creature six or seven feet in marvellous jump, then dropped hacx with q resounding crash, sending beavv seas chasing each other after the boat The moment the orca struck the ,yster if sounded, tearing the rope from the coil With Sucn NeioeitS ' 1y smoked. Two or three huhuleu wards were taken in this way then the animal must have struck bottom as uE if came like a rocket, so near the poa' that there could be but little doubt that the object was to crush it. The orca with it's tons of weight fell with a mighty crash and for moment lasneo its powerful tail, doubling up into u then strengthening out with violence That brought it's tail upon the surface with crash that sounded like the re- mort of a gun. It was endeavorlng tc r,d itself of the death dealing iron, ana now began to swim upon the surface n e circle it's back exposed-a movement which suggested that it might DC AANANNNN @NN~ > ~N~G