Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-02-19
HUNTING WHALES WAS SPORT.
Old-Time Methods Described by One
Who Enjoyed q Whaler's Life.

Old-Time Methods Described by One
| Who Enjoyed Whaler's Life.
In this city there is one man at least
whose experiences in a three-year
sperm whale cruise were exciting and
pleasant, and whose story Of the time
aboard the bark has delighted many a
man and made him a afriend-apparent-
/ ly a natural feeling of the average man
for the sailor who has given a glimpse
into the inner life Of seaman. This
man is Roswell D. Tompkins, who thus
tells Of the exciting sport:
What Is the most exciting expert
ence in the life Of sperm-whale fish
er? Well, that Is undoubtedly the
catching Of the whale himself. With
the bark ballasted by good store Of
oil in the casks far down In the hold,
there Is little danger from storms, and
no heed is taken Of them beyond TAX
ing in the main sail. Unless bark
should happen directly upon a whale
or a school Of them, the monsters pres
ence in the vicinity Is announced by
the lookouts stationed in the crows
nest high above the yards. The for
ward spouting Of the sperm whale can
be seen for a distance Of IL miles, and
from that moment until the blubber
| is all aboard the vessel and the carcass
is discarded to the wind and wave
there is an air Of excitement among
the men. The whole task requires
from eight hours to two days, and not
moments rest can be taken by any
members Of the crew until all Is done.
with the announcement Of the
sighting Of the whale the call comes,
All hands on deck!' and, though one
may Just have crawled into his bunk
for his four-hour sleep, he must hasten
on deck, and that without stopping to
attire himself. The boats are lowered,
and the six men for each Of the boats
gets aboard them and row toward the
| whale. This Is usually a merry race,
the first one to throw the harpoon be-
ing allowed the choice Of the ivory
teeth; preference Is allowed the first
mate who is generally one of the crews
after the whale"
"A successful attack on the whale
must be made fore and after; to ap-
proach on either side means the loss
of the fellow, for he Is frightened and
darts down and may not rise again
for ten or twelve miles. Even when
approached from the front or behind
the whale may discover the presence
of enemies and dart into the deep. The
sailors determine the direction In
which he is going by the last flourish
of his flukes, and they set STEADY
row Of about 40 minutes in the direc-
ton determined upon. If he is merely
sounding he will rise at the end OF 4O
or As minutes and will show his pres
ence by spouting.
"By steady and silent approach the
first harpooner to come near him
throws the spear into his body and i'm
mediately follows with his second har-
poon, which Is attached to the rope,
about 25 feet from the first. Then be-
gins the reality Of excitement, but the
men must all be ready for action. The
harpooner stands by the receding coil,
which is wound up in the bottom OF
the boat, and is ready with his hatch
ct to cut the rope in case 1t suddenly
knots or tangles; to leave such thing
20 would mean death to all six men.
At the first opportunity bomb Is shot
into the whales body, the endeavor be-
ing, of course, to reach his vitals. AS
soon as he begins to spout blood, the
crew Is practically sure Of the whale.
"Once the whale Is overcome,
spear bearing flag Is cast Into the
upper side Of his body to signal the
bark to approach. Then begins the
hard work. A staging resembling the
gang plank Of the river boats, Is low
cred to the side Of the vessel and ex-
tends out Is feet over the side. 1t Is
impossible to tow the whale to the
bark, and this necessitates bringing
the boat directly beside the monster.
A loose moose is placed around his
body, just in front Of the f1ukes, and
another is placed about the head, just
back of the jaws. Three men are given
long spades which have razor edges and
the hook being lowered and fastened
to the first blanket or strip Of blub-
ber. the remainder Is cut in spiral
form, the big body revolving in the
nooses. Three men stand on the out
side of the staging and take the blub-
ber onto the bark. At each side Of the
staging stands one men with another
spade, to strike off the sharks. In case
shark is wounded his fellow sharks
hasten up and tear him to pieces.
"The spermaceti, for finer oil Of the
whale, is bailed out Of the immense
head, and, until reduced, takes the
form Of snow-white and snow-light
crystals. 1t is valuable in use for can
dies, ointments, cosmetics and machin-
cry oils. The lower jaw Is secured for
the teeth. No teeth are found in the
upper jaw of the sperm whale; but
there are sockets into which the lower
teeth fit; other species have no teeth
at all. The teeth are then chopped out
and are cleaned by allowing them to
soak in salt water.
There are many dangers attached
to the life of sperm whale fisher. One
Of the most liable dangers is that Of
being attacked by the whale. One
must be wary Of both his immense
jaws and his flukes. To attack by his
mouth he turns on his side or back
and comes at one in an ugly way. He