New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-25
WHALE SMASHES A SHIP
NINE HEN IN OPEN BOAT WITH
LITTLE FOOD ELEVEN DAYS.
ALL OF CREW OF AGED WHALER RES
CUED-SAID TO BE SECOND &C
CIDENT OF THE KIND.


-he seas no more She was sunk on March
IL in longitude 43 west. latitude 13 north. about
nine hundred and fifty miles east Of Barbados,
nv a whale which crashed into the side and
tore it open. Only before, il is said by old
whalers, has such a fate befallen a ship.
Part of the arrived here yesterday on
their way TO New Bedford. and from them was
learned the story of this strange disaster. Nine
of the mer spent eleven days and nights In an
open whal9boat, with only four gallons of water
and ten or fifteen pounds Of ships bread for
their sustenance. Those who arrived here yes
terdey were Manuel de Neira, the chief bow
man; Philip de veira, Rodney Morrison. Manuel
Andrade Auguste Gomez Manuel Fonseca, NJ
r. Ardrade, Joachim Barros and Herbert r.
REYNOLDS the third officer With the exception
of REYNOLDS they We're all of the company that
spent the eleven days in the open whaieooat
Those from the boat arrived here on the Madl-
ana from the windward Islands 1t was CO.
Incidence that Reynolds arrived here the same
CAV. as he was landed with the remainder Of the
crew and the captains wife and her parrot al
Pernarnpuco by the Scotch steamer Borderer'
which picked them up the next day after the
Kathleen sank. He came here on the Byron, OF
the Iarnport G. Holt Line. The steamer Pydna'
bringing about twenty more Of the crew, arrived
at Reedy Island in the Delaware River, on
Wednesday. where she was Quarantined
TOLD THE STORY HERE.
The story of the loss of the Kathleen was
told by Reynolds yesterday afternoon on board
the steamer Puritan, bound for Brockton' Mass
his home and by Manuel de Feira at the
Sailors Home last night. The Kathleen winch
is a vessel OF 206 tons. of the Baltimore
packets built ffty-eighr years ago. sailed from
ew-Bedford. where she was owned, on DC
tober %, 1901. in search Of sperm whales she
had been In port less than month having
arrived there on September % under a jury rig
She had been dismasted in gale on bermuda
on September @. She had no sooner cleared
from New Bedford than she encountered
gale that kept her matches Dattened down Tor
twe1sy days The vessel put into the Cape
Verd Islands and shipped enough Portuguese
sailors TO bring the total Of those on board up
to thirty-Rfne including Captain Jenkins's wife.
Captain Jenkins then steered for the east
coast Of Brazil. The fishing was poor there;
nothing was caught Captain Jenkins cruised
TO the eastward OF the Windward Islands. On
March Il, about noon, the lookout sighted an
immense school of whales. There appeared TO
be about three hundred Of them. -Four boats
were lowered and put in command of De Vera,
First Mate Nichols. Reynolds. and the second
mate. Morris Murray. Captain Jenkins, his
wife a steward and the cabin boy remained
board.
THREE Boats FAST TO WHALES.
OF the eour boats three got fast to whales
almost Immediately. Murrays boat the
ception, and he began chase Of whale.
Nicholas capture a and he towed IL
alongside the vessel the port side The
tackles were made ready. and had been run
under the body of the whale when Captain
Jenkins shouted to Nicholas:
There's big bun close alongside; better go
after him.
The afternoon was well along by this time
but Nicholas and his out. The bull
was only a short distance from the vessel, and
harpoon protruding from his side.
He sounded Immediately, but up
again. He then started straight for the bark. He
fairly tore through the water. The boat trav-
elled so fast that line was paid out. 1t rushed
over the thwarts at such a speed that the fric-
ton set the wood fire, and the rope was
cut The whale ramned the Kathleen just
abaft of amidships smashing hole in her as if
he had been the ram of a gunboat. The bark
began to fill Immediately. The whale disap-
peared beneath the waves. and was seen no
more,
Nichols observed what had occurred to the
Kathleen. got out the oars and made for her.
She was already careening. Captain Jenkins
and the others board had got together some
bread and water by the time the whaleboat came
alongside and these We're put in. Mrs. Jenkins
was anxious TO save her parrot, which was q
good talker ami the bird hunted UP and
Of the crew that the parrot uttered something
like "Tn be - if 1 ever go a-whang again.
as he was put into the boat
SINKS IN HALF AN HOUR.
Leaving the Kathleen which sank inside Of
thirty minutes after she was rammed Captain
Jenkins ordered the other boats he came up
with thern, 10 cut loose from their whales, as
the Kathleen haG sunk
I was the last one 10 be told said Reynolds,
in telling his experience I was the furthest
away. and it was about dark when the Kathleen
struck The first thing l knew l
boat coming up under sail. a hail came from
the boat:
Are Won fastT
Yes / replied.
"'Cut loose. The Kathleen has been sunk
said Captain Jenkins.
We got all our boats together and distributed
the get men into each boat
The captain then said:
We viii keep together during the night
and in the morning We'll spread out and watch
for help
When daylight there was no sail in
sight The boats had become separated I !
took can and started to drink some Of the |
water. 1t salt A breeze had sprung UP /
In the night and blown salt spray into the /
bucket. j got out my compass and said TO the 1
other men, Wei. boys, / guess it's up to us to I
what do toward getting to land
The sail raised, and the course west
by north for the Barbados $50 miles away. In /
the course of half an hour 1 sighted a sail /
ahead. The boat hove 10 and waited for us 1t |
was the captains boat AS came UP the !
captain shouted, Have you seen the other !
boats%
No. ] called back I haven't got any |
water.