Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-11-05
A FIGHTING
w HALE
fcopyriwht. roc. bv {. Z. Lewls.1

tCopyrtght, 1902 BY g. u. Iewisl
was one of the crew Of the whaling
ship Crosby when | came across a 81.
gantic whale that had often been seen
before. that had destroyed many lives.
He had come to be known as Tom Bow
line and was recognized by a v shaped
scar on his head. The Crosby was to the
vest Of st. Helena when he was raised
By the lookout. Tom BowlIne came to
the surface with a rush and then lay
wallowipg about. Three boats were
lowered. and the whale was recog-
nixed by his scar. The mates boat
had the lead and got within striking
distance first. As soon as the har-
poon entered the whale settled away
Ike a rock and went down $50 feet.
Then he turned and rushed for the
surface like wild locomotive, breach
Ing his full length out Of water and
filling and swapping the mates boat
with the waves kicked up by his fall
He rested a moment and then slowed
around and started for the boat He
caught II with swing of his jaw and
made splinters OF 1t and killed three
men at the same time. For FIVE min
utes the mate, who was supporting
himself by an oar. was alongside the
fish and rubbing against his body. but
ne finally pushed himself clear and
reached one of the other boats. The
monster had the three boats at his
mercy, but for some reason was salts
fed with the destruction OF the first.
Perhaps II was because the others re-
manned perfectly quiet while he
seemed TO be searching for them. Fiji
teen minutes after destroying the boat
he moved slowly away, and those who
had escaped his fury returned to the
ship. We were at this time over half
full OF oil.
One hundred and fourteen days lat
or, when 400 miles west Of the island
OF Tristan dAcunha, In the south At
lantlc, we cut In our last whale, cleared
the decks Of the tryworks and set our
course for Salem. We were full to the
patches and thus far had made one Of
the best seasons on record. In about
three days we had the ship cleaned up
and most of the smoke and grease
washed off our bodies, and we were
about to begin painting when at noon
on the fourth or fifth day after turning
on our heel for home a whale suddenly
preached right astern Of us and not
more than 300 feet away. His fall
raised three or four waves. which
pitched the ship about rs If We were
lying to In gale. and, though the
monster settled away out of sight at
once, we had Identified him as Tom
Bowllnc II may seem queer to you
to read that every man aboard, from
captain TO apprentice, was badly
frightened as soon as 1t was known
that our old enemy had hunted US
down. as IL were. We had left him al
most four months before at a point
1000 miles away, and yet he had over
hauled us as II he had been n steamer
sent In search and posted as to our
cruising ground. His preaching so
near us was taken as evidence of his
evil intentions, and some argued that
he had meant TO strike the ship.
All work was at once suspended, and
the men were ordered to move around
the decks on tiptoe. We hoped the le-
viathan had not seen us and that his
preaching so close aboard was quite
accidental. and after half an hour had
passed away without further sight of
him everybody began 20 feel easier.
A man had just started aioft with a
glass to sean the sea when the whale
rose to the surface about stones
throw TO windward.
From that time on for five hours
he swan with the ship, paying no at
tention to us. but maintaining his dis
lance TO a foot. Then Of a sudden he
settled down, and we all heaved a
sigh of relief. We had not seen the
last OF him, however An hour before
midnight the odOr of a whale sudden
| iy saluted the nostrils of the men, and
they looked to the windward TO catch
sight of great black bulk on the wa
| ter. 1t was Tom Bowline. Word was
passed around and all hands turned
up, and from to we were in a state
| OF suspense. At about 3 o'clock the
whale began lashing the water with
his fiukes When he had churned an
acre or more of surface to foam, he
| slowed around and headed straight for
US, but miscalculated our speed and
passed astern. though clearing the
| rudder by not more than five feet. AS
! he rushed to leeward, swinging his
head and thrashing the water, we
luffed sharp up until we were heading
due east. Whether he located us by
| sight or sound no man can say, but
| as he slowed around | saw that he
would come head on for our stern. As
| he started on his mad rush the ships
head was brought due north again in
hopes to avoid him, but he changed his
course as well and came down on our
| port quarter.
Every soul aboard knew the ship
| was doomed. She was heeled to star
] board until almost on her beam ends,
| and the instant she settled back there