The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-08-22
ONE WHALE WORTH A FORTUNE.
It Carried Chunk Of Ambersris that Sold
For About 81 900.

W08Ior now VlslGlnS houOlulu, 1oo-
lized in 1888 from one sperm whale.
In fact, the whale was one of the
most valuable ever caught in any
ocean. 1t was not the ninety barrels
of oil which gave the leviathan its
extraordinary velue, for that was
sold for something like $4,000, but
within the whales vast interior there
was found a solid piece Of ambergrls
weighing $50 pounds. This was the
largest single piece of ambergris
ever found according to the records,
and that it came from one long
whale made the rich discovery the
more interesting to the scientific
world.
This 7S0-pound piece of amber
girls was sold in chunks in all mar
kets of the world for about G25, 900
sterling, and it laid the foundation
wealth for almost every man IN
terested in the whaling expedition,
which originated IN New Zealand.
Capt. Ealre came here in 1857 on
the whaling ship Europe as cabin
boy, his father then being the first
mate. He later went to New Zea-
land to join the whaler Splendid,
which he fitted out, obtaining there,
by a bounty of $4,000 offered by
the New Zealand government for
the first whaler fitted out for SER
vice. He went as second mate and
rose by promotion until he became
master and part owner. It was IN
October, 1882, that the Splendid,
while cruising about the Chatham is
land east of New Zealand came upon
the sperm whale which was the big
gest bonanza of the sea on record.
Ninety barrels Of oil were taken
from it and while delving into the
carcass the huge piece of ambergris
, was found.
Amber is q concretion formed only
in the intestines of the sperm whale
and is sometimes found floating on
the surface of the sea like pumice
stone, near where this animal cruises.
In 1t are often found imbedded the
horny beaks of the squids on which
the whale feeds. 1t was formerly
used in medicine, but is now dis
solved in alcohol and used as base
in perfumes, rendering them more
lasting. 1t affords about 85 per
cent. of a peculiar fatty and crystal
line substance called ambrein.
The voyage of the Splendid in that
season was a fortunate one in every
respect, for she came into Llttleton
port, New Zealand, with the big
piece of ambergris worth its weight
in gold and 1000 barrels of sperm
oil.
when we arrived in port" said
Captain Earle yesterday. II tele-
graphed to the agent of the Otago
Whaling company to come mp. He
came, the smbergris was taken
ashore, loaded into car, which was
locked and the key slowed away in
the agents pocket, and he stood
guard there, too, until the stuff was
safely placed. The first year that
I had brought any ambergris into
port we got e25 pound for Il
pounds, but when this big piece came
in the news so astonished everybody
that cablegrams were sent all over
the world, and the result was that
the price dropped. Some went to
London, but as for my own share |
took it in bulk and carried it home
with me. I wasn't in hurry to sell
it, but thought by waiting the mar
ket for it would rise. I got $lo
an ounce for the gray and s. for the
black, while in London 1t had only
brought S12 and 81. The last of
my share was sold in 1891. I re-
mained with this company until
1885, when / went home. | have
taken more than q thousand sperm
whales since then and have never
found in any Of them piece of am
bergris.
Self made men and home made
shirts may be useful, but they are
seldom ornamental.