St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-01-07
80 -
FIGHT WITH A WHALE.
Thrilling Encounter Of the Coast Of
Maine with an Infatuated
LeViathan.

Thrilling Encounter Of the Coast Of
Maine with an Infatuated
Leviathan.
As rule, whales DO not venture below
the coast of Nova Scotia, but OCCASION
ally one gets astray and makes tour
OF the eastern coast, and he generally
comes to grief. A large, lone finback
was sighted of the coast of Maine by
whaling steamer, and of course prepara-
lions were promptly made to capture
h!n.
\ A boat was lowered, and manned with
the captain, his mate and four sailors.
The captain, with large, heavy whale
gun, In which was an explosive bomb
lance, took the bow of the boat. while
the mate steered. Upon approaching
the whale, it was seen that he would be
showed no inclination to run, but kept
slowly milling around, evidently wait
ing to be attacked.
Then ensued some maneuvering, and
finally the captain fired, but the motion
OF the boat impaired the aim, and the
whale, although badly wounded. was
not hit in vital part, says w. Alva,
who tells the story in Golden Days. He
made for the boat, and, passing under
It, struck it with his flukes, tossing it
quite 30 feet into the air with its crew.
throwing the men out AS the boat
descended the whale again struck 1t with
his tail and completely demolished it.
While the whale was destroying the
boat, the crew fortunately secured an
oar apiece and swan out of danger. On
board the steamer the mishap was seen.
Another boat was lowered, and the men
were picked up and taken on board.
much exhausted.
Nothing daunted, everything was got
In readiness. Two guns were loaded,
each with an explosive lance, the cap
tain taking one and the mate the other,
and. taking their positions on the bow
OF the steamer, word was given to go
ahead.
The whale, in the meantime, was
lying still among the debris of the
wrecked boat, occasionally throwing its
hukes into the air. AS the ship neared
the monster, he left the wrecked boat
and made for the steamer, with the evil
dent intention of striking her on the
port bow. By quick turn of the rud-
der, the steamer cleared him by few
feet, but with no chance for shot.
The whale then turned and again
made for the steamer, coming down
from the windward for about midships
Of the vessel. Seeing that the whale
evidently intended to breach the vessel,
word was given to go ahead at full speed.
As the whale reared it's huge body
into the air, the little steamer forged
ahead, and the whale fell into the water
with terrible noise, and just cleared
the steamers stern by few feet When
the whale struck the water it made such
a heavy swell that the men were I'M
able to stand on the deck.
Seeing that it was impossible to get a
shot at the leviathan without great risk
to the steamer and crew, another plan
was resorted to. A large, strong water
cask, holding $50 gallons, was emptied
Of its contents and then bunged tightly.
The steamer was once more headed
for the fighter, and as she approached
him he again came to the attack. The
cask was thrown overheard to attract
his attention, and the vessel retreated
to safe distance.
The whale instantly went Tor the cask,
throwing it high in the air with his
fukes, but such was its strength and
buoyancy no damage was done to it.
After several futile attempts to smash
the cask with his flukes, he commenced
to swim slowly around it, occasionally
striking it with his head and trying to
bite 1t, evidently forgetful of the ship,
the captain and crew of which we're
watching his every movement closely.
Here was the captains chance. and
. silently but swiftly the little steamer
glided up behind the whale, and before
no was aware of its approach he received
the contents of both OF the whale-guns.
The steamer sheered off to a place of
safety, the whale swan about leo yards,
and commenced to break and lash the
sea into foam in his frenzy and dying
struggles. After about five minutes
furry, he commenced to slowly mill
around, and finally, giving one last
breach into the air, came down on his
side, dead.