The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-05-20
WHALES STRIKE SHIPS
Stories Showing Perils of Hunting
the Cetaceans.

The little whaling steamer Lynx is
now on dock in this port, undergoing
repairs which will restore her to her
wonted condition after having been at
tackled and nearly sunk by one OF the
huge cetaceans she chases. These are
the racer whales. the most powerful
and vicious of the tribe, being far
larger than the sperm or arctic whales,
the other two types OF the species,
writes st. Johns N. F., correspond
ent OF the Chicago Daily News.
The sperm whale, which inhabits the
tropics. has an evil repute for destroy
Ing boats and ramming ships, and has
to be attacked very warily. The arctic
whale, on the other hand, Is so timid
that Scoresby, the great naturalist
whaler, says the alishting of a bird on
his back often affrights him. The ror-
quail ls sturdier type and has to be
hunted by small steamers, which at
tack him by means of mortar-shaped
cannon on their bows, which fire at
him explosive-headed harpoons that
burst In his inside and, If they do not
XIII him outright. make his existence
very brief indeed
1T is While In the fury of anger and
pain caused by such a weapon strik-
Ing him that the rorqual whale Is most
dangerous, and II requires the great
steamer to prevent her being DESTROYED
as he launches himself at her In Nor
way two years ago (where the same
nshery is pursued) a whale rammed
one or these steamers and sunk her
with all hands. shattering his own
mead and destroying himself against
her plated iron sides. Another whaler
OH the Norwegian coast two years be-
1ore that was struck by an infuriated
cetacean and the impact, taking her
near the ensine-room, exploded her
boilers and she being blown up, all
Out two men perishing and tho whale
meeting the same fate. In New Found
land thus far any fatality from this
cause has been luckily prevented,
though there have been several narrow
escapes.
One of the most noteworthy Of these
was just two years ago, when the
Whaier Puma was towed around PIa-
centia bay for twenty six hours. the
narpoon having pierced the creature
through the tail and exploded in the
water, leaving the ship harnessed to
the leriathan by the harpoon line. this
oeing specially made to withstand the
slrain or the plunging monster, held
iast as the pain-crazed fish fed to and
1ro across the seas. believing with
rase and hinging his mighty carcass
completely out of water at times as
ne sought to rid himself of the strange
sppendage. and then turning to dash
Irantically at the Ship which had to
wheel promptly to escape him. For a
"hoie oay and night this novel contest
continued. the whole crew being on
watch through the darkened hours
against every onslaught he made. de-
tecting him by his heavy breathing as
ne approached and thus being able to
ooose MIN, while one man with a keen
ak was stationed at the vyindlass IN
cnop the harpoon line should there be
any danger OF his dragging the ship
9own as he sounded" into the oceans
oeptns from time to time. Next morn
ing ne had become worn out after
~" nouIs ana then the steamer up
preached and killed him with second
shot ''i 'eno
Inc CABOT had another perilous ex-
perlence last summer when she shot q
calf" whale and the mother