The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-05-27

pause. We fear that which We do not un-
derstand, and truly here was something
entirely non-undcrstandable from q whale
mans point OF View.
For an appreciable space Of time there
was q lull, during which only the slight
moaning of the wind was audible, and
everyone was breathless with expectancy.
Then suddenly with rush and roar ike
the upheaYal OF an earthquake the Whale
broke water close to the skippers boat
and came at him straight on end. Nooly
the skipper maintained his high reputa-
and shout OF pull two. starn three.
he swung his boat just clear of the huge
head, and in a whirl OF white 1t passed
him harmlessly. And he. losing no op-
pcrtunIty, took aim with his bomb-gun
and fired as tho mighty mass surged past.
but the deadly missile only cut a deep
furrow along the blubber of the back and
dropped harInlessly on the other Side, The
whale disappeared and must have turned
complete somersault beneath the sur
face, for almost Immediately afterwards
hc came up underneath the skipper's boat.
striking 1t with his head so doughtily that
the boat was dashed to fragments, and
the men, some OF them being badly hurt
were scattered over the sea-surface like
withered leaves. The skipper reappeared
amid the smother unhurt but full of fury
at his mishap. The other two boats. al
ready ovcrladen, came swiftly on the
scene, and rescued the unfortunate crew
and " prudence ever formed part OF a
Yankee whaler's equipment. when fighting
whales, they should then have retired, and
at any rate have got rid OF their extra
hlnderlng hands.
Two Birds With One Stone.
But In a hardly articulato voice. being
nearly chicken with rage, the skipper gave
orders to get on 10 the whale at once
and all the oarsmen bent TO the task as
II imbued by his spirit. The whale. how
ever, as II In pursuance OF certain de-
sign, just kept out OF their reach. sculling
in leisurely fashion along the surface
and. 1t could be imagined. just glancing
|
make sure OF his distance from his pun
sGers. This he did for an hour or more
until all hands were goaded into a condi-
ton OF semi-madness, and some of them
we're ready to relapse into panic, feeling
that this whale was indeed possessed or
the devil He showed no sign OF fatigue
but then Ia great contrast to the usual
behavior OF q fast sperm whale no had
indulged in no aimless evolutions. but was
apparently reserving his strength for a
time when 1t would be greatly needed
This part OF the proceedings indeed would
have been tame. but for the fury OF the
skipper and mate; they looked as II mad
ness must superveno shortly. The men,
whose monetary and reputational stakes
were so much less, were fast relapslng
into apathy. and In any. case the strain
upon their muscles was beginning to tell
a warning tale.
Suddenly a cry of horror and warning
was heard. and cut short in the middle,
OF which no had already given then a
feretaste; had reversed his position, and
them pRn s hSge bodH He
as he did, SO that his Simultaneous blows
of head and tall might fall upon both
boats And, amid a crashing OF timber,
disappeared beneath the surface, which
vas all bestrewn with wrcckage and help
less men.
The Final Assault.
Then those on board the ship, who at q
distance OF less than half mile had becn
ua n n0 hn frox with ipfn
wero suddenly interrupted in their task
of gotting the spare boat of the s6ids by
e. shout from aloft, Hes coming for tho
ship" All rushed to the roll to see and
the vision was appalling. He came.
hundred ton battering ram at fourteen
miles an hour, head on pointing direct for
thu t,Ilnsdnpno hrcAn .lci.i II.