The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-19
With % WHALES FOR ESCORT
THE ATLAS LINER VIRGINIA
COMES PROUDLY TO THE HOOK.

The big Fish Had Been studying Maneu.
,res at Jamestown n We're Showing
on so Surmises One Vanderdecken,
who Is Used 10 the Wonders OF the Deep.
Tn Atlas liner Virginia. in yesterday from
ports Of the West Indies. had an experience
with whales on her way up the coast. At
1113 o'clock on Monday morning-Capt.
Felix lack was particular about the time.
because he Is a skipper OF exceptional
veraoity-the whales were sighted on the
starboard bow or to seward in the neigh
borhood of the Delaware capes. The
ocean was as still as a luck pond until the
whales appeared,
The Virginia carried only three cabin
passengers. including Hans Vanderdecken
Of Curacao, who tells the story of the whales.
Capt. Tack will not vouch for all Of the story
Of Vanderdecken, but he positively asserts
that the school Of whales-a mere secular
Monday school-numbered not less than
twenty-five, and that they were the biggest
inbacks he ever had seen blowing and
preaching in semi-southern waters. They
did follow the ship, as Mr. Vanderdecken
said. all the way, from the Delaware
capes to Sandy Hook and then they headed
east along the Long Island coast. maybe
for Amagansett, where fnbaoks have been
harpooned.
Mr.. Vanderdecken says hat he believes
that the whales had been observing the
naval incidental to the open
ing of the jamestown Exposition. A large
bull whale,N believing distinctly in a tone
that resembled a siren. led the whale feet.
When they were seen first they were in line.
spouting like a string of fountains. Then
they formed in double column Of twelve
each. the bull whale, like a flagship, direct
went from double column to offensive
echelon. The bull whale beloved a COM
mand and Mr.. Vanderdecken was some
what surprised to hear the COW whales all
lowing the Star Spangled Banner which.
Mr.. Vanderdecken surmisee, they also
learned at the jamestown
The climax Of the experience Of Mr..
Nanderdecken-the skipper was asleep and
said that he therefore could not confirm
it, but that il seemed more or less reason
able-was late on Monday afternoon of
the Jersey coast. The several squadrons
of whales formed in double echelon, Of
~fensive and defensive. around the ship
and began the escort movement which
ended at Sandy Hook.
In the defe nsive formation ahead Of the
liner were twelve whales, and astern Of her
were twelve more in offensive formation. |
great bull whal e swan alongside the
Virginia and all the cetacean choristers
reared Die wacht am Rhein," So the
ship was conveyed TO port, after |
the immemorisl habit Of fleets, or SQUAD
rons. that have enga ged in the mock game
Of war.
There were sixty parrots and eighteen
monkeys aboard the Virginia, and as most
ot them were our on deck they kept up a
fearful clatter while the whales were spout
ne in double echelon all around the ship. !
Vanderdecken said 1t reminded him Of
he time he got mixed up with geysers Of
he Yellowstone. Capt. Jack said that he
feared that Mr.. Vanderdecken was a ma
.ure faker," but thar nevertheless there
we're twenty-five whales and they accom-
"a nied the ship all the way 10 the Hook.