Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-02-09

"Into the water, boys |" shouted their
leader, himself setting the example.
The swimmers looked back, expecting
to see the heavy flukes descend and crush
the boat TO spIinters ; but instead, the
eviathan threw flipper about her little
one and quietly slipped with him into the
deep.
The whalers regained their, places with
an agility born Of long practise, and were
soon being dragged at racing speed in
tow OF the larger cetacean, the first har-
poon having worked loose and released
the calf.
They were eight miles from shore be-
fore the victim reappeared. This time
the motor-boat took the initiative, and
dashlng in, enabled her captain TO plunge
a lance into the giants body at close
range. That il reached vital part was
evidenced by the crimson fountain that
ascended from her blow-hoies.
Without diving again, she passed into
her death-ilurry, which Has short and
sharp. Within five minutes the power
full creature lay rolling, an inert mass, at
the mercy OF her executionerS.
Now the real work Of the day began.
Two holes were cut in the gristle OF the
colossal tail, tow-ine passed through,
and the procession started shoreward.
Had the stringy bceps OF the superan-
nuated oarsmen been their sole depend
ence, towing the heavy carcass would
have been a formidable undertaking; but
the two boats being haresSed TO the
prize, tandem-fa fashion, with The motor in
the lead putting like an asthmahc old
gentleman, they made triumphal laud-
ing in something less than an hour.
Twoscore eager hands grasped the
tow-tope as soon as the craft was beach,
ed, and dragged the sixty-ton mountain
to place Of safety, where il would be
left high and dry by the recedipg tide.
Here il was anchored at each end, and
preparations for "trYing-out' were be-
gun at once.
The ancient kettles, which had not
seen daylight for at least two decades.
were dragged forth and set up above
high-water mark. The rusty blubber-
spades were held to the grindstoue until
the sparks flew, while the small boys OF
the village fought among themselves for
the honor of turning the crank. Then
the two captains, in spiked boots, mount
ed the carcass, and having first peeled
off the outer skin in blanket strips" two
feet wide and running the entire length
from head to flukes, began the operation
OF flehsing.
Huge slabs of blubber, weighing a half
ton each, were cut out with the spades
and stripped off and drawn. ashore with
block and tackle.
When one side had been denuded, the
carcass was rolled over and the work
continued. Later the cayernous mouth
was propped open, and entered by two
men, whoIemoyed the tongue, ,-atweniy-
foot white satin cushion. which il was
estimated would yield almost five tons Of
oil,-and cut away the bnstling baleen
plates, which constituted the most valua-
bic portion Of the take.
Now the bIubber was divided into
smaller chunks and thrown into the ket-
-tles. beneath which fires had beenIighted.
Soon rose a rank, mephitic odor, telling
the story Of the mornings work to the
nostnIs Of every old sea-dog within a
mile. a
In the meantime the baby Bal9na,
wounded and alone, was hidden in the
bosom Of the Atlantic. When his moth
er had been finally slain and dragged
away. he timidIy followed at distance |;
but the cheer that rang out as the process
sion neared the shore sent him right ABOUT
face in sudden terror.
He swan coHfusedIy to and fro during
the remainder of the day, and his rest
that night was broken by pain and lone
illness. The blood still oozed from the
ragged, aching wound made by the har-
poou, and he missed the comforting pres
ence Of her who had nourished and pro-
tected him ever since he first opened