New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-23
WHALE" IN THE HARLEM
BRIDGE Tender and 0iIer Capture
It After Hot Battle.
FISH WEIGHED 406 POUNDS
Thousands Watch Struggle in the
River and Cheer as Sturgeon
Is flowed Ashore.


ened to keep several hundred fans" from
the JOY Of seeing the Cubs surrender to
the Giants yesterday afternoon.
For fifteen minutes tho crowd that gath
cred on the Central Bridge and along the
hanks Of the Harlem River was divided
as to whether the whale was of the sperm,
humpback or bottle-nosed variety
The spectators were sure though that the
fish was not less than lightweight and
one-half feet long. They differed respect
ing the tonnage Of blub6er its capturers
would throw upon the local bubber market.
But they agreed there would be enough
OF that commodity to meet Harlem's de-
mands for some time to come.
i And then fear grew upon them that
maybe there wasn't going to be any bluo-
Der or even whale bones. The bridge tender
and man who oils the bridge mighb not
be able 20 harpoon the whale. which, as
was easily to be noticed. was striking out
to leave Harlem, perhaps forever. 1t was
taking the oilor and tender with 1t some
where To Iceland or Norway, maybe.
This is a true story. There are pair or
scales and a tape measure and the names
and addresses of the fishermen. Every
thing has been verified. But it may take
a little time TO reach these details.
Won see. one of the mes who struggled
with the fish was on his vacation at the
time. His name is Henry Essis. lie IS
the bridge tender, and his home is in Bed
| ford Park.
Essg owns motor boat and was under
the bridge at lis o'clock, tinkering with
II He had been spending his vacation
tinkering with his motor boat, so UP TO
this point there is really nothing about
Essig of more than ordinary interest
Persons on Bridge Sight Whale.
Persons on the bridge sighted the whale
and advertised the circumstance with so
much success that Essig, though nervous
about his motor at the time, could not ran
to hear them. At first he was In DOUBT as
to the reliability OF the report.
And then he saw the bulky, uncouth form
Of the monster. 1t was coming in his direc-
ton. He forgot the vagaries Of his motor
He saw the fshs massive head, ana hoped
the whale wouldn't spout until later.
It's snout was paddle-shaped. But this
fact did not induce Essig 10 revise his YER
dict He knew it was whale.
The fish moved about majestcally for a
while. II would rise to the surface. splash
the water with its capable looking tall,
then 20 below for food and drink, and you
couldn't blame people for standing around
10 watch its performance, especially when
there was no charge of admission.
II was downright complimentary to the
whale. though. when you remember that
the vital frolic between the cubs and
Giants would soon be on. and the seats in
the bleachers were rapidly being filed
Essig said he was afraid Of frightening
the whale. and therefore decided not TO
start his motor So he called TO Tom Bible,
the oiler and Tom jumped into the boat.
The crowd kept getting bigger and big
ger They wondered how the two men in
the boat could catch the whale without
halter. or harpoon. or something. All the
hunters took with them, apparently. were
a paddle and a boat hook. IT was evident
they had determined to ingratiate them
selves with the big fellow and then edge
him over against the Bronx shore, where
the water was shallow.
They succeeded in doing this and then
Essig stood in the bow Of the boat and
hurled his boat hook at the monsters gill.
The iab failed to make the whale turn over
on its back II only wigged
Boat Hook Made Fish Angry.
But the boat hook stuck in the fsh's
side and that made it ill-tcmpered and
pugnacious Also, ii seemed to hear the
pounding of the breakers on some shore
a long way off, for it started to 20 there
Essig. who was holding the boat nook,
seemed to be going along.
The crowd showed that they were salts
fed with the way things were developing
and began 10 shout suggestions to EssiS.
Get the hook-the other hook yelled
E.ssig to Tom.
The fish was pulling the boat first this
way, then that. and Essig had no time to
20 after anything himself.
The crowd saw that plainly and grew
wild with excitement. Tom tried To obey
orders. but # was hard for him to move
about. The whale varied its sailing direc-
lions without notice. II tackled fifteen or
twenty feet one way and then seemed to
regret it, Wherever it went the two men
in the boat tried to go
Sometimes the whale seemed crazy to 20
on shore, but always. before it would reach
the beach 1t would dart off I'm another di-
rcction. frequently holding the spectators
breathless. and the men on its trail the
same. by almost upsetting the boat once
the fish was nearly successful in driving
the boat against the bridge.
Bv this time all traffic was suspended.
Streetcars lined up. vehicular traffic was
at a standstil, pedestrians could not have
left the scene If they had wished, but there
was none experiencing an ambition of that
sort. A dozen policemen arrived. but could
do nothing So they, too. watched the fun.
BidIe finally made ready his boat hook.
but he held it for twenty minutes before
he could use it. Then I'm one Of its rapid
changes OF intention the fish permitted the
boat TO float too near him and Bidle
damned his boat hook into the fish under
its glls.
The fish plunged in terror 10 considerable
depth 1t yanked the boat about until tho
men had nothing but hope an dthe boat
hooks to cling to. and began to wish they
had not disputed the whales right of way.
Two boat hooks were TOO many for the
fish. however, and the spirits OF the men
rose rapidly. They rowed to shore pulling
the big fellow after them.
II proved to be a sturgeon, feet inches
long. weighing 4D5 pounds. fish dealer
named Ebinhauser, of No. 2613 Eighth ave
nue.. bought the specimen last night. lie
paid 81 for it.
lie will, it is understood. turn it into
plain food, caviar and isinglass.
FIXES GAS RATE FOR BROOKLYN.