The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-05-21

Some OF the most romantic sea Stor-
les penned had their inspiration from
the voyages OF the people who inhabit
the Scandinavian peninsular especial
ly the Norwegians. Their vikings their
pirating along the shores Of Europe
during the ninth and tenth centuries,
make up some Of the most brilliant
pages Of medieval history; and their
daring voyages on the perilous waters
where other sailors dread to GO con-
tinue TO win the admiration OF people
OF SUMMER chimes.
Broadly speaking, the Norwegians
are sailors, and II more specific term
was necessary, it would be safe to call
them nation OF fishermen.
The arrival Of four Norwegian
whalers in the harbor Of Pensacola, at
ter having spent six months or more
in the frozen waters around the South
Shetland Islands. where Ice Is continual
even during the summer months and
where man can hardly exist in the
dead of winter. makes a brief story Of
whaling interesting to Pensacolians at
this time.
A Journal reporter had occasion to
go aboard one Of these vessels--the
Thor shortly after It locked at Mus
cogee wharf to unload a cargo of APP
proximately $4,000 barrels of whale oil;
to see how the ship was rugged up and
to talk with the sailors about their
business, was his purpose.
GOOD NATuRED SAILORS.
Standing on the upper deck looking
down on several Of the sailors playing
with mother dog and her ''purp" that
had recently undergone a thorough dis
injection to rid them Of fleas, the
visitor was impressed by the jovial-
ness that existed among the men and
the evident love they had for the ships
mascot. And why should they not be
contented? Had not that dog and her
toddling offspring furnished them
many happy moment after the days
catch had been stored away and they
gathered inside to enjoy their pipes
nearly every one of them smokes pipe
and to while away the hours?
The visitor, unnoticed, watched them,
advanced and told one OF the blue
eyed sailors that he wanted to know
something about how whaling is car
ried on. With a playful smile on his
face. he made the reporter understand
that he could speak but very little
English, and directed him to see the
chief engineer, who was at the time
having his afternoon coffee In a near
by mess room. However. Peter Hansen.
for that was his name, proved to be a
very interesting character. He ushered
the reporter into the messroom and
spoke few words to the engineer in
his native tongue.
$50. you are a newspaper man?"
asked the engineer.
Yes" replied the reporter, "and I
would Ike to. get little story about
how you catch whales and everything"
But 1 am afraid it would not be a
very little story" he answered in al
most perfect English, accompanied by
"a broad smile, for there is a lot to it,
FROM WHALE TO OIL.
Pretty soon the engineer was called
away, but the reporter stuck around
with Hansen and another of the men.
He had bread-a different kind from
that the Americans eat-wfth butter
and coffee. And all the while he was
learning something about how things
are down around the Antarctic Circle,
everything about them from the time
they are sighted until the oil is pump
ed from the hold Of the ships at Mus
cogee wharf.
The Thor I, and other vessels of It's
kind are called factories" for really
that's what they are.
Each factory has three smaller boats
something on the order of our tug
boat, about 100 feet long, and the fish
ing Is carried on from these. With elev-
en- men as crew, the fishing boats go
out IN quest of the whale One man
up IN the crows nest" keeps watch
full and experienced eye for any of the
huge denizens. and Hansen declared
that they can sometimes be seen 80
feet under water.
WHALE IS SIGHTED.
A whale is sighted! The huge har-
pooh is ready; the small boat is
within twenty feet OF him when he
comes to the surface The gunman fires
and the six-foot harpoon goes out
through space, uncoiling the rope as
1t goes. and sinks into the body Of the
monster. The powder-filled point of
the harpoon explodes, sometimes killing
the whale instantly, but in most in
stances he puts up hard struggle
And If he Is an exceptionally large one
One 30 feet long Is considered that
a second and third harpoon is consid-
cred necessary. The monster tries to
go down, but Is halted. He rises to the
surface again, blowing, snorting, the
surface Of the water colored with blood
from his wounds.
Finally he is dead. And right here
comes another interesting step in the
process. A peculiar instrument, posi-
bly, two inches in diameter. several feet
long, and hollow. resembling an ordi-
nary piece Of pipe with small holes
bored in it so as to permit air to pass
through, is driven through the thick
and tough hide covering the whales
belly and into the stomach. The pumps
are put into action. and he is literally