Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1887 — Harpooning Hippos. [ARTICLE]

Harpooning Hippos.

The boat drew near to the hippos, which were coming down stream, evidently in some commotion; right out in the center was seen occasionally the head of one which promised to be even larger than the the night before, and for him Maleolmson steered. White in the bows, with his harpoon ready poised, watching him keenly. “Why, the tarnal critter means mischief,and is coming for us right straight! He’s like a gallied whale—don’t care what he does. Starn all, men! Pull hard round to starboard, Mr. Malcolmson.” The men backed, and Malcolmson swung tbe boat round, and they just avoided a charge which the hippo made straight at them, and were watching for his next rise when they felt themselves lifted nearly out of the water as he bumped up under the boat; luckily he did not capsize them, and the whaler slid down, rocking violently into the water without giving White a chance with the harpoon, although Badenoch managed to plant a lance in him which he left sticking up in his stern like an ensign staff. “Never tise a lance before you are fast!” shouted White. “Look, men, he is at us again!” This time, as he~charged, Maleolmson, guided bv the shaft of the lance,managed to avoid him, and also to pa&3 so close alongside that White got the harpoon well home into his flank. “Guess we’re fast; now, water on the line; he’s sounding!” The wounded hippo, however, did not go far, but soon turned and charged the boat again, nearly capsizing her and starting a couple of planks, but White and Badenoch each got a lance home. Two hands had to be set to bail as the boat was leaking fast; but the hippopotamus was evidently badly wounded, and in another charge missed the boat altogether, and, rolling as he passed, exposed his side behind the shoulders, when White put in another lance, deeply this time. The hippo sounded at once and for some time remained below water, and when he again came HP to blow was spouting blood. “ Spouting bio/d? He’s gone! Haul up to him, lads, and I guess Wll Bettle him now. ” White and Maleolmson now changed places, and when they came up to the hippo planted another lance fair down between his shoulders with such force that it went, half way np to the shaft. Some twenty minutes elapsed without his rising; they buoyed the line and went back to the Pearl, which was got under way and brought np to the spot, whep, the line being brought to the windlas3, they have the hippopotamus np to 4 the surface! and found him to be even larger than they had thought— Gentleman's Magakine,