Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1887 — FIGHT WITH A WHALE. [ARTICLE]

FIGHT WITH A WHALE.

A Finback ftmashea a Boat and Kill* ITiree Mea. ' '< ■* ' , I - - Proviaeetowa, Mm., special,Nov. 19. The whaling steamer Liwie N., Capt. West, has been engaged in thefinback whale fishery, on the eastern eoast, this season, on Oct. ft when about fifteen miles east-southeast from Reguin island, off the coast ot Maine, saw a large, tone whale of that species and attempted its capture. A bdat was lowered and manned by Captain West, his mate and four seamen. Captain West, wdfh a large, heayy whale gun, in which was an explosive bomb lance, took the breach of the !>oat, while the mate steered. Upon approaching the whale it was seen tha’ he would, be an ugly customer to deal with, as he showed.no inclination to run, but kept slowly moving around, evidently waiting to be attacked. When tlm boat was near enough to warrant a shot, Captain West fired the gun, but as the sea was rough the motion of the boat destroyed the accuracy of the aim. The whaio was badly wounded, but not in any vital part. The whale then made for the boat, and in passing under it struck it with his flukes, throwing it some thirty feet into the atr with its erew. As the boat descended the whale again struck it with its tail and completely demolished the boat and killed one of the crew, Jacob K’.oek, cutting him completely in two. •The whale then commenced to bite,and strike with its tail, at the pieces of the boat, killing two more- Neil Olsena and Chns Johnson—who ware supporting themselves on pieces of the wreck. Captain West, the mate and th& other men were. safely taken aboard the steamer and another boat was lowered capture the monster. Then the w'tiaJu attacked the steamer. By a quick turn of the rudder the steamer cleared him by a few feet. Th’s occurred a second time, and the .swell which was created by the whale’s fall back into the water knocked all on board off their feet. By throwing over an immense cask, at which the whale, thinking it Was the ship, kept backing away, the Captain was enabled to get a shot with the bomb lance, and finally the whale was killed.