"Striking Oil.”

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 348, 7 September 1889, Page 2

" Striking Oil.”

MAHIA— The redolent of departed whales and whalers, the true home of whale lore, where every object reminds one of the past greatness of ths whale line, big with fi’hy reminiscences of daring experts, and hairbreadth escapes, Ac., of the playful greasy monster ; where nine out of every ten persons you meet, Maori or European, persist in your listening to a story commencing, “ When I was boat steerer to Happy Jack,” or “ At the time I was in old Shylo’s boat,” and always ending with “ Ah them’ere was the times,” the speaker dwelling fondly on the last word of the sentence, and then collapsing into silent ecstasy, as he again in fancy revels ’midst the glorious luxuries of oil blubber, stink, a .d rum. Money was to him in those days p. secondary consideration. What cared he f>r coin, so long as he could satiate himsflf with his favorite pleasures?—the hard work and excitement or the chase, the fastening to the enormous animal, the boat flying through walls of water and spray, the killing, towing home, and landing in triumph, the whole winding up with a pint nanican and a cask of rum with the head out. An incident occurred here last Friday afternoon, the 22ad instant, particularly calculated to renew recollections of bygone days in the minds of old hands. About 3 p.m. a large right whale was observed lying lazily on the top of the water, about ten chains from the shore, opposite the Mahia Hotel. As soon as possible a boat was manned (one hand short) equipped, and off in charge of Peter Bartlett, who ia said to ba one of the coolest, and beat whalers on the Coast, and in less than ten minutes from the time they started they were fast, going through the water at a great rate, the whale making straight to sea. In about twenty minutes the pace slackened, the boat hauled up, and the fish was lanced for the first time; again they dashed through the water, but at much less speed than at first, and at the expiration of another fifteen or twenty minutes the lance was used the second time. The wba’e now seemed to become stupid, dodging round almost in a circle, the boat being comparatively stationary. In a short time the animal rose wi'hin a yard cf the boat, broadside on, and then—well, I give you Bartlett’s description (verbatim) Gj what then happened “ Knowing we would be stove whether I struck the ffeh or not, I determined to kill him outright if I could with one blow; so I drove the lance into him up to the shaft, right under the fin, and the next thing I know of was being knocked or shook cut of the boat, white a noise like thunder sou in my ears as I went over. It was the fluke of the whale striking the boat and water. On reaching the surface I heard another tremendous blow. I caught hold cf the gunnel to ascertain what had happened. The boat had been literally cut in two at the bow thawt, the man (Robert Manual) who been sitting there having jumpad overboard to save his lit-?, for had he remained where he was he would have been killed and probably knocked through the bottom of the boat into which the water was now rushing, the cut extending to within one plank of the keel. M»nuel and I then got aboard and everyone went as tar aft as‘they could get to keep the forward portion of her out of water if possible, so that wo might by bailing keep her afloat. At first we thought to hold ou to the whale, but ultimately it was decided to cut and make for shore, get another boat and return for the whale now in a dying condition.” This they accordingly did, but on reaching the scene of the catastrophe it became dark, and os nothing could be seen of the whale it was given up for the night. Had there been more hands available two boats would have started at the fira r going one to support the other in case of an accident, but as it was nuly one could go and that one ehdrt-handed, fliifiug the skirmish the lance broke off short Within 10 inches of the wo°4 eu shaft, leaving about 4 feet of iron in the whale's body. Isaytlett and all those who are considered knowing iu the whali ;g business declare the ffeh dead, but suufc, so it is possible they may get it yet. BVNDOWNE3, 26th August, 1889.