SHIP SUNK BY A WHALE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 282, 29 November 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHIP SUNK BY A WHALE.

It Knocked a Hole iy the Steamer's Sims Aster Beixg Wounded.

A curious occurrence, resulting in the loss of a steamer, occurred last Thursday ofi the Varanger Fiord in the north of Norway, says Beyer's 'Weekly Ngws. , A whale that had besn harpooned by one of the steamers employed in thoso waters turned upon its pursuers and rammed the vessel, holing it so badly that it sank almost immediately, the crew having jas'o time to escape from the sinking ship in boats. Tho whales of the species frequenting the seas of the north coast, from North Cape eastward to Varanger Fiord, are notoriously vicious when attacked, and if not; killed ab once by tho explosion of the shell attached to the harpoon are apt to be dangerous.

Wβ recollect a somewhat similar incident* that happened eighteen years ago. A wiitfle was struck, but not killed immediaeely,and it rushed off, towing the vessel after it by »4ihe harpoon lino at a great speed. The engine of the steamer, about thirty horsepower, was started at full speed aatern to counteract the whale's strength, in tho expectation that the animal would soon succumb, but without avail; then the sails were hoisted and backed, to still further increase the drag, but still the vessel continued to be towed at a high speed, on a direct north course, away from the coast. The vessel was towed in this way for nearly fifty miles without any sign of the animal giving in. At length the position became so critical, tho vessel not being provided with an outfit) for reaching the North Pole, that the tow-rope was cut, and the whale allowed to escape.