OLD WHALING DAYS

Evening Star, Issue 20316, 26 October 1929, Page 23

OLD WHALING DAYS

AH EXCITING INCIDENT NIGHT OF MAHY THRILLS Stirring incidents connected with th® old whaling days off the Mahia Peninsula continue to be recalled, states the ‘ Now Zealand Herald.’ Mr Tom Bartlett, now of Tawataipu, East Coast, and one of Mahia’s foremost whalers half a century ago, recently told a story which indicates that tho old-time whalers lacked nothing in the way of courage. “It was,” said Mr Bartlett, “late in tho afternoon one day about forty years ago, and a whale was observed spouting just beyond tho breakers. Unless she could be killed quickly, to go out after her would bo only courting trouble. But the young bloods of our party were determined to have a go, so my harpooner, Morell, and I followed these daredevils down to the boat. What they said was that they would take any chance so long as I was at the steer oar.

“We approached the whale and got almost on to her when Morell, a skilful harpooner, made a successful throw’. The whale turned seawards and sped out at a tremendous pace. It was an exciting time for the occupants ,of the boat, for darkness was fast approaching. But to add to tho thrills, the injured whale called to her mates and in a few minutes a big school surrounded her and the boat The speed of the injured whale increased and, ero long, the boat had been dragged some miles out and it was dark. WHEN THE ROPE WAS CUT. “On our journey more than one whale bobbed up undei onr boat and wo had -narrow escapes as we glided off them. At times, also, the boat was half full of but, at the speed wo were travelling, a lot of it would he thrown out again. I wanted to get back home, so I called out to one of tho lads to cut the rope. But he would not do so until 1 began to threaten him “ It was a very awkward moment,” Mr Bartlett said, “ when the rope was cut. Coming suddenly to a stop, the boat was almost swampco by the rush of water created by the school of whales. We had to bale out with hats as well as with a baleij and managed to keep her afloat. As it s< happened, our sister boat came out to look for us; otherwise wo migh* not have got back till the morning. Luckilj for us, our friends indicated the direction of the shore by lighting matches. It did not follow that harm would come to a boat even when in tho midst of a school of whales, so long as it kept clear of any one that was injured. Only an injured whale would lash out deliberately ” Mr Bartlett went on to say that although they lost the whale that had been harpooned, they eventually got another. During their forced flight one of the whales that had bobbed up alongside them had exposed its side and Morell bad thrust In’s lanco into it. The lanced whale died and next day it drifted ashore, much to the delight of the crew. “A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE.” Earlier on the day in question there had been a little bit of trouble, Mr Bartlett remarked. “We had.been out fishing, and were expecting at any time to hear tho signal, “There she spouts! ’ or ‘ Ehi Pauta! ’ the pigeon-Maori version of the warning. The youngs blades would, however, get the boat too close in to the breakers, and we were oftentimes in danger. “The position was that while the harpooner and myself would he looking seawards for any signs, our younger companions preferred tb fix their gaze on the shore, where their sweethearts were strolling about. Tho aim of the young fellows in bringing tho boat so dangerously close in was to enable their love songs to be heard. To stop their little game I had to threaten to cut down their share of the spoils.” Mr Bartlett added that his wife had come out in the second boat, having become anxious as to tho safety, not only of himself, but also of their son, who was with his father.