CHARGED BY A WHALE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8190, 3 August 1912, Page 1

CHARGED BY A WHALE

EXCITING EXPERIENCE OP STEADIER HAWK, PEB33 ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, August 2. Slowly and carefully, with one blade of her propeller seriously damaged, the whaler Hawk, one of the sturdy vessels of the New Zealand Whaling Company, steamed up the harbour and berthed this evening. Captain Halse,'maanger of the company, told the story of the mishap to a "Herald” representative. On Wednesday last, in the forenoon, the Hawk was operating to the east of Cavelli Islands, between Whangaroa and Russell. A fairly large hump back whale was sighted, and the men succeeded in harpooning the animal. The bomb attached to the harpoon evidently exploded near the whale’s tail and failed to kill it. As generally happens when a successful thrust is made, the animal, infuriated, turned upon the vessel and made violent attack upon it. Before it could do any damage, however, the rope became entangled with the Hawk’s propeller. and so violent were the struggles of the whale that the rope was cut in half, but not before one blade had been so seriously damaged that Captain Nielsen, the master, decided that repairs were necessary before the vessel could be put into active operation again. The whale broke away with the harpoon and a long line of rope attached, and disappeared. . As soon ns things had beep put in order the Hawk was headed for Auckland, and was sailed under easy steam. The vessel will be docked on Monday or Tuesday. A new propeller blade will be fitted, and her boilers will also undergo an overhaul.