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Story
October 18, 1903
The Morning Astorian
Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon
What is this article about?
Whaling steamer Humber's crew battled a 110-foot whale off Cape Speer, Newfoundland, for 29 hours; the whale towed the ship at 7 mph despite reversed engines, nearly sinking it, before tiring out. Reported Oct. 17 from St. Johns.
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OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Battle With a Monster Whale
Exciting Experience of the Crew of a Steamer on the Newfoundland Coast.
New York, Oct. 17.-The whaling steamer Humber has arrived here, says a St. Johns, N. F., dispatch, for repairs received in a royal battle off Cape Speer, N. F., with a monster whale, asserted by the crew to have been 110 feet long. The fight lasted 29 hours. When the monster was harpooned it started towing the vessel at the rate of seven miles an hour, though the engines were reversed full speed which, under ordinary conditions would mean a retrograde movement of about eight miles. This continued for hours, the ship, as the whale flew off in zigzag courses, being almost towed under the water, the sea washing the decks. Several times the Captain was on the point of cutting the cable, but the windlass held and the whale finally gave up the struggle.
Exciting Experience of the Crew of a Steamer on the Newfoundland Coast.
New York, Oct. 17.-The whaling steamer Humber has arrived here, says a St. Johns, N. F., dispatch, for repairs received in a royal battle off Cape Speer, N. F., with a monster whale, asserted by the crew to have been 110 feet long. The fight lasted 29 hours. When the monster was harpooned it started towing the vessel at the rate of seven miles an hour, though the engines were reversed full speed which, under ordinary conditions would mean a retrograde movement of about eight miles. This continued for hours, the ship, as the whale flew off in zigzag courses, being almost towed under the water, the sea washing the decks. Several times the Captain was on the point of cutting the cable, but the windlass held and the whale finally gave up the struggle.
What sub-type of article is it?
Adventure
Extraordinary Event
Survival
What themes does it cover?
Bravery Heroism
Survival
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Whale Battle
Whaling Steamer
Monster Whale
Harpoon
Towing Ship
Cape Speer
What entities or persons were involved?
Captain
Crew Of The Humber
Where did it happen?
Off Cape Speer, N. F., Newfoundland Coast
Story Details
Key Persons
Captain
Crew Of The Humber
Location
Off Cape Speer, N. F., Newfoundland Coast
Story Details
The whaling steamer Humber engaged in a 29-hour battle with a 110-foot monster whale off Cape Speer, Newfoundland. After harpooning, the whale towed the ship at seven miles per hour despite reversed engines, zigzagging and nearly submerging it with waves over the decks. The Captain considered cutting the line several times, but the whale eventually gave up.