Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

An account has been published in the Boston papers of an attack made upon the baroque Parker Cook, July 22nd, by a large sperm whale. Capt. G. Smith, of the schooner Union, just arrived at Boston, has given further details of the singular affair.
“The whale was a very large one, yielding one-hundred and three barrels of oil. When first lanced, the whale stove and capsized the boat with his head, and the line caught the leg of the boat steerer, John Hoxie, nearly severing the foot. While in the water, Hoxie took his knife from his pocket and cut the line. The waist-boat picked up the crew. Finding the whale was very warlike, Capt. Cook prepared his bomb-lance and gun, and in the meantime the whale attacked the bark, and struck her in the stem, which penetrated the head of the whale to the depth of the stem. The shock was so great that it threw everyone on board upon the deck, and started the false stem. The whale then went off about a half a mile, and run upon the vessel a second time, but with less force. Capt. Cook then attacked the whale while in his boat, with his dumb lance, and fired three times within 80 yards, the whale coming at him each time with his mouth open, and “showing fight” in the most desperate manner. The third lance caused him to spout blood, and he died soon after. When the whale was cut in, Capt. C. bore away for Fayal, to land Mr. Hoxie.”