Wenchow, Captain Puckett, while on a voyage from Shanghai to Chefoo, met with an adventure which is almost unique in the annals of shipping. She left Shanghai on the 20th of April and arrived at the N. E. Promontory at 9.18 a.m. on the 23rd. Alceste Island was passed at 9.40 am., distance off, one mile, and twenty minutes later the Captain snd chi officer, who were on the bridge, an eye open for mines, discerned object two points on the port bow, which on examination proved to be a whale blowing. While watching it, it sounded and a minute after struck the Wenchow.
the port bow under water, shaking her from stem to stern. It then passed under the bottom of the ship, causing her to quiver all over, and got foul of the propeller, almost bringing the engines up standing for two or three revolutions, as the blades slashed into the huge mass. Clear of the ship it reared its enormous head out of the water for fally 50 spouting blood nnd colouring, the round. Down it dived, lashing into red foam with its tail. Then up again and over, showing the fearful gashes on its. Down and up it rolled and tumbled in its death throes, movement getting The last those on] and the Wer saw of the whale it was lying quivering on the surface of the water. [t was judged by those on board to be over 100 feet long.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.