From The New Yorker · The New Yorker · · 50s
The whale that made a reporter famous
In 1970, Paul Linnman covered the explosion of a beached sperm whale in Oregon. Fifty years later, it is still what he is known for.
In brief
In 1970, Paul Linnman covered the explosion of a beached sperm whale in Oregon. Fifty years later, it is still what he is known for. A 1970 news report by Paul Linnman on a dynamited whale in Florence, Oregon became unexpectedly famous and defined his career despite his reservations. Originally reported by The New…
A whale washes up in Oregon
In November of nineteen seventy, a forty-five-foot sperm whale beached in Florence, Oregon. Nobody could move it, so the State Highway Division decided to blow it up.
Linnman reports with alliteration
Reporter Paul Linnman covered the blast. He described spectators becoming land-blubber newsmen when the blast blasted blubber beyond all believable bounds.
“The sand dunes there were covered with spectators and landlubber newsmen, shortly to become land-blubber newsmen, when the blast blasted blubber beyond all believable bounds.”
The story defined his career
The report was rebroadcast nationwide and became a point of pride for Florence. Linnman, now seventy-seven, remains forever associated with the exploding whale despite his mixed feelings.
“It matters, and it's good.”
The short version
A 1970 news report by Paul Linnman on a dynamited whale in Florence, Oregon became unexpectedly famous and defined his career despite his reservations.
