The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-01-11

From the .Nantucket Inquirer.
THE DROWNED HARPOONER.

Many aud strange are the accidents and
adventures that attend those ampblhious
bengs who traverse the outstretched
world of waters in quest of oceans unctu-
ous monarch. But the most perilous IN
cidents are encountered by those daring
mariners, who are engaged in the capture
Of that species of whale ycleped Spermd.
cdi, pursuing the greasy monster through
out all his tavorlte haunts and distant re-.
treats in the broad and fathomlcss Pacific.
In general the unwieldly leviathan eXhib.
its no symptoms of choleric tempera-
ment; and appears altogether unconscious
of the systematic warfare 40 zealously
waged upon his tribe, by the Insignificant
occupants of the superintendent elemo nj.
he knows nothing of their long and la
borious crusades in machines moved by
wind--he dreams not OF their egg shell
shipilDgs, in which, bent on death, ans
armed with the piercing javelin, fastenao
70 endless cords, they pull themselves IN
10 iIis immediate presence--Bor does he
often heed the slight skiff, es it slides to.
wards him like n six xlegged gnat along
the ceiling, bearing in it's prov the ath
letic boatsleerer, whose brawny hands up
hold and aim the glittering dart. Yet,
when the barbed lance stings hIm in the
shoulder, or the horn of bis enemy, the
sword-iish, pertorates his rotund and olea-
ginous sides, no exasperated de0on could
evincc stronger indications OF wrath, rage
and madness. Al first he plunges incon
tinent into the deep abyss--then wheel.
ing upwards, he urges his immense body
at full length into the air, lashing with
A.. H.,Ea
rending to atoms every substance within
his reach.
In the month of December, the summer
Of the southern hemisphere, Nantucket
ship was cruising for whales on the coast
of Chill. Nothing could exceed the pla
cid smoothness OF the seas, or the pellu
cid azure Of the oyerhaDging firnament.
There was just enough Of motion in The at
mosphere 70 propel the vessel in her
course, and TO invigoratc her crew with
the spirit Of enterprise. Every sail was
set, and every bosom sweled with the
hope Of a speedy accomplishment Of the
object Of their expedition. The cont
! nent, and all the usual obodes Of morals,
were far, far away. Home, and its sweet
endearments, were remembered as by
gone vision and considered in the future,
! a. saints think Of heaven. The occasional
scream Of All sbatross, circllng in the
I blue expanse-the monotonous dash OF
the ships stem through the scarcely re-
sistinp waters--intermingle with the va
ried tones ofa few human voices convers-
ing familiarly on deck, were the only
sounds which distinguished that region
from the Drlmeval realm Of
"silence coeval with Eternity"
Suddenly, hollow, Kissing eructotion,
Hike the blast Of a brazier's furnace, or the
sigh Of dying volcano, broke upon the
ready ears Of The seamon. cry from the
! MASTHEAD announced the appearance OF
their prey and at the same instant the
crew found themselves surrounded on all
sides by an extensive shonl Of whales,
\ iounderng, and spouiiDg, and blowing,
I ike so many English trumpetcrs at the
hattie of Waterloo. Forthwith, three
boats we're lowered, manned, and supplied
with all the usual paraphernalia, harpoons,
lances. towlines, waits, oars and paddles
with a sail. bag Of bread and a keg Of
water 10 each. They had but short Dis
tsnce 10 row, ere they came IN contact
with their mighty enemy. The boats
were epyerally commanded by the ship
master and two of his mates, assisted by
their respective boatstr rcrs, TO whom the
duty of striking the whale IS ordinarily as
sipned.--Thc larboard waist boat, undei
the second mates direction, contained IL
its bow nn active young man. who ha,
obtained the esteem OF all his shipmates
and whom we shall introduce TO our rea
ders under the name Of Jonah Coffin
Posing bis harpoon, he firmly awaited tn
orders Of bis superior, then seated in tb
boats ern.-Before him, forcing itscl
furiogsly onward, was huge and uncoui