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


a meridian sun, or partially descending be-
low the temporary surge, forming little
vortices to its wake and putting from it's
nestrils the encroaching brine, Long and
patiently did the oarsmen tug at their sta
tons" pull away said the officer en-
couragingly--whlle he drew towards him
the handle OF his steering oar. The very
eye of the monster was now in sight
now DART" exclaimed the mate and 10.
nah, with the effort OF Poyphemus, drove
the fatal weapon fast into the body of his
gigantic antagonist.
IL was an awful moment and the adj
venturous fishers had made every custo-
mary preparation for its approach. But
the object of their toll, instead of dropping
simultaneously into the depths beneath,
thence again TO emerge, after some mo.
ments for the snke of brcath--or instead
OF starting off horizontally, "a ~ lrequent-
ly the case, with the velocity of lighting,
dragging his presumptuous pnrsuers thro'
the disparting wave, WHICH throws swiftly
upon either side of their irail pinnunce
transparent sheet Of spray, surmounted by
gorgeous rainbows-rolled backward, and
with prcternatural frenzy made for tho
boat--his enormous jaws distended to
their utmost limits; and his tremendous
tail now curving upwards, aud vibrating
like n light house in an earthquake, and
anon falling with horrid flap upon the lew
el bosom of the sounding deep. The as
tonished sa ilors were instinotively about
to rush overheard, when, with a convul-
sive bound--it was the leap Of mountain
the lacerated monster sprang entirely
over the boat, his unearthly dimensions
striking principally upon the opposite sido,
and partly upon the fragile thing itself.
spilling its contents and grinding its frame
20 splinters.
The men were all good swimmers, und,
save one, betook themselves without larth-
er calculation, and with exemplary prccip.
itancy, To- the profitable exercise of their
arms aud legs whereby they soon reach
ed the boats of their comrades, and where
out of danger. Not so with poor Jonah.
In the tumult of the moment, he had be-
come entangled in the toriuous coil at
tOched to his harpoon. Not an instant
had been allowed him, wherein he might
have seized the hotchet, or nusheathed
his jacknife, and freed himself from so uns
gracious predicament. lie tell himself
drawn, by an irresietble power. Gown.
down, amidst iniermnpble caverus, and
bottomloss profunditios. Whn' uteNty
illrpflseu tlIIlls WIZ nlS hbhlAN Thi ~
breathe and 10 sec. Passing with the ra-
pdity of thought, along understandable dis.
tanccu, he Ind opportunities TO scnn bat a
few Of the wonders of those vast guis--.
Here lay an extensive forest of coral, in.
habited by shapes indesc crbable-th
moved an immense mass of gelatlnous
matter, cncompassod by myrlada of sub
marine prodigies, To pisciyorous inan NTH
crto unknown. The sea devil, wlth his
emerald horns the tartarean crab with
million Of claws, each a furlong in length;
the ponderous symmesian oyster, whose
shell opens wide enough TO admit n seyen-
ty-four the thousand eyed dragon, whose
head, studded with dazzling gems, and
whose every eye, set in countless diu-
monds, may be seen at the depth Of fvo
hundred fathoms sea-gorgons, hydrus,
grifiins, phpnixes, and all manner OF beau
tiful reptiles, were quietly feeding, OF ffol-
icing without noise, in those unsearchablc
regions.
And here, some philosophers may be
disposed 10 obtrude doubt, touching hon.
est Jonah's capacity of vision and Of res-
Draton the whle.-But let il be inquired,
whether so huge body, darting through
the sea with such outrageous ccler,y,
may no; have left behind a sort ofvacuity,
afTording a medium wherein the little ami
nal in his rear might exercise those facul-
ties And, regarding the accelerated pro-
gress Of this monster, il may be aptly ac-
counted for on purely philosophical prin-
ciples: every body knows how fast dog
will run with tin kettle
But TO our tale--let us hasten 10 the ca
tastrophe. After be carried 10 such lengths,
and in such a manner, our almost exhaust
ed hero, found himself on the ascent. His
wild and turbulent conductor was again
mounting TO the upper world. Embracing
q moment Of respite, while the whale was
in the act Of turning upon its side, he
sought his knfe--but in vain--a new mo-
ton disturbed him--he was waved to and
fro with an impctuous regularity--his
lungs labored. and rs sight grew indis-
tinei--his breath went, and camc, and
went, 10 return not without inhaIing also
drnnpht ~ the saline fluid. Alas,
thought he, um drowned Foggy images
Hoated on his brain, and gradually faded
into utter of'uscation. lie awoke upon
the quarter deck of his own ship. under
the operation of stimulatiye cordials and
warm towels; having been cast upon tho
surface during the whales dying struggle,
and picked up near the place Of his de-
scent, BY his anxious comrades--to whom
he was shortly enabled 10 lend hand in
cutting in aud trying out his ninety bar.
relied tormentor.
-..sAes-
| MoNTREAL Dec. 18.
Remarkable circumstance. On Tuesday
/ last the body of a young woman was con.
veyed to the English bnrying ground for
iuterment When the funeral party were