Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-02-06
miscellaneous department.
From nc Nantucket Laq'sircr.
TIE DROWNED HARPOONEI.

Many ana strange the accidents and adventures
tlat attend lhse alnphihous beings who traverse the
Dutstrechcd world of waters in quest of Oceans unc
luous monarch. But the most pcrilous incidents are
encountered by those daring mariners who are engar.
cd IN the capture Of that species oil whale ycleped
SpeJH,dcetipuIsuing the greasy monster throughout
all his tavotc hauns and distant retreats the broad
an fa,houcsi Pacific 10 general The ,vieldy levi
ethan exhibits symptoms OF chociic tenpsrarnen
and appears altogether unconscious of the systematic
warfare jealousy waged upon his tribe by the in
significant occupants of the saperincunk nt element
lie knows nothing OF their long and aboruus crusatcs
an machines moved by W'nd-he dreams not OF their
cggsiell shpiugs, III which, bent death, and arm,
ell with the piercing javeIin fastened TO endless cords
they pull themselves into his immediate presanca-
';ss he often heed the sIig siiF as slides TO.
wards han ike SIX legged lgnat along the ceiling
bearing IN lis PROV the athletic: bnaisteercr whose
brawny hands uphold and elm the glittein@ dart. Vet
when the baibeI ia;ce s:ngs him in the Shoulder or
the horn of has enemy, the sworL-i,h pcrora,cs his
:otuni anu oeaS nouS sides, exasDerata.! ccocn
colid evincc stronger Indications of wrath RAGE AMI
madness AT rst he pliDgcs 'DcontinCut iao the deep
ahyss-theH wheeling upwards, he urges his immense
body at iu length INTO The ai:, laSbin. with his ample
JLahr The Framing wavc,-and renlintr To atoms every
substance within his reach.
In Tie month OF December tie summer of The son
iIern hcusrhere. Nantucket ship was CT using for
whales on The coast of Chill. N0IlirG could ;xcerd
tie paC smootiusss OF the seas, The pcllucI azure
Of the nrcrAan,ing armament. There was lust onouch
OF motion IN the atmosphere pIGpai lie vessel il, her
course, and TO ,nyiSoratc her with the spirit G.!
cn;cTp%H Every SAIL :vas set and every bosom swe!
Jed with The hope Oi speedy accomplishment of tc
object OF their expedition. iic continent aal III e
usual aboics Of noria!7, far far away Home
and us sweet cnhcaTIcnS, were remembered as 4 by,
gone Vision; aud considered IN the future, rs saints
tbIui OF heaven The occasional scream Of an aIf,l
trUss, cling in The blaze cxIanse--the uonotono,,z
dash OF the ships stein roug! the scarcely resistiu,r
acknowledgements with the yarieI tones of fcv.
human voices couTcssnS familiarity deck were te
only sounds which distinguished that region from the
Y.neyai realm Of
";!lcmcr coevai sv.h Eternity"
Suddenly, a ''"o', i,giDg cfucation like the bias
Of braH,er', furnace, The sigh OF dying Volcano
broke uPun The ready of the seatncu. cry from
he masthead announced the appearance Of their prey;
and al tie instant the found tEiensglyc, siIr
ronnted Oh oil sides ~ an extensive sioal of whales
laundering an1 sPouiiDg, aud ing, like SO many
English t'unp9eis al tie battle of Waterloo Forth
WITH three boats ere lowered manned and supplied
wi'h t'e usual raaphcrnei!a, harpoons, lanccs tow
iTes, Eats oars AMI paddes; with sail bag OF bread
and ke5 Of 'Fater 10 each. They had hui short
distance 10 roy, they contact ~ III, their
mighty enemy. The boats seyeraiiy commanded
by thc shipEaser and t;yD Of b, mates assisted b.,
thcr respective GDat,cerGrs TO whom the Ia:v of stu
Ring Toe whale Is ordinarily assigned. The iorf,oard
waist boat, under the second mates direction contain
ei III It's b"'v 40 active young man, who Lad obtained
the esteem Of all lis shprna!cs, AMI whom we shall il
tr0GHcc 20 readers under The uainu of Jonah Coffin
Jo,s"S his barpooD he GfUy awaited the orders of his
superior, th"n seated ~ The boats stern Before him
forcing 'Sclf liGp ~ coward was hunn and uucouiI,
oss, alternately emitting from ~ glossy projerapces
the sparkling euIgcnCC Of meridian sui, or partially
descending below Tie temporary SURGE forming Iuc
vJr;gcs to IL "3he ani putting from, is nosril, tle
l-cg1ach"g ut'L2. ln03 and patiently Gri TIC oars
meI ia5 At their 5ia''oUs all away" said the officer
GoingIy--SHUC r drew towards him the IIanJip
uf ~. .c"'u. oar. iho very cye 81 the monster wa.
nov 10 srGht--'lYv dart" csclitGcI .l,o mate; and
Jonah, VIII tia a'.,d Of poiyplcrnus. drnyc the ia
iai weapon '"s' '";o 'a2 ha'y .! hi5 G5snr antago
ii ,ra5 m a.st' moment and the cof,,r,.r 8 b