Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-07-31
.IRterellaneouo.

Our readers may remember the report
ed marriage Of the captain II one OF gu
whale ships 10 Otaheitan beauty. and
the subsequent report OF her having bee
killed on the voyage homewsrd by shark
4 whilst bathing IN the Ocean Of this las
rumor, we have a positive RECITATION il
the following veriabie narrative from tia
most accurate (most witty, at leas. of al
chroniclers. Major NoAu.--.Net intel
FROM THE NEW YORK EvEEINa STAR
.airS. Klagdiara Spooner lit is with III,
most heartfelt satisfaction that We are en
ahled 20 inform our readers. that this in
teresiing lady is s,lll IN the land Of the lv
ing, and that II is quite probable the cit
zcns of New York may be yet grstifed b,
a sight Of her graceful movements IN he
faroriio element, from Castle Garden
We are indebted 10 Captain Bunker. who
lately arrived at Nantucket, for nara.
tive Of her wonderful escape from the peri
lous situation in which she was found,
where il was supposed she was devoured
| by shark; and as Capt Bunker had the
| particulars from her own mouth. aud that
ei Captain Spooncr, there can be no mis-
| take The story is correct. so far as her
being seized unawares by the shark, and
| carried under water TO great depth be
fore she could dlseugage herself from his
| enormous Jaws. Although she was taken
by surprise, she did not for moment
lose her presence OF mind, but felt IN her
poliprau, or girdle, for long Ruie, Witch,
after the fashion of her country, she al
ways carried with her TO defend her life
1 or, wh at was much more dear 10 her, her
| sonor The battle now become terrific.
| aud the shark soon found. from the re-
| peaied stahs he received. that II WAS no
chIld's play be was engaged IN, although
he did not LEI go his first grlp until he car
ried oil with him about four pounds OF
flesh from her starhoard quarter, aud gave
several MINOR bites about her beautiful
person. He was soon glad. however. TO
beat a retreat, and leave her the qHet pos
session Of the ocean. She then goes an
to describe, in the most pathetic terms.
her feelings when she arose 10 the surface
of the sea, aud saw The ship foil three
miles off gong with tive knot bteeze
right before the wind. Her first idea was
10 follow the ship, but this notion was
abandoned almost az soon as formed,
when she determined 10 strike out fer her
native island, which she knew was only
1 about fifty miles distant.
We pust now return to Capt Spooner,
not 10 describe his feelings. for that is i'm
possible, we must, therefore, leave Il 10
the readers imagination, 10 paint The feel
ings of Capt. Spooner, when he saw the
partner OF his affections deyonred before
his eyes by monster of the deep / he
Captain remained in speeches. agony all
III. ~. IL
deck, stretched himself on the hen coop,
his whole thoughts sui bent on his King.
atara, when he despatched the boy below
for d large square black bottle, that he
recoilected was in his medicine chest,
which contained something that he thought
might be Of service TO hini,@ and, afie.c tax
Ing several doses, he actually found much
relief, hut still his dear wife was never
absent from his thought; when little be.
fore meridian the man at the mast head
screamed out, to,ea. no. Where away
says Capt Spoouer, springlng to his feet,
for the fist time forgetting Kingatara.
On the lar5oard quarter, sir. heading this
way. Man the bUais, says the Captain;
anu IN three minutes he stood with his
harpoon IN his hand on board the fore
most boat, Ia ml! pursuit Of the whale.
re was now all HE; pull, my boys, pull,
there she sponts again; three strokes more
and we are alongside. Mercilul powers,
what sight met his eyes; his beautiful
Kingatafa sitting on the back Of the mon
sier, with one hand securely fastened in
the blubberi here was no time for re,
llection, the impetus OF the boat was such
That the bow struck directly against the
fish, the harpoon was securely fixed un
der the fore ripper, aud Kingatara stood
fast, upright In tue beat stern all lay
down. Klok. was the only word spoken
by the Captain uutil after the death of
the whale, which was soon despatched.
Aud now who Can pretend to imagine the
transports Of the Captain. when he got
alongside OF the ship again, with his dear
K,ngatara and fifty barrel whale. The
lady fipished her narrative by saying, that
she had been swimming about three hours,
when she was somewhat surprised By find
ing herself on a whales back, who rose
Immediately under; she immediately Sc
cured herself by cutting hole ~ his
back with her knife; and, Ivy prlcking him
first on one side and then 90 the other,
made him alter his course SO "a to over.
take the ship. 1t was most fortunate
circumstance that they bad on board one
of Badeau's largest plasters, which was
applied to the wound mace by the shark;
and when Capt. Bunker left, sue was as
well as could be expected, under existing
circumstances.
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This was temperance ship.