The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-06-16
EXTRACT
March Z, ls42.


II was beautiful afternoon in Autumn that
our noble ship the Hercule lay becalmed with
in few miles of the shores of that lovely
leland Juan Fernandez. The useless sails hung
Tapping against the mast as our bark graduly
rose and fell with the long undulatiDg swell.
1t was Sunday aud ocr crew dressed in clean
duck ffocks and Howsers were scattered
about the decks, lying on the windlass and
hatches; or leaning lislessly over the rail
watching the motions of large shark that had
followed us for several weeks seeking for
bluhber quite as anxiously as ourselves. To
the Iandsman the Sabbath is empha,ically
day of rest; but the sailor cannot with any
certainty call it so, 1t may be and il may no,
according TO circumstances. Sail is somes
times 10 be made and taken in. Should
whales be seen they are 10 be pursed; if cap.
iured they are 10 be cut in and tired out; other-
wise nothing is expected Of Jack but 10 take
his trick at the wheel-stand two hours on the
top gallant yard or cross tree, looking out
for whales and TO wash and hoystone the deck
.n the morning. Our eagle eyed skipper from
whose keen observation naught on the wide
expense O.! waters escaped so far as the eye
could scan) stopped suddenly as he was pacing
the deck and clapping his hands exclaimed 10
Suppressed voice "Just look at that fellow,
Mr.. Folger." "Where2" asked the mate.
"Not mile of-two points forward of the
larboard beam returned the delighted captain
skipping about the deck in eatacies for we had
seeu no whales for several months
The Captain watched The monster at his un.
eouth gambols for few minutes now and then
utteriDg exclamations like The following:
"He lays log," "He's slow as night" "There
she blowsp 'There che lop tails" "There
goes Aukes," "There she Breaches" &c;
when balling the man aoft and cursi0g HIM
for not keeping better look out called him
down, Orders were then given 10 clear
away and lower the boats without noise
Captain Howland charged The officers 10 be
careful and not 60 on TO the whales eye 10
| lay we'll off and use tho paddles instead of orr
oars, as they would make les noise. We
We are scarcely fifty yards from the ship
when the whale turned and came directly to-
ware -quickcning his speed as he advanced
| His color was dingy white, and Ibave noti-
ced that whales Of that complexion without
exception are vicious and extremely Gun.
| ing.
"Lay aside your paddles boys, said The mate
"and be ready to take your oars Work quick
for we mus! take him head and head" "Stand
up Huzzy," addressing the harpoousmap, and
lok out for him"
| 1t was moment Of deep anxious suspense fol
we all anticipated trouble. Not word wa,
spoken; we scarcely brealhed. TWAS sucl
stiffness as generally precedes some dir,
convulsion Of nature. "Glve il to him shouted
the mate and The Furnished harpoon gstenet
moment in the air and then buried itself Il
the socket in the bowels Of the monster
With one convulsive sweep Of his fnke h,
filled the boat half fill Of water and then throw
ing them high in the air soughtto escape h
relentless pursuers in the unfalhomless abys
beneath. The velocity with which be decen.
ded cazsed the mate to be enveloped in smok
occasoned by the rapid friction Of the lin
around the loggerhead. Before we wer
aware he arose and took the boat 10 his Haout
-Four Of The crew jumped overheard. re-
manned in the boat. Just imagine yoursel
gentle reader in my situation seated between
those mighty engines Of dstrSchon. No,
confess that was mol, more courageous tha
my companions but always considered myse
safer in boat Than ID the water at tunes
The thwart on which sa prevented hm fror
crushing the boat and myself. 1t was orig
nally pine-had bsen broken and replaced b
an ash one an iuch in thickness. Had h
seized the boat few inches further toward
the head or stern ] should not at this time |