Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-03-31
From the American Protector.
THE WHALE SHIP.
AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE.

From the American Protector
THE WHALE SHIP.
AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE,
1t was on beautiful morning in Septcm-
Der, IS, that promiscuous crowd was
collected on wharf in one of the PRINCIPAL
sea-ports Of Massachusetts. The sun had
risen in peerless majesty dispensing the dense
fog, which so frequently cnshrouds that coast,
and obscures to the eye of the returning mari.
ner, the forest clad hills and fertile valleys Of
the country around, so beautifully interspers-
ed with neat,quiet villages, and thronped cit.
les teeming with active life in all its variega-
ted forms. At the wharflay ship Just com.
pleted and fitted out expressly for the whale
fishery, and destined for the Pacific Ocean.
A nobier piece of workmanship never weigh
ed anchor in the harbor of New Bedford
Her sails, hafunfurled, hung dangling around
her masts, and her penant. nuttering in the
gentle breeze, seemed eager to be fastening
away, and every eye watched with intense
anxiety to see her loose from her moorinps
and make her departure.
A short distance from the ship stood
neat, humble cottage, its inmates CONSISTING
OF young couple but recently united in the
sacred bonds of matrlmony, whose noble
hearts were so closely bound in Hymen's
chain that the thought of separation was like
that Of DEATH
To this undetermined and tender.hearted
husband was given the command of the YES
sci on which all eyes were now placed with
anxiety or curiosity. Who can tell the in
tensity of feeling, the painful forcbodines of
that young and aflectionate wife, whose cho-
sen lot 1t was 10 be the bosom companion of
the commander of this proud vessel-,o be
me Partner Tor lie OF one OF that much neg
lccted though oft deserving class of mankind.
the hardy mariner! To her Imagination
were pictured all the horrors of the tempest
uous ocean, wrought into madness by war
ring wlnds-all tho painful realities Of being
cast win but remnant Of life on some DESC
late or parbarous coast, there to die BY star
vatlon or by tho hand of savages; or, what
IS more dreadful, to drag out miserable life
IN bondage to some cruel tyrant. On the
other hand, she looked forward to the time
when she should descry on an approaching
flag the name the long absent vessel which
would bear her hearts delight to her long
widowed home,-whcn she should hail him
welcome to all the endearments of that Ely
SUM OF earth, the domestic fircsidc-when
the cords of conjugal affection would be
strengthened by long absence from the OBJ.
Ject OF their dearest attachment. Thus all
The hopes and fears, the veal and woe of
long life, are crowded into the small space of
moment, when the tender and con6dinp
wife relinquishes her grasp upon her compan-
lon-when the husband tears himself from
his fond and doting wife and HES away upon
Inc vast, lrackless ocean, exchanging the en-
dearments of home for the tolls and suffer-
lngs incident to seafaring life. Thus il was
with the hero of our tale. The honev.moon
had scarcely waned ere he must bid adeu to
the felicities of home, to take the command
ofas noble ship as ever smacked the breeze,
anda crew as daring and enterprising as him.
self.
The sun had gained some thirty degrees
from the horizon, beneath whose cheering
rays lay outstretched the broad expanse Of
waters, whose gently undula,ing waves SEEM
ed beckonng the ship and its crew away.
and promising them smooth and pleasant
passage over their unfathomable Depths
The anxiously looked for moment came. and
the exclamation-" all aboard, all ashore !! ("
was heard from on board the ship. Her
halsers were thrown from their fastenings-
her sails were spread TO catch the gentle
breeze which seemed lettering in readiness to
bear her away, and she moved as gently from
her native port as ever the setting sun babe
adieu to the eastern horizon.
Amid the gazing crowd of spectators, there
might be traced countenances betraying va
rious emotions. Those of the owners be.
spoke the joy of their hearts at seeing their
vessel move so beautifully away on profta.
BILE and as they hoped prosperous enterprise.
Other individuals might be seen whose down
cast looks and fearful eyes showed the con.
hicts of mind incident to those and those only
whose lot it is to part for long time with
friends whose place none others can fill.
A few moments, and the crowd was dis |
persed, some to their shops, some to their |
merchandise, and others to the bosoms of
their families; while the wife of the gallant
commander, having watched every move
ment of the ship till she had sunk in the abyss.
retired to her dwelling now robbed of the OBJ.
ject ofher deares, enjoyment. Gladly would
she have bravcd the dangers and hardships
OF the sea with her companion only to meet
his smiles with smile or his tears with
tear.
The noble ship sped her way safely over
the torrid zone-all hearts were elated with
joyful anticipations of a pleasant voyage
but, in the midst Of fancied security, the sky
at once became darkened, and all around
presented threatening aspect. No time
was los. in furling closely the sails and ma.
king preparation for a tremendous storm,
which soon burst upon them with uneontrola-
bic fury. The elements, which 50 lately