Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-10-25
MISCELLANEOUS.
For The Green Mountain Freeman.
One Day on hOard a WhaIenShin.

IOT LHt bfCCb "HOtHttdHC u iCCHD~E'
One Day on board a WhalC"Ship.
The glorious sun arose in all the spendor of
tropical morning; the heavy hank of Clouds tinged
with purple and gold-the sure indication of a fair
day, was rapidly melting away from the east, and
the gallant ship Ayerick was scudding along under
full topsals at the rate Of five knots an hour. The
morning watch had finished washing the vessels
deck, the wished for " seven bes' had struck and
that dread to sleepy sailors, watch ahoy!" re-
sound fore and aft. One after another the relief
watch came upon deck, giving vent to the usual
curses for being called 50 early, while they were
received with assurances worded equally strong,
that they had not been called early enough by half
all hour.
The boatswan pred sail hands to breakfast"
but before scarcely biscuit had been broken, the
well-known and spivit-stirring cry of there she
blows" rung upon their ears. ln an instant the
halffnished breakfast was cast aside, and every
man hurried on deck. "There she blows" was
again heard from the man al the masthead
What do you 2" cried The captain, coming
out Of the cabin and springins into the fore-rig
ging
a large sperm whale, sir" was the reply
" There goes Aukea,"
1t soon became evident that the man had seen
whale Of some kind, which, having had its ''apout-
ing" or breathing out, had now &c turned flakes"
and gone down, about five miles off
Captain NJ. gave orders to " keep a sharp look
out, every man." and went aoft: bat there was no
occasion, for every participated in the excite
ment and was on the alert.
" Boy" cried the captain from the mnst-head
{" make spy-glass fast to the signal hallyards and
send it aolt.
In about haitian hour captain M. saw the whale
"There she blows" he cried, " off the larboard
quarter three miles off Starboard your HELM
sarboard sir; steady, as you go-steady sir" Mr..
Winsow, haul in the starboard braces and let her
luff to the wnd'
''Aye, aye, STRIP
The ship was now "close-handed" and headed
directly fol the whale. g On deck, there" cried
the captain. q" Make a little less noise, and get
the boats ready" But 1t was impossible to keel
men quiet who were fearless Of winds and waves
and who for years had battIed with the monsters
ofthe deep.
By this time the whale had again gone down
but about nine O'Clock came up about Il mile a
head of the Ship This was considered sufficient
near for the ship to venture. The captain nov
came on deck " Haul back the man-yard-stan
by the boats-ower away was the work of
moment, and away shot the light boats over tn
waves, C like things of life"
As every whale is an honor to the boats cre'
who Gr- fastcns to him, so every man uses ever
possible excrtion to obtain that honor The cal
tain's boat had the start of the others and was
heal at fist, but soon the chief mates took II
lead. Capt. M. perceived that he should be bea
en-, and bestowed proluSion of curses upon h
crew to make them pull, while Mr.. WnSo'
without letting the excitement of the moment 1T
away with his better feelings: persuaded his me
TO do their utmost without resortlng to threats al
curses but by appealing to their own interests
" Now my men," said he, as they passed the ca
tahs boat, C the chance is ours; pull, my de
fellows, pull-pu for your sweelhearts on sho'
fyou love money, pulls there he lays IKE ''
all out of water-worth three thousand doIla
now then, pull-nOw-noW; three strokes MOI
do pu-stand up Ton-give it to him sohd
AS qu'0N 10 '""uS''t ttS ""' Po"''' 80 w.
and two harpoons were buried "socket deep"
the life" of the monster Stern all" or
Mr. Wuslow; "Stor all, tell you-stern, eve
man--that's he-a's right" The whale ra'
his mighty hukes, brought their fiat surface W
tremendous force upon the water and with a tn
dering noise shot ahead with the rapdity of Zig
ming. Come here, Tom" said the mate,
the hnrnooner sprang aft to the steering oar.
Hold on line, every one of you" shouted
Wnslow, ~ he started forward to lance the wh
but to obey was impossible; the whale was 60
through the water at the rate of sixty miles
hour, and the boat was knocked about by
waves like tennis ball