The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-06-30
back to his scattered convoy.-Still did
the baflled mate head his antagonist as
he should rise TO blow

the bafled mate head his antagonist a.
he should rise TO blow.
AT last the bubblng ripple from be.
low indicated the approach of the ami
NAL to the surface, and few vigorous
pulls brought the boat TO the spot where
it was judged he would rise to Its side
The oars were eased, and the word Civ
en- to the harpooner to stand up.'-The
bow was turned to the spot-the oars
men rested on their oars, ready to back
off and young Starbuck stood erect
cleared his line, and balanced his iron.
He placed himselfin the posture for stri
king and was bracing his knees to the
bow, when the bump Of the monster
emerged from the water. 1t was mo-
ment of undesirable anxiety-but TO
no one more than the harpooner. But
what was the CONSERVATION OF all. when
the head of the animal turned suddenly
over. 1t lsa motion made by the sperm
whale, preparatory to using his tech up
on an object floating upon the surface OF
the water. His huge under jaw armed
with immense ivory tusks, parted with
the rapi.ity ofthought. The bow ofthe
boat struck suddenly against his jaw and
poor Starbuck, in the act OF launching
his harpoon, lost his foothold and pitch
ed headIong into living tomb'-tbe
jaws Of the monster closed upon his bod
Y, leaving the legs of the victim projec!
ing from the mouth
rhe frightened mate lost his presence
OF mind, and omitted to give the word
TO rack off He held his steering oar
without the power Of motion. But onr
of the crew seeing the opportunity to
be avenged for the loss of his compan-
ion siezpd the sharp lance of the mate,
and plunged it 10 the hilt in the body
OF the whale as hp turned to escape. In
an instant the boat and the Crew were
driven INTO the air, by stroke Of the
animals tail The fail bark was SILVER
ed into a thousand pieces, and the ren
bruised. and lacerated, tell into the
broad ocean.
All that had transpired was seen from
the ships, and boats were despatched
forthwith to the relief of the wounded
crew.-Some had siezed upon fragments
OF the boat; while others sustained them
selves with pieces Of broken oars. sup
ported beneath b, the strong saline buoy
ancy so eminently peculiar to the un
tathomable depths of the ocean.
The unfortunate crew were rescued
in time to witness the last agonies Of
the desperate whale; which like Samp
son crushing the temple in his might;
dealt death and destruction on all sides,
while he himself was overwhelmed in
the general ruin.
The animal, blind with rage, and feel
ing the sting ofthe death-wound in his
heart, whirled round the ships in regu-
lar circles for long time, and then de-
scended. The crews Law upon their oars
watching where he would next appear,
while the ships were hove to, to await
the result.
Suddenly mighty mass emerged from
the water, and shot up perpendlcularly,
with inconceivable velocity, into the
air 1t was the whale, aud the effort
was his last expiring throe. He fell
dead, but in his descent he pitched head
long across the bows OF the ship "Gram-
pus," and IN one fell swoop carried away
the entire fore paIt of the vessel.
The crew escaped by throwing them
selves into the boats alongside, and row
ing quickly off. The gallant ship in
stantIy filled with water and settled
from their sight.