The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-11-15
FROM tho hoston Journal.
DEsTRUcTfoN or a NEw nEDroRD
SHIP ny A WHALE.

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The following remarkable case Of ne pro:
digious powers of whale, is related by a
gentleman who arrived IN this city yesterday
from Nav York, whero he was in company
with Capt Dcblois, tho master ~ the unlucky
ship who arrived in that city Saturday amor
noon in the steamship Cherokee. Capt Deb
lois, OF tho Whalesbip Ann AlcxBnder, OF
New Bedford, stated that on tho 9oth ~ An
gus, last. when 10 lAi. so s., Ion. io7 w,
while In pursuit Of whales, two Of his boats
that were out IN purul were attacked by a
large sperm whale, aud completely dcmolsh-
Cd. The snptain promptly ordered out third
boat, and proceeded TO the assistance of the
men, who were thrown into the sea by the de-
s,ruciion Of thcir boats. lie succeeded in
rcscuing all them, and reached his ship IN
safety. But the Whale, becoming moro fran
tie with rage, immediately directed his course
for the ship, aud struck her abreast OF her
lorcmast iniuring her so badly that. she in-
stautly filled Allbands took TO the boats on
tho 2sd, and were subsequently picked up by
the ship Nantucket, Capt Gibba of Nan
tuckct, and arrived At PAytA Sept. i5,whenec
the captain took passage Tor New York, on
his way bone.
This is certainly an extraordinary instance
Of the fearful capabilities Of the whale, and
we believe the like has not occurred hut once
before, which happened In tho casc Of A Nan.
tuckei ship many years ago.
Since the above was in type, 'wo have ro-
cciyed the New Bedford Mercury Of this
morning, which contains full account Of
this thrilling catastrophe, copied FROM the
Panama Herald. The Ann Alexander sail
cd from New Bedford, Juno lst, 1880, aud
had taken 500 barrels Of oil in the Atlantic.
She called at Payta on the slst Of May and
was procccding on her cruise to the South
Pacific when y Sjs unforeseen disaster occur
red
"On the goth Of August last sho reached
what is woll known as the on. Shoru Ground
in lat.6 5s South, Ion. lo2 West. In the
morning Of that day,at about O'Clock whales
were discovered in the ncighborhood,
and about noon the same day they sue
cceded in making fast to one. Two boats
had gone aftcr the " htGsles-,hS: laFboarlsnt
the stSrboard, the former commanded BY the
hrst mate, and the latter by Capt. Deblois.--
The whale WHICH they had struck was hNr-
pooned by the larb8ard boat Amer rdnninp
some time, the whale turned upon the boats,
and rushing at them with tremendous vio-
lcnce. opened its enormous jaws and taking
the larboard boat in actually crushed il into
pieces as small as a common sized chdirl--
Capt. Dohlois Immediately struck for the
scene Of the disaster with tho starbosrd boat,
and succeeded against all expectation in res
cuing the whole of the crew OF the demolish-
ed boat---uine in number How they escap-
ed from instant death when the whale rushed
upon them with such violence and seized
their boat in its pondrous jaws, is a mystery
known only to Him who holds the waves as
in the hallow Of bis hands,
There we're now eighteen men in the star.
board boat, consisting of tho Captain, the frs,
mate, and the crews of both boats. The
ffightful disaster had been witnessed from
the ship, and the waist boat was called into
readiness & sent to their relief The distance
from the ship was about six miles. As soon
as the waist boat arrived, the crews were di-
vided, and il was determined to pursue the
Same whale, and make another attack upon
him. Accordingly they separated and pro
cceded At some distance from each other, as
is usual on such occasions, after the khR,e.r-
In a short time they came up TO him and pre-
pared to give him battle. The waist boat,
commanded by the first mate,w was in advance.
As soon as the whale perceived the dem
onstration being made upon him, he turned
his course, suddenly, and-,makioe a tFemeR-
dous dash at this boat, seized il with his vide
spread jaws, and crushed it into atoms,
allowing the men barely time to escape bis
vengeance by throwing themselves into tho
ocean
Capt. Dcblois, again seeing tho perilous
condition Of bis men, at the risk Of meeting
tbs same fate, direcnd bit. boat to hasten TO