The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-09-08
4 Story Of Suffering at Sea.

On the %oUn OF teOruary last, the
schooner S. B. Soper, Captain Samuel So
per, sailed from Provincetown, for a cruise
in the Atlantic Ocean, for whales Moth
ing unusual happened until about the frs
of July, when one morning school O.
whales was discovered. Three boats
were Immediately lowered, each contain
ing FIVE men, and commanded by the Cap.
tain, first and second mate. The second
mate killed the first whale, and towed him
to the ship. The other whales then star
ted off, pursued by the boats of the Cap
tain and mate. This was in Longitude
about Tin latitude "a. They contin,
ued the pursuit, and finally the Captain
fastened to and killed forty barrel sperm
whale. BY this time, night began to set
in, and no vessel was to be seen from the
boats in any direction, This was rather
startling, as they had no provisions OF
water on board, but upon consultation
they concluded to stick by the whale until
morning, in the hope that with returning
daylight they should be able to find their
vessel. When morning broke, the hori.
zon was anxiously scancd, but no vessel
was to be seen.
All that day was spent in cruising
round after her, and at night another
consultation was held. They had COM
passes, but no time, and the captain or
dered, that during the night they should
90 in q certain direction, and meet in the
in the morning. The mate, Mr.. Sam
Gem, of Provincctown, states that he
followed these directions carefully, but
when morning dawned, the captains boat
was not to be found. He spent a portion
of the next day in searching for the cap
tain, but finding his efforts vain, and that
his crew were beginning to suffer dread
fully for food and water, they being in an
open whaleboat, without protection from
the fierce heat of the sun, he concluded
that it was best for him to shape his
course for the nearest land, which he did
by steering n. n. W. course. They
had a sail, but it was not of much use
Their suferings from this time cannot be
described. But once they saw vessel
She was at some distance, and the sea
was very rough, SO that the mate deemed
it impossible with safety to steer for her,
and as those on board did not see the boat
they witnessed her disappearance with
the feeling that their last hope was leay-
ing them.
It now began to blow severely, and the
mate was obliged to rig "drug" with
his oars and whaleing lines, with which
he was enabled to lie to without danger
When the gale ceased be again put sal
on the boat, but the crew were almost a
the last gasp of suffering: their lips were
black and death seemed to stare them IL
the face For the last twenty-four hour;
so great were the pangs of thirst that they
began to drink of salt water, which usu
ally brings on delirium and death, in
short time. At the end of the 9th day
they made Cape Fear, and went shore
reaching Beaufort, n c. Mr.. GEM ant
one of the crew, Cornelius Prince of Bos
ton, worked their passage in vessel t.
New York, and reached this city ou Sun
day and are now at Provincetown.
What has been the fate of the captain
and the five men in his boat is unknown
They may have discovered the vessel, o.
they may have reached the shore. L
they did not, they have probably all per
ished. There was short rain one da,
while they were on board tho boat, bu
they had no means to catch it. The sec
ond mate and five men are on board th'
vessel, and she is, therefore, probably
safe, and will, probably, arrive at SOM
Atlantic port in a few days. The fac
of the mate still bears the immpress o
the terrible sufferings he has undergone
p in parched and blackened lips and sun
ken and deathlike features-BoStOn IfaU
ckIe1.