Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-08-27

A STORY OF SUFFERING AT SEA. On the 25th of
February last the schooner S. R. Soper, Capt. Sam
uel Soper, sailed from Provincetown for cruise in
the Atlantic ocean, for whales Nothing unusual
happened until about the last of July, when one
morning school of whales discovered. Three
boats Immediately lowered each containing five
men, and commanded by the captain first, and sec
ond mate. The second mate killed the first whale
and towed him to the ship. The other whales then
started off, pursued by the boats of the captain and
mate. This was in longitude about Tin latitude
about "a. They continued the pursuit. and finally
the captain fastened to and killed forty
whale. By this time night began to set in, and
vessel was to be from the boats in any direc-
ton. This rather startling, as they had no pro-
visions 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 horizon anxiously scanned but no vessel
to be seen.
All that day was spent in cruising round after her.
and at night another consolidating was held. They
had compasses but no time, and the captain ordered
that during the night they should each go in
tain direction, and meet in the morning. The mate,
Mr.. Samuel Gem, of Provincetown, states that he
followed these directions carefully but when the
morning dawned, the captains boat not to be
found. He spent portion OF the next day in
searching for the captain, but finding his efforts vain,
and tnat his were beginning to suffer dreadful
iy, for food and water, they being in open whale
boat without protection from the fierce heat of the
sun, he concluded that it best for him to shape
his for the nearest land which he did by
steering n. n. w. course. They had sail, but it
not of much Their sufferings from this
time cannot be described. For once they saw YES
sell She at some distance, and the sea was very
rough, so that the mate deemed it impossible with
safety to steer for her. and those board did not
the boat they witnessed her disappearance with
the feeling that their last hope was leaving them.
1t now began to blow severely, and the mate was
obliged to rig drug" with his oars and whaling
lines, with which he enabled to lie to without
danger When the gale ceased, he again put sail on
the boat, but the almost at the last gasp
Of suffering, their lips black and death seemed
to stare them in the face. For the last twenty-four
hours great the pangs of thirst that they be-
gan to drink salt water which usually brings on de-
lirum and death in short time. At the end of the
sixth day they made Cape Fear, and went ashore,
reaching Beaufort N. c. Mr.. Gem and one of the
crew, Cornelius Prince of Boston, worked their pass
age in vessel to New York, and reached this city
on Sunday last, and are at Proyincetown.
What has been the fate of the captain and five
men in his boat is unknown. They may have dis
covered the vessel, they may have reached the
shore. If they did not, they have probably all per-
ished There was short rain day while they
were on board the boat but they had no means to
catch it. The second mate and five men are on board
the vessel and she is therefore, probably safe and
will arrive at some Atlantic port in few days.
The face of the mate still bears the impress of the
terrible suffering he has undergone in parched and
backened lips and sunken and death-like features.
Boston IraUeLLer.