The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-03

Ths Pu1ls - Whalsrs.
tfvE or TN GSo0xD MAZE or 6uP MAJESTIC.
CIV nnDH0nD- EXCITING CHASE ron WHALE
RU@ AWAY WITH THE B0Ars--A Foo, AND
tSOePECr or FIsDNo THE 6HIP-SU DAYS ON
6BA-FBARs or 6rARvArI0N-LAND H0!
usrunEs ON THE ISLAND OF Sr. MATHEW
: SER FOR SATT PAuL-THE 6HIP DIsCovxK-
&c, Brc.
LAHANA, q. H., OF 10, 1854.
on TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
s'san that several Of my friends on the paa-
no, and at the various ports out here, arc
TO know the particulars It the catastrophe
Nsjestic's boats lassly experienced in the
rsatka Sea; and, knowing no surer means,
5se for your widely circulatating paper, (rHE
Dirk HERALD) the following
% 10Th day Of August, 1854, while the ship
J, Of New Bedford, Csptain Thomas Percival,
ising in the Kamschatka sea, between lat.
60 N, for whales, at dx o'clock in the morn
rnaa ct the masthead saw shoal Of right
ehhead Of the ship, ship heading N. N. W, at
going ct about I've knots; ship Eagle, Of
aseing in company, ten miles OF, bearing N.
.ales worked TO westward; tho ship brsced up
70 chase, wind g.; all hands were called and
boats were lowered, (the hrboald, waist
N boats,) and made for the whales. Ny boat
had rot bat shset distance from tbs ship
shsrles Thompson, my boatsteerer, fastened
eighty barrel right whale. The whale
ACROSS our boat for the larboard boat; whom
littiens, the nrst mate, also got fast. but WAS
!, out Of his boat immedia ssly, yet through
rtions Of the boats crew he WAS hauled on
captain, seeing two boats fast, came down
wut before any one could lance the whale, he
4 or to windward, and o. there was some
Of see On and very stiff breeze, it became
Ysr Of some difficulty to hold on. Fortunately
tinued on this course but short time. Mill
ert, he started to leew ard, making north.
,uise; in half an hour Iauced him, but with
ct; the mate then lancsd with equal success,
ing able to get nigh enough to do any good
Spucceeded in getting another chsnse Of the
tind, whom the mates line parted, leaving me
~ boat fask The starboard, boat had caught
= they could do nothing, for the whale was
!. To make matters woge it now set in foggy;
oboazd boat carried away her mast, and a. it
aecessary 70 have sail to keep up, no put
ior the ship Immediately after Mr.. Whit
had started to 60 on board, the fog be-
thicker than It had hitherto been, 20
hose in the boats could hardly discern
zip. Still, a. the whale had been making
t;aight course. 1t was not deemed in any
,1nsafe to hold on. Thus matters con-
l until about four O'Clock, during which time I
1t one iron into his fukes, which he soon had
I out.
sship had not been seen In half an hour, when
from the whale, when she bore southeast
nth, coming towards tho boats. Remaining
r short time there was no appearance Of the
10, il vas decided to meet her. Unfortun ately
1~as nothing Of this kind In store for M. 70
rs TO meet the ship, was to pull to wind
which was matter Of some difficulty; and
DING 50 for an hour It was found necessary to
l mp 70 rest the men. However, in Q short
70 resumed the task; but did not continue it
han half An hour when the boats Grow gave
living been pulling and hauling hne for ten
with no provisions, and saturated with water.
hid ourselves In complete state Of exhaus-
It was settled tact that we would have to
the night In the boats; but e. it got dark It
10 matter Of doubt - 10 seeing the ship
! The boats now drew nigh, the Captain and
sndre, third mate, getting into my boat; We
ouncil on the most advisable plan Of action.
hip was lost TO rs by means Of the fog, which,
; region, lasts four days oot Of five; and Of the
boats which comprised our party, but two
rovisions, and bat scanty allowance at that.
consequently necessary to reach some place
aort period. Setting aside the ravages the ter.
Innate would effect, starvation was not far
& Captain Percival told M that our position,
0 best Of his kno Wedge, was between tho
3 Of st. Paul and st. Aathews-the former
distant about sixty miles, but 70 wind gard,
this Island there 10 ? Russian settlement
Was impossible 70 reach ito have male tho
pit would have been sheer folly. Nevertheless,
lative position with 81. Matthew's was moro
lsing, for, BY the same calculation, the latter
/ was bat ITO miles distant, northwest by
therefore to leeward. 70 reach this Island
ur best, eur only chance, - the wind was
ne gale from the southeast.
40 determined TO lay still al night, the captain
ously giving orders to cut up lines and poles
,tect the men from tho weather, a. II now
with fury that L. seldom seen in Novem-
/; homo, which, had 1t been in any warmer lati-
might have been bearable, bat She thermoms-
shen We left the ship, stood ct 43 degrees,
ince that time the increase Of wird and fog
have materially depressed IL. Previous to
oats separating to prepare for the night, d.
nine cakes Of bread, which was IN my
m key, q key which all whsleboats should
containing some bread, . lantern, natches,
giving the staxboard and bow boats three cakes
!, retaining three for my own boat
having divided the bread, We hauled apart !;
taking the paddles and some iron poles,
some etaurchioB round the boat: d en- wind
be lire around these, it made . slight protec.
against the wind; them dealing out our ration
cad, which wss onequstter of Z cake, amount
Q two-tbirds Of an ounce In weight; then pass
he boats .warps to each other, two boats took
cir sails, covering the boats with t.em-ny
which was shead, keeping our sail on.
Q morning Of the 18th was a. foggy a. the day
0, though the wind had moderated and shifted
. northward. Our little band presented but q
y front; the rain the night before, and cold,
eft strong traces. This early suffering On our
might have been prevented had there been
ackets In cur boats; but when the boats were
'ed from the ship none imagined that no should
way mere than five hours; consequently all,
vent In our situation.
Q wind was west when we cast the boats Of,
= the wind permitted us to shape our course
T. Paul, we did 30, steering southeast. The
was very light, and kept hauling to the
ward until In two hours IL hauled dead ahead.
ould stand 70 the southeast no longer, nor
head within three points Of that course. There
10 medium course. We stood round, and ke ot
west and west for St. Matthews Island. At
. o'clock, We drew slongside the bow boat and
ed our lantern key aud gave them two cakes,
ng % four. 1 dealt meme out; in fact, though
neeced ~, none Of my crew would ask, fearfu,