Washington sentinel., 1854-01-06

Such was the cry one morning about SIX
bells, on board the ship Lobster, OF Portsmouth,
N. H., and the cry was taken up in all parts OF
the ship, and the shout of "porpoisesr por-
poises!' was heard in every key, from the gruff
bass Of the boatswan, to the shrill treble OF the
cabin boy. t
The ship Lobster was bound to Liverpool,
and was now approaching soundings off Cape
Clear, after a long and boisterous passage.
The crew were lively set Of fellows, and eag-
erly seized upon anything which promised ex-
citement and little relief from the monotony
usually attended on a long passage across the
Atlantic The cry of porpoisesN seemed a
magic charm to rouse all their energies into
action, and every man fastened to the weather
side Of the deck, and with outstretched neck,
and glistening eyes protruding from their Soc
kets, we're soon earnestly gazing towards that
part of the ocean indicated by Sam Stark
weather, gnarly-looking old tar, who was
standing on the starboard cat-head, holding on
by the fore tack.
And there, sure enough, away off on the
weather bow, was seen shoal of porpoises,
rapidly approaching the ship. They seemed
to be in high glee, sporting with each other,
leaping out of the water, and playing variety
of antics, which would have excited the admir-
ration of harlequin.
ssWhere is the captain ~ exclaimed Mr.. West
n,acot, the mate ."Steward, call the captain
"Aye, aye, sir" and that sable functionary
dived below.
"Hand along the harpoon!'' yelled the mate.
s'Bend on the end Of the fore-top-sail halliards!
aAye, aye, sir"
And now Captain Rutherford, in marvellous
scanty costume came rushing on deck, with
eager determination in his look, as if he was
resolved on mighty deeds. "Where are the
porpoises?n he exclaimed, as he sprang out of
the companion way. In three bounds he reach
ed the forcastle; the lobster was not an ever
lastingly long, snakish looking, modern mann
moth clipper.
Here they are, sirl almost under the bowsl'
screamed Sam Starkweather
Captain Rutherford took his station on the
bowsprit shrouds, albeit he was pretty sure Of
a ducking. "Reach me the harpoon! Be
lively, lads What are you aboutl Now stand
by! See all clear to haul one of those fellows
aboardI" and with stalwart arms he brandished
the death-dealing instrument.
A tall block was fastened to the fore stay,
through which the topsail halliards was rove,
and then made fast to the eye of the piece Of
rope permanently attached to the harpoon
The unsophisticatcd fsh, unconscious of dan
ger, and attracted by a very natural curiosity,
began to gather around the bows of the Lob
ster. One Of goodly size, possessed of double
portion Of animal spirits, or too eager to dis
play his wonderous activity, made circle be-
meath the bowsprit, which brought him near
the stem of the vessel, and directly beneath the
feet of his formidable foe, armed with the wea-
pom of destruction.
"Now for it!' shouted the Captain, in u voice
of thunder, as the harpoon left his hands, and
was buried deeply in the back of the porpoise.
"Haul in! haul inl why don't you haul in2'
Haul in haul in' responded Mr.. West
macot, the mate, and the remainder of the
crew in chorus as they reused in the slack Of
the rope, drew the struggling and astonished
fish from beneath the ship, and after severe
struggle, hoisted him up to the bowsprit.
"A bowlinel A running bowline oclap over
his TAIL" screamed Mr.. Westmacot-"o or we
shall lose him--the harpoon is drawing out r
A running bowline formed out of the fore
top-maststaysail down-hall was thrown over
his tail, notwithstanding the convulsive efforts
of the porpose to free himself from the MUIR
derous iron the moose was jammed fast, and
the mate in a triumphant voice, proclaimed
that he-that is, the fsh-was safe. In a few
moments he was handed in on deck, by the
united force of the crew, whose white garments
indicated by many q sanguinary spot and
streak, the bloody business in which they had
been engaged. Thrown into the lee scnppers,
the fenching process commenced, and the por-
poise was soon stripped of his jacket of blubber
in true scientific style. The harslet resem-
bling pigs in appearance aswellas flavor, was
carefully preserved, passed over to the cook,
who soon had it ready for the fryingpan, and
in due time it appeared in the cabin, and from.
ed a welcome addition to the breakfast table.
The remainder of the animal was then triced
up to the main-stay-for the use of any one
in the cabin or forcaste who was desirous OF
RECALLING on such fresh grub as could be furnish
ed by the coarse oily, black, repulsive-looking
flesh of a porpoise.
have said that the whole crew of the Lob
ster participated in the excitement caused by
this incident and gladly aided in capturing the
fish. There was, however, one exception in
the shape of Jack Callimanco--or as his ship
mates called him, Calico Jack--a neat trig-
looking. snug-built, warm hearted tar; who by
his courage and activity in times of peril, and
his kindness and good humor in pleasant
leather, was favorite with all on board. But
greatly to the astonishment of the crew, during
the hubbub, noise, and confusion, caused by
the attack on the porpoise and its successful
result, Calico Jack SO far from lending hand,
stood leaning over the waist, with his arms
folded, apparently looking in the depths OF the
ocean, and deeply engaged IN philosophical re-
Elections of the gravest character.
This was not unnoticed by several of the
crew, who, during the battle with the porpoise,
we're too busily engaged to ask him what was
the meaning of such conduct--but after the
usual order and quiet on board the Lobster
took the place of the interesting proceedings
which / have attempted to describe, some of his
shipmates rallied Calico Jack on his indiffer
ence, and asked why he did not lend a hand 'te
haul in the porpoise.
"Ah, shipmates," said Jack, with dolefu
grim have helped catch many a fish in m,
day--but my fishing days are over; shall
never try to catch fish again, especially por
poise."
nWhat is the reason Of that" inquired Sam
Starkweather. Taking fish is capital fun
Porpoises are no great things, TO be sure--bu
even a porpoise is better than nothing"
@Thats true" replied Jack. A porpoiss
is capital friend at pinch, as have found