Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-21
CHEWED Up BY A WHALE.
BY n. p. WILLIS


tell the story, OF course, being simply because
the dainty leviathan, not liking the taste of
him, had dropped the willing mouthful out
again upon the clean table-clOth of the ocean
This was forty years ago; and it is q rare in
stance, you will allow, of a morseIs proving
pleasant company so long after being rejected
by 8 reluctant stomach at sea-
should ask pardon, however, for speaking
thus familiarity OF one OF the best specimens OF
manhood that | ever had the happiness to meet
sea-captain now ir-his seventy third year rs
tall. straight. vigorous and cheerful at this sd-
yanced age, rs when "a mate at twenty five
one Of the most respectable citizens of New Bed
ford at present and enjoying q comfortable in
dependence from the capture Of the whale that
wouldn't eat him. and of other whales who sim
ilariy left him unswatlOwed. But must give
you the particulars Of the kaif-mast ication of
Capt. Gardiner-whO, by the way, in addition
to his singular experience as a mouthful, has
the popularity OF being the son of tie first
t-lltts NAL, child born on Nantncket
Newly arrived at the hOnors Of captaincy, our
Nantucket skipper was cruising along the coast
Of South America-just off Peru-when there
was cry from the masthead. - A whale no."
The direction was given, the sails trimmed for
she evertakiDg of the monster, and when within
mile. the boats were lowered, each with its
crow Of six, the captain himself taking the har-
r1On of the advancing boat which was to make
the assault
Quietly ahoat lay the amphibious Shylock of
the sea, (the terI-athan, 1 take it, is of tho
tribe OF Leri,) and, as the swift boat came
within harpOOning distance, the inevitable iron,
hurled by that strong arm, penetrated to his
yitals. Not rs usual. however, did the struck
monster dive out OF sight; but turning, and
making straight for his enemies he rolled over
his huge bulk to get fairer grip. and brought
his jaws together upon the boats prow-the
forward half Of that slight structure, Captain
al
aPple-tart In the MUNICH OF a hungry school
boy The remainder Of the crew, the helman
and four oarsmen, had jumped overheard and
as the whale, with another roll, dived down to
die out Of sight, he threw up the unswallowed
CaptaIn-the relief-bOat pulling instantly to
the spot and taking the crushed morsel and the
hve swimmers safely from the water
1t was the chewed-up right hand Of the Cap
tain, as ne sat by me at table, which had first
excited my curiOsity-(stimulating the inaui-
rles which drew from him, at last this thrilling
stOryl-the stump, or what was visible below
the coat-sleevo, looking like q twisted ropes
end, but sull retaining clutch enough to carry
the chOwder-spOOn to his mouth Four of the
whale teeth were driven into him-one enter
ing his skull, a second breaking his collar bone
third breaking his arm, and the fourth crush
ing his hand-the remainder Of his body being
simply squeezed into jelly. The healing OF
the wound IN the head left a cavity like the in
q,
grown over IL, (hair still brown and thick with
the stubborn vitality Of the un- kill-a- bic Nan
tucketer) IL tells, after forty years the size of
the tooth that did II. L laid the ends of nv
three fingers very comfortably in the hollow.
But the after history of this perilous adven-
ture seems to me the most remarkable part of
II With a Drew composed almost entirely of
well-grown boys, and the ship lying becalmed
IN mld-Ocean-six days sail from any port
even with fair wind-how was this crushed
and mangled sufferer to be dOctored and cared
for
captain Gardiner, providentially, though
nearly eaten up, retained full possession of his
senses. His first mate young, but a very
smart lad, and possessed. fortunately, of Yam
kee aputude-gOOd at everything; and with
the and OF the sufferers directions he d ID the
work OF a surgeon. The Captain ordered him
hrst 10 make splinters, and then to set his bro
Ken arm-the cOllar-bOne being left to heal
Itself, unset (as it remains to this day, without
PereePtlDly affecting his erect shape or the ae-
Ton OF bis chest) and the other wounds being
o1ndased In the usual way. He Was then laid
en- the cabin floor, and with fans made Of the
leaves Of the log-bOOk, he was kept as cool as
was any way p1ssibie-fOr it was the hottest of
Soutn Sea Weather. Feeling, however. that
h. llfe depended on the exercise of his strong
will, he gave orders that he should, by 10 pos
sohlty, be allowed 10 sleep over FIVE minutes
al time And, with this vigilant watch kept
up Tor SIX days, the ship, (navigated by his di-
Ieeuons as he lay Oh the cabin foor;) entered
the port Of Peru
A boat sent Immediately on shore. brought
on the Emperor physician, who. on looking at
tne prostrate man and examining his wounds
aiV.sed only that they should send for CONF
lessor Other prescription, the medical mar
thought, would be useless rs death was evil
IDENTIFY 80 close at hand. But the captain was
dherent opinion. "A physician for the
"a
s@Id ne; but, at present | want one for the
hOdy-and happen TO know of one who will
cure me-
IL 80 happened that-in a previous touch at
mat same pOrt-CaPtain Gardner had heard
oi the sick mate of American vessel who
had been left behind by his shipmates, and to
Enom, a. charity to a suffering cOuntryman
ne then offered passage home The mans
message OF reply was, that he fortunately
5000 IN no need Of the kindness as he was
under the care Of Spanish doctor who lived
a. fura, IA village back in the mou q tains J and
rho had taken him to his house and treated
him like his own child. And, for this kind
"id doctor, Captain Gardiner now sent, with
all convenient haste-dispensing at once with
any further attendance by the physician Of
the Emperor
Early on the second morning arrived the
god Samaritan and there Was comfort in
Ms hrst look and encouragement in his first
only had him at his house in the mountains
Bat. how TO get him there There was no
r'ad--only a mule path along the edges OF
PreclpIces,-climbing wild cliffs and scramb
ing through tangled raTines-forty miles of
Ioo'path, penetrating the depth Of n wilder
neS-
bat the ChPtains Yankee ingenuity second
Ell The good will Of the Doctor He construct
ed new vehicle, as he lay, lin the other ply
s'cians opinion.) dying on the floor.
couple of long 1.-the spurs were brought, by his
orders and hammock was rigged to swing
suspended from the center His friend had
two mules, and with the spars fastened to their
sldes they were TO walk, like the bearers of a
PaiAnquin, one before, the other behind him
tandem hammock in which he could ride he
was sure, quite as comfortably as men could
carry him.
And, Of the two days journey which he
Nus made over the mountains, Capt Gardi-
HeI description was one Of glowing remem-
Dfahee BY the elasticity Of the spars which
supported him, he yas borne without ioltiny