Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-11-04
INCIDENTS OF SPERM WHALING.
lFrom the Boston Traveler.l .--g


was smooth as pond, and the sun as hot as
blazes. -.-
In board there ~ shouted the mate, who
was on a stage over the side, . in board there,
ahOy!'
Sir was the response.
'WhOse hook on is it -
Mine responded n voice from the half
desk. and up bounded Tom, a smart young
bOatsteerer, with nothing on but pair of draw
srs. In a couple Of winks he made dash at
the open gangway overheard, for he was good
swimmer, but unluckily his foot slipped and
instead of jumping outside of the whale, which
WAS evidently his intention, the back of his
head struck the ridge Of the whale, and he
went down with his hands extended over his
head. All who saw him supposed he was go
ing down a fathOm or two to cool of, and er-
pected him up again in few seconds, but not
appearing soon, the men along the gangway
and the mates upon the stages rOared ont
. He gone save him, bOys,' and in second
FIVE of our best swimmers plunged after him,
and boat was lowered at the same time. But
il was all in vain; poor Tom rose no more ;
even the men who plunged after him only saw
shOal Of sharks descending in the direction
they supposed he was sinking. No doubt he
was devOured in less than five minutes after he
jumped overheard. Shoals Of sharks general
ly keep company with whalers. especially when
they have whales alongside. and dash at every
thing that is thrown overheard. They would
eat a whales blubber in a night, if not kept off
by spades and lances. These sharp instru-
ments are appreciated by them-they seem 10
know that their touch is death, and instructive
ly keep respectable distance. until the car
c,ss il surrendered to them in due form then
they have a blow out, and a free fight without
interference from salt beef surgeons
Poor Tom had taken his last dive. The boat
after pulling astern, following the set of the cur
rent reasonable time, returned anu was hoist
ed up in silence. The men were too oppressed
with grief to sing the usual song. and walked
forward without exchanging a word The cap
tain had walked the quarter deck full i've min
utes, apparently lost In thought. when the man
At the masthead sung out, = There she blows
there again-there's two of them
Where away ?" demanded the captain.
springing into the main rigging.
fright astern, sir; large whales There
goes fukes, headed across the ships wake to
port There she blows there again. contin-
ued the lookout, and soon the captain and mates
were up aiOr & side of him.
Clear away the boats shouted the cap-
tain, " and get ready to lower away down from
alOft. Ship-keeper, away alOft and keep a good
lookout"
All hands were on the move full of life and
animation. Poor Tom was forgotten in the ex-
element Of the moment. 1t was not until the
captains boat had dropped astern that he re-
called 10 mind the fate of his boatsteerer by his
absence from the bow Of the boat; but seeing
the cabin-bOy looking over the taffrail, he sung
out:
Jump overheard, Bill, and I'll pick you
up, want you to pull the after oar -
Without moments hesitation. Bill was over
board fathOm deep. but rose to the surface
like aeOrk, and was dragged aboard.
Now, said the captain, who was jOyial
young fellow, and delighted to identify himself
with the humOrs Of the crew, you, Parson,
fb,h I-x,,-
to fasten, if we nave the good luck to get upon
the whale; but mind, if you miss, II drive a
lance through you"
The young man whom he addressed as Par
son. had obtained the title By trying to teach a
couple OF New Zelanders to read the Bible
All the men had by names, such as Long Boy,
Broads8orl, Jack Ketch, Livercomplaint
Rheumatism, Lazarus, &c, and these names
were more used than those the Z" Articles ~
This Was the Parsons first voyage whaling,
aud the voyage was yet young, as there were
only 300 barrels Of oil on board, and the ship
could stow $500 barrels. The death Of Tom had
given him n lit. which of right belonged to some
experienced spouter, of whom there were seye-
raj among the crew, and he felt determined to
show himself worthy Of the place the captain
had assigned him.
Pull my bOys-spring to your oars-bend
your backs said the captain, grinding his teeth
and pushing at the after ear with all his might
stroke like that, my hearties there she goes
ROW she flies, hurrah the mate drops-now we
lead-Of she goesi'
g The whales up, sir said the Parson, in
terrupting the captain, on the larboard bow
:" SO he is, and it's our chance. Peak your
oars, boys, and take to the paddles
The order was promptly Obeyed and we were
seated along the gunwales padding like Malays
The whale was about half mile off going at the
rate Of three knots an hour and blowing as lei
surely as q blacksmith s bellows. ..-.
Don't make a noise, my lads whispered the
captain; . keep your paddles clear Of the sIdes
Of the boat. What a noble fellow he is-gray-
headed, regular patriarch. Now, Parson. If
you miss him, I'll kill you-mind. he's good for
IS barrels, yes, 90 perhaps 100, and to miss
him deserves death-two deaths-eh. boys p
Hush take your paddles out Of the water-he
smell. Oakum-nO he doesn't; paddle away
We were following in bis wake, and as the sun
was shining his starboard side, the captain
concluded the glare would half blind him. and
enable Us to approach without being seen, and
steered the boat accordingly. 1t was really
grand TO see tbs noble fellow plOughing along so
gently, the water curling over his back as il he
were bathing for the benefit Of his health, and
enjoying the pleasure.
= Stand up, Parspn said the captain, firmly,
though In whisper, his eyes .lariDg as if they
would leap from their sockets
The boats boat was square with the whales
hump mol more than eight feet off the Parson
held the iron (harpoOn) by the middle careless
ly ia his left hand the men still padded, just
keeping way with the whale, while the captain
was gradually edging the boat head on and
stern of.
Dart whispered the captain; but the
Psrson whispered back Lay on" Dart,
tell you, you re near enough 20 - Lay on ~
was still the response of the ParsOn.
There, blast YOU, there's lay and have
your head Knocked Off - giving the boat
sweep on with the steering oar. This time
there was no order TO dart. nor was it necessa-
ry; for the Parson, in order to give increa ed
velocity b the harpOOn. sprang into the box Of
the boat and sent one iron after the other
socket-up into the whale, just abaft the fin;
then jumping down into has proper place, he
seized a lance, but before he could bring il to
bear, the whale fairly sprang out Of water at
least six feet and came down with splash that
shrOuded the boat in form as ii she had been
immersed in the ruins of 4 water spout.
4" Stern hard. - shOuted the caDtain-s' stern