Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-10-30
tFrom the Boston Traveller
Incidents Of sperm Whaling,

aimed on the west end of Celebcs, with
large sperm whale along side, ready to
be cut in. The sea was smooth as pond
and the sun as hot as blaxes.
"ln board thore.s shouted the mat,
who was on stage over the side. "In
board there, ahoy..n
Sir was the response.
Whose hook on is H."
anime" responded voice from the
baleicck. and up bounded Tom, a smart
young eoatstccrer. with nothing on
but pair q. drawers. In couple of
winks ne made dash at the open gang
way overheard, for he was good swim
mer, but unluckily his foo, slipped. and
instead Of jumping outside Of the whale.
which was evidently his Intention, the
back OF his head struck the rid e of the
whale, and he wen. down with his hands
extended over his head. All who saw
him supposed he was going down n faith
or two to coo! of, and expected him up
, again in few seconds: but not appear.
ing soon, the men along the gangvay
and the mates upon the stages roarcd
out-.He's gone save him. boys,' and
in a second hve Of our bcs, swim.
msrs planged after him. and boat was
lowered at the same time. But i, was
all in vain; poor Tom rose no more; even
the men who plunged after him only saw
a shoal of sharks descending in the dircc
tion they supposed he was sinking. No
doub, he was devourcd In less than fivc
minutes after lac jumped overheard -
Shoals Of sharks generally keep company
with whalers. especially when they have
whalesalongside, and dash a. cvcrythin.
;ha.is s,hrownovcrboard They woul i eat
awhale's elubber in nigh, if no, KEEP, off
by spades and ances These sharp in.
s.rumcn,s are appreciated by them they
seem TO know thu. their touch is death
and instine'ively keep respectable dis
lance, unit the carcass is surrendered to
them in due form; then they have blow
out, and free fgh. wi,hou, interference
from s.l,-bccf Surgeons
Poor Tom had taken his las: dive =
The boa. after pulling astern, following
the set Of the cu'ren. reasonable time.
returned and was hnistcl ip in sileacc
The men were toe oppressed with grief
to sing the usual song, and walked FOR
ward without exchanging word. The
captain had walked the quar,er deck fill
five minutes apparently losi in thought,
when the man a, the mast head sun,
out. There she blow. there again
there's two o. thcm.'
Where away - demanded tho captain,
springing into the main rigging.
"Righ. as,crn. sir. large whales There
goes fukcs. headed across the ships
wake 10 por, There she blows, there
again." continued the lookout. and soon
the captain aai mates were up alonssilr
of him.
Clear away the boa, - shouted the
captain. 'and ge, ready TO lower away
down from aloft. Ship-keeper, away
alo0 and keep a good look out"
All hands were on the move, full OF
life and animation. Poor Tom was
ior.e;ten in the excitement OF the mo-
meat. l, was not until the captain
boat had dropped astern that he recalled
10 mind the fate Of his boats.ecrcr bv his
absence from the bow Of the boat bn,
seeing the cabin boy looking over the
taiirail he sung out
Jump overboard, Bill, and III pick
you up, | want you to pull the after
oar"
Without a nom ent's hesitation, Bill
was overheard. fathon deep, bat rose
10 the surface like a cork, and was
dragged inboard.
Now said the captain; who was
jovis! young fellow, and delighted to
in len,ify himself'with the hLmors Of the
crew. you, Parson. pull the harpo0ncr
oar, III give yol chance to iasten, ii
we have the good luck to get upon the
whale bu; mind. If you miss, III drive
lance through YOU.
The Young man whom he addressed,
Parson, had obtained the tiile, by try
i,s to teach a couple of New Zstlande.s
to read the Bible. All the men had by
names, such as Lon, Boy, Broalsword,
Jack Ketch. Liyercomplain,, Rheumatic.
lazarus, &c, and these names were
more used than those on the Articles.
This was the Parsons first voyage
whaling; and the voyage was yet young
as there were only 500 bbls. oil on
board, and the ship could stow $500
bbls. The death OF Tom had given him
lift, which Of right belonged to some
experienced spoutcr, of whom there were
several among the crew; and he te't de-
termincd 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 oar with all his might. Pull
and head the ma.e-,hat's you, another
stroke like that, my hear,ies; there, there
she goes now she rlies, hurrah. the
mate drops now we lead oil she
goes
The whales up, sir, said the Parson,
interrupting the captain. 'on the larboard
bow
so he is, and it's our chance. Peak
your oars, boys, and take to the pad