, 1858-06-18
INCIDENTS OF SPERM wHALINe.


The good barquc Fish was lying becalmed off
the West end Of Celebes, with large sperm
whale alongside, ready to be cutin. The sea was
smooth as pond, and the sun as hot as blazes.
ain board therel" shouted the mate, who was
on stage over tho side, sin board there ahoy n
Sir" was the response.
"whose hook on is itS"
"Miue," responded voice from the halfdeck
and up bounded Tom, smart young boatsteerer
With nothing on but a pair Of drawers. In a
couple Of winks he made dash at the open gang
way 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. An who saw him sup
posed he was going down fAthom or two to cool
of, and expected him up again in a few seconds,
but not appearing soon, the men along the gang
way and the mates upon the stages soared out
He's gonel save him, boysl" and ina second
FIVE Of our best swimmers plunged after him, and
boat was lowered at the same time. But it
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 sup
posed he was sinking No doubt he was deyoured
in less than GIVE minutes after be jumped over
board. Shoals Of sharks generally keep company
with whalers, especially when they have whales
alongside, and dash at everything that is thrown
overheard. They would cat whales blubber
in night II not kept of BY spades and lances
These sharp instruments are appreciated by them:
they seem 70 know that their touch is death, and
instinctively keep respectable distance, until
tho carcass is surrendered to them in due form;
then they have blow out aud a free fight with
out 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 and was hoisted
up in silence The men were too oppressed with
grief to sing the usual song, and walked forward
without exchanging a word. The captain had
walked the quarter deck full Eve minutes, dppar-
emily lost in thought, when the man at the mast
head sung out, "There she blows--there again
there's two Of them"
"Where awayF demanded the captain,
springing into the main rigging. tat
fright astern, sir; large whaiesl There goes
iiukes, headed across the ships wake to portI
There she blows; there again" continued the
lookout and soon the captain and mates were
up alongside Of him. .. |sl. a.of Isl
"Clear away the boatsI" shouted the captain,
"and get ready to lower away; down from
aloft Ship-keepcr, away aloft and keep good
lookout"
An hands were on the move, full Of life and
animation. Poor Tom was forgotten in the ex-
citement Of the moment Il was not until the
captains boat had dropped astern that he recalled
TO mind the fate Of his boatsteerer BY his absence
from the bow Of the boat; but seeing the cabin
boy looking over the taffail, he sung out;
Jump overheard, Bill, and III pick you up
I want you to pull the after oar"
Without moments hesitation, Bill was over.
board, fathom deep, but rose to the surface like
cork, and was dragged aboard.
"NOw," said the captain, who was iovial
young fellow, and delighted to identity himself
with the humOrs Of the crew, you, ParsOn, pull
the harpOOner oar; IN give you chance to
fasten, il we have the good luck to get upon the