The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-09-09
WASTE NOT.

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in breaking up a fresh roll, aud moulding the
pieces between his thumb aud fngeI into dit
ferent shapes The boy hung his head aud was
about TO leave the table, when the gentleman
taking him kindly by the arm, said, 'See here,
I want TO tell you a circumstances which occur
red on board my whaling ship a few years ago;
and which made such all impression on m,
mind that can never endure to see crumb oI
food wasted.
IA few years ago. when | was in New Bed
ford, preparing for my last whaling cruise,
my aunt came to me requesting that would
take her son, very interesting boy OF about
fourteen years, to sed with me.
q, IL will be very h ri for me TO part with
Wille,' said the mother, Tor he Is all have
but his health is so poor, aud he is so delicate,
that fear TO keep him at home lest lose him
BY death. Had his father lived he would have
taken him to sea long before this time
az readily consented TO the mothers request,
and Willie's health improved daily aud his
amable disposition made him iavorte with
all on board.
We he'd been out nearly three years, aud would
with two or three moro whales, have completed
our cargo. Willie was now alb toscngagi in
whaling. One day it had been unusually dull
towards night the man on the lookout cried
"A whale whale!'
al went aud looking in the direction indica-
ted, saw a large whale making for us. 1t was
too late in the day for us to entertain the hope
of capturing her so ordered the ship to be put
about, well knowing that u whale will not at
tack a vessel under ordinary crcumstunces.-
Having seen my orders obeyed, | went below
deck. where Willie aud some more of my com.
panons were wh,liog away the time by song and
Jest when, suddenly, something struck our ship
with such force that every timber quivered. 100
A loud CRY from the men on deck and ere we
had time to think we received another shock, and
the water came rushing in upon upon us.
"'To the boats, to the bouts, | cried.
ain less time hdn | can tell 1t to you, the
boats were lowered; aud snalching such uri
ces as lay in our way we embarked in them.
Scarcely had the last man lett the wreck ere
our gallant ship went down. The whale, |
think, must have been maddened by other pursu-
ers, and wresked her vengeance upon us. The
boat in which it was my lot to be cast contain
ed some ten persons, among whom was my
young friend Willie Our hope was that we
might fall in with some whaling vessel aud by
il be secured. Our stock OF provisions was very
small aud from the first was dealt out in ra tons,
with great care, that one should not have a
ctumo more than another. When the fifth day
dawned we had not one particle Of food, and
the little that we had eaten for the few days
previous had been far from sufficient to satisfy
the craving OF hunger TO say nothing OF keeping
up the strength OF men who were toling at the
oars day and night. The small jug of water
that we had with us was nearly exhausted, aud
vet no friendly sail hove i'll sight. AS far Hs
our eyes could reach there was nothing to be
seen save the sky above and the sea beneath
and yet we toiled on, hoping that each succeed
ing morn would reveal to us a sail,
" But no the tenth day dawned, yet 20 land
had been discovered hope had nearly deserted
us. The men were frantic and clamorous for
food One had suddenly threw himself over.
board, preferring drowning to the lingering
death OF starvation; and the sea, like some huge
monster, opened her nsatate jaws and swal-
lowed him. Now the men whispered to one
another, and their eyes glared like mOnacs. -
AT last, one bolder than the rest spoke out.
a. There is no denying the fact, starvation
stares us in tho face To longer 60 without
food is impossible. Ipropose that we shall cast
lots to see who shall die first and by the sacri'
fee Of one, perhaps save many.
"For a moment death.like stillncs hung ovel
the little boat and nothing but the convusivC
tremor of the oars in the water betrayed thai
those fearful words had been heard. At length
the oars resumed their usual beat aud the pro
pesal was seconded by another, and asSented tc
BY all. The lots were soon cast--alas that
should live to tell the lot fell upon Willie
And now the question arose. Who shall say
him? No one was willing to do the dreadful
deed and yet they were dying for food.
We can cast lots to see who shall do it,
at last spoke out one OF the most ierocous o
the crew.
"No sooner proposed than done and the lo
fell upon me.
al will aot do it, cried; Il will give my
self up in his stead. Ee is the only son OF hi,
mother, and she is widow.
"'The lot fell upon HIM was the reply, 'onJ
If you won't kill him some one else must. w,
will cast lots again
Twas done, and this time the lot fell upol
burly sailor.
"How shall do itY said he.
se" "As pistol was produced by one of the men
II was agreed to shoot him. All this time vii
lie had been pulling at the oar; he.now askel
for some one to take his place, which being dom
he moved along to the stern OF the boat when
turning his back to us, and lifting his torpaulil
from his head, he knelt in prayer for few mo
ments' Then rising he approached me, aud ia
king my hand said
"'Captain, il ever you reach home, remembc
my poor mother. Say to her Willie was read
TO die, but never let her know the real circunl
stances Of my death
"rhen turning to his comrades, he said
"Comrades, am ready
IA neckerchiel of one of the men served I
tie his hands He took his place in the bow q
the boat. turned my back and leaned ov,
the boat side TIE sharp report of pistol an
Willie was no more. Thank God, he did nc
hnger.
"The men seemed fearful at first to eat the
which they had coveted; but hunger 500
compelled them to partake, They ate sporingl
at fist, then ravenously. dad not parIake !;
could not
-Four days after this, near sunset, we thougl
we discovered a dark spot upon the water,
might be a vessel every nerve was strained
reach II. IL proved TO be an English whale
and the Captain most humanely took us on boar
and done everything he could for our relief al
comfort.
"When The little boat which had been OF
home FOR fourteen days was hoisted along sid
some Of Wille's remains were yet TO be sect
and the good Captain gave orders to have the