New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-05-03

by whale HIS surviving to tell the story, of course
being simply because the dainty leviathan not liking
the taste OF him, had dropped the unwilling mouth
full out again upon the clean tablecloth Of the
This was forty years ago and il is a rare instance
you will allow, Of morselis proving pleasant com
pany long after being rejected by reluctant stom
ach at sea.
Newly arrived at the honors Of captaincy, Capt
Gardner was cruising along the coast OF South Ameri
ca--jnst of Peru--wben there was cry from til,
masthead, "a whale, ho" The direction was given
the sails trimmed for the overtakng Of the monster
and when within mile, the boats were lowered eacl
with its crew OF six.
Quietly afoat lay the amphibious shyock Of tn,
sea, 1.-THE levathan, take it, is Of the tribe of Levi
and as the swift boat within harDooninr dis
lance, the inevitable ron hurled by that strong arm
penetrated TO bis vitas. Not as usual however die
the struck monster go out Of sight turning, AMI
making straight for his enemies, he rolled over biz
huge ouik to get iairer grip and brought his jaw
| together upon the boats prow-the forward half Of
that slight structure captain and ALL disappearing
IKE the best part OF apple tart In the MUNICH of
| hungry school boy. The remainder Of the crew, the
helmsman and four oarsmen, had jumped overheard
and as the whale, with another roll, Owed down to
die out OF sight he threw up the unswallowed cap
tain-the relief boat pulling Instantly to the spot,
and taking the crushed morsel and the five swimmers
| safely from the water.
1t was the chewed up right arm Of the captain, as
he sat by me at the table, which had at first excited
1 my curiosity Stimulating the inquiries which drew
from him. at last this thrilling story)-the stump or
| FisfDle ucluW
twisted ropes end, but still retaining clutch
enough TO carry the chowder-spoon to his mouth.
-Four of the whales teeth driven into him one
entering his skull second breaking his collarbone
third breaking his arm, and fourth crushing his
hand--the remainder of his body being simply
! squeezed into Jelly. The healing Of the wound in
the head len cavity like the inside OF an egg-she
and though the hair has grown over It, Chair still
brown and thick, with the stubborn vitality Of the
un-kila-be Nantucketer) it tells, after forty years
the size OF the tooth that did it, laid the ends of
my three fingers very comfortably in the hollow.
Capt Gardiner, providentially, though so nearly
eaten up, retained fall possession of bis senses. His
nrst mate was young, but very smart lad and pos
sessed fortunately Of Yankee aptitudegOod at every
thing and with the aid of the sufferers directions
he did the work of surgeon. The Captain ordered
him nrst to make spnts. and then to set his broken
arm-the collar-b0ne being left to heal ITSELF unset
as it remains to this day, without perceptby AFFECT
ing his erect shape the action of his chest and the
other wounds being bandaged in the usual way He
was then laid on the cabin hoor and with fans made
OF some OF the leaves OF old log book he was kept
as cool as any ways possiblefor it was the hot
test OF South Sea weather. Feeling however, that
his life depended the exercise of his strong will
ne gave orders that he should by possibility be al
lowed to sleep than five minutes at time And
with this vigilant watch kept up for six days, the
ship, navigated by his directions as he Law on the
cabin floor, entered the port of Peru.
boat sent Immediately on shore brought off the
Emperor's physician, who, on looking at the pros.
that they should send for a confessor. Other pre-
scrptons the medical man thought would be useless
as death was evidently close at hand. But the Cap
tam was oil different opinion. "a physician for the
soul Is very well at the proper time and place. said
be, " but a. present | want one for the body-and
happen TO know of one who will cure me !"
II so happened that, in previous touch at that
same port Capt Gardiner had heard of the sick mate
OF an American vessel who had been left behind by
his shipmates, and TO whom rs a charity to suffer
ing countryman, he then offered passage home.
The man message Of reply was that be fortunately
STOOD 10 no need OF Kindness, as he was under the
care Of Spanish doctor who lived at Pura village
back in the mountains, aud who had taken him To
his house and treated him like his own child. And
for this kind old doctor, Capt Gardiner now sent
with all convenient haste dispensing at once with
peror.
Early on the second morning, arrived the good
Samaritan and there comfort in his first look
and encouragement in his first VOID. He could cure
the crushed man il he only had hun at his house in
the mountains. But how to get him there There
was no road-only a mule path, along the edres
OF preeipces, climbing wild cliffs and scrambling |
through tangled ravines-forty miles of foot.path,
penetrating the depths of wilderness.
But the captains Yankee ingenuity seconded the
good will of the doctor. He constructed new We.
hicle, as be lay Tin the other physicians opinion)
dying on the floor. couple of long 1.-the spars
were brought, by his orders, and hammock was
rugged to swing suspended from the center His
friend had two mules, and with the spars fastened to
their sides they were to walk like the bearers of
palanqun, one before, and the other behind him--a
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 be thus made |,
over the mountains Capt Gardeners description was
one OF glowing remembrance. By the elasticity of
me spars which supported him, he was borne without
olting, and part OF the time slept most refreshipRy
But the path was giddy one to q sailors eye-alonc
the edge OF cl rs, where single false step would
nave dashed him and his mules into grease spotsr
ana now and then turning where his two spars formed
. fridge from mule to mule, over chasm-hundreds |
Of feet OF Jagged rocks nearly perpendicular, stretch.
ing away below, Che still thrilinRy remembers) as
be looked occasionally over the side of bis mattrass.
Ihey arrived safely at the mountain home Of the
old Spaniard, however; and here. all was comfort
and kind care. They only differed on one point.
The doctor thought the broken collar bone should be
set but the captain resisted. He had felt the broken
ends knit where they were, he said, and Natures
mending would do for him. And he was right for
after forty years he opened his shirt bosom. and
showed me the ridgy projections of the broken bone,
strong and healthy, aud doing as good service as
whole one, that very day at seonset.
II TOOK two weeks OF kind nursing to put bin on
nis legs again and then with grateful farewell TO
the kind old doctor of Pura Capt Gardiner returned
70 his ship taking command, aud once more pursu.
ng the object OF his voyage. And soon harpooning
ne requisite number OF whales, (who, for the lack Of
! newspaper, had not the slightest idea, probably.
mat u was the very man whom one OF their number
had chewed up, boots and ALL three months before n
ne returned prosperously home
For an instance of indomltahe energy. this can
hardly be outdone, should think and to see the
rect nobe-looking and hearty old man OF seventy
hree, as ! saw him an hour or two ago, walking
home to his dinner, with light step and good ap,
1etite in New Bedford forty years after being eaten
lp by whale in the South Sea- is to get fine idea
}. the stuff ola Nantucket whaeman.
CURIOUS sToRY.-The Edinburg correspondent
u the Feshre Advertiser is responsible for the fol-
owing story;
The scene is laid in farm house not above one
hundred miles from Pennieuik, and was enacted only
short time ago. A servant girl hired herself in the
aid farm house to do the dairy work, etc., about the
place, which she did for short time, taking care
however, to leave open on several occasions letters
addressed to herself in which continued reference
vas made to an estate in the west of Scotland. ac
iompanled with a castellated residence and worth
t5OOO year. The bait took, and she son OF the
worthy farmer threw of his old love, said to be fair
lame IN the Kingdom, and was Immediately on with
ne new questions were asked on both sides and
plausible answers returned. For example: what
laused you TO become dairy maid ~ "Oh because
wished 70 be able to instruct the servants on my
sstate' That was deemed satisfactory enough. and
lpFOina VVa1 III al 20 a. - -