Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-11-23
RecOllections Of a Whaler.

Y
blow between the Cape of Good Hope and
the Southeast Trades, working slowly along
on the wind, bound for St. Helena, or after
a sperm whale, if one hove in sight. just as
1t might happen. say it was here, in no
particular latitude or longitude that recol-
lect OF at this time, that the old ship might
have been seen by any one that happened
to pass bys her try-works sending up a
smoke black as night, in huge volumes to
the sky it was good cruising grounds, and
she was trying out an eighty bsrreler, which
she had taken day or two previous. The
ship presented an appearance which no
doubt, TO the eye of some of our merchant
men. would look all confusion and disorder,
the deck lined with casks, the main matches
off, men engaged in the blubber room cut
ting up the blanket pieces into horse pieces
ready for mincing others picking the pieces
from one tub to another, ready for the min
GERS, some tending the fires, and some fill
ing up casks with hot oil from the cooler !;
all engaged, and each one to his proper
place. This to the eye of one who is ig-
norant Of the regulations of a whale ship,
presents scene of confusion which thew
cannot unravel.
Bot il is time 1 put on the stopper, for l
find l am voering out too mech line. So
here goes the yarn.
Everything was going on ia the manner
have stated, when all at once a voice,
clear as the lark, and to the ear of the
whaleman far sweeter, rang through the
ship, There she blows"
o, what is not contained in those three
words: home, wives, sweet-hearts, love,
honor, hope, everything in fact, that is dear
ito the heart of person who has been gone
from home SO long time as we had. O.,
it thrills through the veins like voice from
heaveu, and to a whaleman it descends on
angel wings. Again and again it is repeat
ed, at regular Intervals. Now the captain
halls the masthead -
Where away is that whale, and what
do you call herr"
Sperm whale, sir, three points on the
weather bow, not over two miles off.
Get your boats ready, slack down the
fires, and stsnd by no lower away"
Now then you will see the excitement
the boats crews esci, stand by their own
boat some of the men help put in the tub
of line; others lay down the boat tackle
falls in such way that they will run clear,
| The boatsteerer binds on his harpoons, the
gripes are cast clear of the boats, and now
comes the word, J." hoist and swing. In a
moment the boats are hanging by their
tackles, and clear of the cranes, ready for
the word lower away" The mates ir
the meantime are aloft, watching the move
ments of the whale, in order to Judge how
to pull for her. Now comes the word
lower away" In moment all the boat.
are of, and in chase at good speed, il
order to see who will be up with the whait
first. However, at this time, it did no
make so much difference which boat pullet
the best, as the whale peaked her fuke
and went down before any boat came vi
with her. Now each boat header uses hi
own Judgment as TO where the whale vii
come up next for sperm whale is almos
always going some when she is down, o
under the water. The whale was gone al
hour, when we caught sight of the sigma
at the main, which said plainly that tn
whale was up. All eyes gaze eagerl.,
around in all directions for the whale.
"There she is" cries one of the mer
81 not twenty rods from The chief mate
boat; there, he sees her"
"Down to your oars, lads" said th
captain in whose boat was, "give wa
hard" Now, then, the little boat jump
t again, sending the spray in rainbows froT
: the bow.
DO spring hard my dear fellows; if sh
j blows dozen times more the mate will ia!
!. ten. There she oiows. y, what hum
/ There she blows, and stand up David, Oh
name of the mates boatsteerer J ther
9 goes one iron into her, and there he give
7 her the second one. Now then, my boy
: let us be up among the suds. Stand up.
shouted the captain TO me, as he laid th
r boat square on TO her, in goes two NOR
+ irons and our boat is fast ="
|. thought / had seen large sperm whale
, but this old chap beat them all; he cut an
r thrashed with his fukes awhile, but did nc
take to sounding or running, as some whale
! do. The mate pulled up to lance him br
: let him 90 on as he would, the whale woul
! head for his boat, and prevent his getting
: chance at her with his lance.
"Now, then, Mr., said the cap,ai
! to me, you must kill that whale. "
The captain steered me this day, as "
: were short of boatsteerer. We pulled u
I to her, and set my lance into her life, a
! / thought, the whole length; she spouted
: little thin blood.
~You are no, low enough" said til
= captain, " set your lance lower down; thi