Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-05-18
FRIDAY, MAY Is, 1860

and threw into the air bis huge tail. which
looked for all the world like hall moon.
only a grca, deal bigger-you know ship
mates, a whale always shows his luke whom
about TO dive-but unfortunately for him,
he brought II down with tremendous force
against the larboard bow OF the ship, and
raised a terrible rumpus. starting the cut
water, springins the bow'pri., carrying
away the cat.head. s,avlne in the plank
shear and waking destructive work among
the planks aud timber heads. But wha,
was more strange and unfortunate for him
than all tho rest, he struck his tail with
such violence agains, the bill Of the small
bow anchor. which was fastened TO the cat
head and gun.wals. that tho luke OF the
anchor passed through the blubber, entered
the hard and solid flesh. aud fIed itself
firmly just in front OF one Of the join,s Of
his tail And there We had hin. ship.
mates-or no had ne At any rata we
were fastened together. and nothing but cut.
ting the cable. ono Of which was fast TO the
anchor. and the other elinehed around the
iorcma,t, could separate Us.
Thus fOiIed in bis a;tOnp, to dive below
Don whisksrAndo next started OF on the
surface Of the water, and the way no car.
rieI out the small bower cable was eau
ton TO " india.e, and walking sticks Ile
tried to throw up hi. till again that bis
head nigh, 81 down, bu, he made an awk-
ward and unsuccessful JOB Of 10 on neeoun,
Of the weight Of the hemp and iron thu,
hung abou, lis ',arn.
When the whole cable. after eapsiring
tho windlas. was run out to the better end
the old fellow was broush, up all standing.
Thu. seemed to surprise him again and
made him uneasy. llo hlundercd about
FOR time at grea, rate. plangins and rel.
ling and pitching like = high mst,led horse
when he knows he has 80, sailor on his
back. or deep.laden bark IN a head sea or
the cape Of Good Hope. At length finding
he could no, shake Of the harness which he
had so els'erly put on, he started OF to the
eastward, iorHg ne cd brig along al he
rat, Of Gii',n or hcsaiy Lnoi''
Mr.. Baxter the chief mate. was greatly
terrified a. we'll he might BE-, at seeing the
clumsy old craft travelling Oh across the
water a, such maddenins speed. lie bawl.
ci out with all the strength Of his lungs,
q" Cut the cable where. the aIo9"
Ilo ,circl the sharp edged ins,rumen,
which was lying by tho cabOo.o.hou.e, and
in another minute would have freed Don
whi,kcrando from the heavy body which
hung upon hi. heels, II the Captain a man
OF unlaun,ed courage and admirable pres
ence Of mind. had no, shouted, "Ilold on"
and seirins the mate by the arm be pre-
vented the threatened blow
\ bright thought entered the noodle OF
Captain wellirgIord. The whale had fair.
~ taken the brig in tow. lie was strong
fellow. in good condition, rather lazy with
al. and it would go him good to exercise
and amuss himself by towing the brig for a
spell. And II he could DO persuaded to
tow her 10 tho RICH, direction, and IL the
anchor had found good holding ground, the
passage across the Atlantic. thanks to tho
broad shoulder, OF Don whr,kerando,
nigh, be shortened amazingly.
Capt. wellingiord took his measures
accordingly. lie wa, real Yankee. and
resources in the mos. purllIns emergency
never failed him. lie ordered all the 'aIls
% be furlei excepting the iopsail' and the
forc,opmast-stAy.ail; he stationed two
men at the wheel for when vessel goes at
twenty knots through the water everybody
know. that she require. quick helm and
constant attention; he loaded the dozen
muskets We had on board with s,iG charge
Of duck shot. aud whenever ho showed q
disposition TO ..yaw broad oil from the true
course. ths captain. or one of the officers
entrusted with the lookout, let lly charge
Of .ho, slap into the side OF his head as a
broan hint that no Was or hi. course, and
must steer small and make straight wake.
Aud whenever the Don got lazy and show.
a disposition to lag little or take another
nap, grist OF leaden pellets cent into the
old fellows s,arn, proved sspowerful q per-
Hader a. a doeprowelcd spur to horse. or
a long.,ined pitchfork to an elephant, and
started him OF again at full speed
by attending closely to these little mat
ters by nigh, and by day, everythi ng wen,
on swimmingly; and the old PocahOn,as
few. John Gilpn like, a, horse-race speed
across tho waters Of the Atlantic.
Some folks who think they know some.
thing when they don't, pretend that a
whale or any other ii.h can, swim wi,hou.
wlgsling h.. tail. But | tell you know
better than that.
Don whi.kerando went ahead by the
mere force OF his aipper., and the machi'
merry which set them in motion being we'll
oiled, never gave out. wag his tail indeed
Why bis tail wa. kept steady by the cable,
which was all the time as taught and still
as an iron bar. lie could not wag !. an
inch. 1t stuck out straight like the hind
leg Of 4 loon.
And it must have been curious sight to
have seen us scampering and scudding
across the Atlantic! First came Don
whiskerando. pulling aud tugging away a.
IL for dear life, like noble. easily managed
fellow as he was, with his head and part OF
~ A r a. n