Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-05-18
NJ | $ G. L. LII A n Y
Frum the llo,ton Journal.
JACK MARTINS STORY.
4 whale towing Brig across the ~.
luntlc.

The brig Pochahonta.-yOu all remember
the old brig Pocahon,a', OF Portsmouth,
'hipmA,c., dull sailing Graf: with bows
like bread tray and n stern Ikea Dutch
gallio,. Well. the old brig PochahontA'
wa. bound on voyage from Boston 70
"Cowc. and market" and wa. lucky
enough TO make one OF the crew. We were
up with the eastern edge George, Bank In
ihr,y.iK hours. having made a glorious
run Of NOR, than two hundred miles, with
the wind blowing stiScring breeze from
the west.norIhwes,.
was on the starboarl watch. Al day.
lgh, We had jus, 60, sound In thirty.hSs
fa,hons Of water. rocky bottom, and were
beginning to wash down the decks, when
Bob Merriwcather, who wa, standing be.
tween the knight.hcid, working away q,
the head pump. called out in loud voice
tina, he saw some strange object ahead.
We all rushed forward, aud sure enough,
about a quarter Of mila OF, couple OF
point. on the lee bow, we saw large
black looking object projecting out Of the
water or resting upon the surface.
lit Is q rock" said one. :" IL Is 9
shoal shouted another. "lt isa sunkeu
wreck, screamed third.
"Shut your clim,hcll.'" cried the sec
ond mate, who had seen such thing, before.
having been two whaling voyages GU, Of
Provincetorn 10 the Western Islands and
the Banks. 1t Is nothing bu, a lubberly
whale fast asleep"
And u whale IL was. as sure q. I'm 'ai
lor-a big fellow tOo-,,re,ehed a, ful
length in the regular track across the ocean
and indulsing IN a sound nap; perhaps en-
joying pleasan, dreams abou, hi. friend. and
young family, far away, frolieking ant
sporting among the ,ea lions around the
North Pole.
I'm wake him up" exclaimed Mr.
Griffin. who WAS fond OF frolic himself
Z" I'll make him rouse Bit" what bus
ines. ha. that oversrowu fellow to .:re,el
himself nut like q spread eagle on the top
Of the water, as lao block up the pas,ag,
and make trouble 4 whale lore. taking
snooze in broad daylight! Who evel
heard Of such thing. lie ough, 10 b,
ashamed OF himself for setting such an er'
ample! Port your helm. Tom :" hs sun.
out to the man at the wheel. I'm max,
him open hi. peeper. There, steady ,ha
will do I'll rouse him on, Of his nal
with vengeance :"
The sea was tolerably smooth, and th'
ship with good brcsfs was Flooding leis
urely along abou, six knots through th'
water. Tom steercd directly Tor the whale
The stem OF the old Pocahontas struck III,
lazy rascal on the ,,arboard quarter. anC
gave him an awfal puch that nearly turnec
him over.
The brig as we'll as the whale received {
terrible shock. Her way was entirely stop
ped. and as she swung round the sail. were
all taken abaek. Captain wellingford will
the chief mate. cook, steward and all hand
came rushing up on deck, clad In nothing
hut what they stood in, thinking that ever!
umher in the ship was shlvered to tlinder
by striking against rock. As for Dor
whiskeranGo himself, as the skipper after
ward. called the whsle, he must have beer
drcadlully frightened, rs we'll as bur,
And no wonder To be awakened in tbi
rough OF hand manner out ola pleasan
and refreshing sleep, was enough to aston
ish and provoke man as well as a mon
.ter. |, was taking an unfair advantage
as one might say.
The whale by his actions showed his DIS
gus, a, such unhandsome treatment. an,
evidently came to the conclusion that !
such was li. brutal reception among civi
lired folks on the top OF the water. the sooa
err he could take French leave and 90 below
without saying god bye, and mingle ono
more with better company, his old friends
the big fishes and monst rs Of the deep. tn
better. But il is sometimes easier to plaI
than to execute. as the shark said. whsr
turning over on his back to tax nip frou
tho thigh ola sailor. a barpoon was sen
by strong hand through hi, vitals which
Iefectually checked hi, operations.