The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-04-13
Miraculous Voyage upon q
Whales Back In the Gulf OF 81.
Lawrence.

newspaper of the oath January, 1866
Although the statements appear to be
incredible, they are vouched for on
good authority:
Mn. EDIroR Will you reserve
space in your columns for the public
ity of a terrible and miraculous occur
renee which took place at Fox River,
district of Gaspe; truly astonishing
fact. but one which can nevertheless
be supported by the most incontesti-
bic evidence.
Last summer, while visiting the diff
ferent posts in this district, / met at
Fox river with Mr.. Narcisse Bernier
merchant of st. Thomas, Montmagny,
who was there on matters connected
with his business
One fine day we decided upon max
ing trip upon the water, with the
view of enjoying ourselves fishing for
cod. A favorable wind carried us
quickly to distance of about five
miles from the coast, where we threw
in our lines, and set ourselves to fish
To our great satisfaction we took a
large quantity; but this satisfaction
and our position of tranquil security,
from which we gazed upon the sea,
smooth as a sheet of ice, was soon
changed to one Of terrible anxiety as
far as we were concerned. The fish,
hitherto so plentiful, seemed to have
deserted us quite suddenly; and |
profiting by the occasion, sought re-
pose from the fatigue in the bottom of
the barge, leaving my friend Mr. Ber
nier to continue his occupation. /
was soon in the arms of Morpheus;
but you cannot conceive, Mr.. Editor,
my CONSERVATION on hearing the dole
some cry of Help help ring
through my ears in accents of the
most fearful energy. The moment |
heard this voice of terror, L found my
self raised upon my feet as if by some
hand | looked in the barge, and on
the surrounding water-my friend
had disappeared. A fresh cry aroused
me from my stupor, and / beheld Mr..
Bernier, boat hook in hand, on the
back of an enormous fish, which rec
J ognized to be a whale.
Seeing that the distance was too
great to make myself heard, l has
tened to raise the grapplings in order
! to approach him, but the whale ut
tered frightful snort, started off with
/ terrific speed, and III moment was
out of sight. ooh Eternal Heaven, y
| cried, Thou who preserved Jonah,
would it be more impossible to pro-
tect my friend upon the back of sim
liar monster?'
Coming to myself, l thought of re-
turning, and set sail for the land. Mr.
Bernier was greatly esteemed IN these
parts, and sorrow soon spread Itself
through the village and neighborng
posts. In an agony of mind, and eX-
hausted with fatigue, | retired early
to bed, in order to denver myself more
completely to the thoughts Of the sad
fate OF my friend.
You Will be equally astonished with
me, Mr.. Editor, III reading the follow
ing: Early next morning l was
aroused by knocking at the door OF
my room. babe the person come in
W hat did L behoid--a phantom or Il
human beng? No, not phantom;
well, then, a man. 1t was Mr.. BernIer
himself, who came slnilingiy to shake
hands with me. | believed myself
dreaming, ye. there lie was in iiesh
and blood You can easily understand
the feelings L experienced III behold
lng my resuscltated friend, Tor
thought HIM dead at the time. He
recounted to me AS follows the details
of his terrible adventure;
"A short time after you had fallen
asleep, SAID he, II saw nearing us a
black object, apparently drifting with
the tide. | allowed 1t to approach,
and, to my surprise, perceived II to be
II whale, which l thought TO be dead.
Unfortunately 1t was only asleep, or III
u state of inexpilcable iethargy; it
stopped of its own accord III close
proximity to the barge, and L resolved
10 possess myself OF it. 'Ho, ha T.
said l, with this big fish, If | can on
ly succeed III tying 1t to the boat, l
Will surprise Mir. kichard; | shall tell
him l caught 1t with my line. L got
upon its back, with boat hook and a
piece OF cord, intending to make it
fast to the boat. Ally back was turned
towards you during tins operation,
and, when 1 turned my head, per
celyed myself at some distance. 1t
was at this moment shouted for
help, and | think my voice, gwen with
all my force, must have aroused the
whale from her sleep, for off she shot
like an arrow, Notwithstanding nay
fear, / had presence of mind enough
to plunge the boat hook into her back,
in order to furnish me with sulfi-
cient hold. The wound made her
double her speed, the water became
like powdered snow driven before a
violent gale oil wind; l could see moth
ing, nor knew the course we were TAX
ing, though / felt certain we were
making for the north, lacking some
times to the right, sometimes to the
left. was quite in despair, and, feel
ing my strength giving way, was often
on the point OF slipping into the water.
For the last time / offered my soul
to God, when perceived land toward
which we were directing our course
a few minutes aiterward l recognized
it to be the island of Anticosti, eight