The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1866-05-01
Miraculous voyage


81. LAWRENcE.
I The following extraordinary narrative
q - voyage upon tie back Of whale !,
translated from La Canadian newspa.
per Of ibe. eith January, 1866 al.
though The statements appear to be in.
credible, they are vouched for on good
authority
Nm EpiroR VIII you reserve a
space 10 your columns for the publicity OF
a terrible and miraculous occurrence
which took place Al FOX River, district of
Guspe a truly astonishing fact. bat one
which can nevertheless he supported by
the most inc0ntesIib!e evidence.
Last summer, While visiting lie dfTer-
enI posts ia tbs district. ! met a, Fox riy.
eF with a Mr.. Narcisse Betnier. merchant
OF ST. Thomas, Monlmasny, who was
there on matters connected ia his bu.i.
ness.
One fine day we decided ufon making
\ a trip upon the water, with view Of en-
joyug ourselves fishing fjr cod. A ia,
yorable wind carried Us quickly to dis.
tance ot about tive miles from the coast,
where We threw 10 our lines, and .a, our
selves to fish. 10 our great satisfaction
Sc took large quantity bat this salts
( faction and our position VI tranquil secur.
Z it,, from which we gazed upon the sea,
smooth as II sheet Ui ice, was soon charged
to one oi terrible anxiety a. iaf rs we were
concerned. The fish, hitherto so pienti-
iul, seemed TO have deserted us quite sud
denly and ! proi.ipg by the OCCASION,
sought rePose from The fatigue ID the bot
tom OF the barge, leaving my triend Mr.
Bcfnier 10 continue hts occupation. was
soon in the hand, II Morpheus but YOU
cannot conceive Mr. Editor, my conslern-
alton on hearing the doiesome cry Of
"ilelp helpm ring through my ears in
accens Of The most fearful energy, The
moment | heard this voice ot terror, |
found myself raised upon my feet rs if by
some hand looked III the barge, and on
the surrounding waler--my friend had
disappeared. a fresh c,y aroused me
from my stupor, and beheld NJ. Bern
Ter, boat hooA in hand, on the back Of an
enormous fish, which recognized to Be a
whale.
Seeing that The distance was too great
70 make myself heatd, rs,ened 10 raise
The giappllBgs n order 10 approach him,
but tie whale uttered fishfu snort.
started OFT with terrific speed aud IN mo-
ment Was out Of sght. "Oh! Eternal
Heaven" ! cried, Thou who preserved
Jo all, would il be mere impossible to
protect my friend upon the back Of SIM.
liar monster!
Coming myself ! Thought of reinrn. I
gand set sail Tor the land. MI Bernier
was 8 eaily esteemed ia these parts, and 1
sorrow suon spread itself through the yl- (
ldge and neighboriug posts. In an agony +
O mind, and exhausted with fatigue, re. /
tIrcd early 10 bed, il order 10 deliver my f
selt more completely ofthe thoughts Of Tie
sad fate OF my friend.
You will be equally astonished with me,
Nj Editor, in reading tile following -
Early next morning | was aroused BY a
knocking al tie door Of m, room bade
the person come in. What did behold
"a phantom or human being No.
Gol phantom; well, then, man. Il was
Mr. Beruier himself, who came smi inan
to shake hands with me. believed my
sell dreaming, YET there he was in flesh
aud blood. ou can easily understand the
feelings | experienced IN beholdng nv
resuscilated friend, for | thought him
dead at The time. He recounted Is mo
as follows the details Of his terrible adyen.
ture:
"A short time after you had fallen
asleep, said he, Il saw nearing US black
object, apparently drifting with the tide.
| allowed 1t TO approach, aud, to my sur
prise perceived II 70 be whale, which |
thought TO be dead. Unfortunately il was
only asleep, or in state Of inexplicable
lethargy II stopped OF its own &C, ord il
close proximity to the barge, aud resolg-
ed TO possess myself ot II. "Ho, ha r :
said !, with tins big fish, if | can only !
succeed IN tying il 10 tie boat, viii sur
prise MIR. Richard | shall tell him caught {
- "'N" ~ ''iiA+ ENt upoll ItH udCksWi{H ]
Z boat hook and a piece Of cord, intending
10 make it fast 10 the boat My back was
urned toward you during this operation,
and, when turned my head, perceived
nyseli at some distance. Ii was ii this !,
moment shouted for help, and tlink my
voice, given With all my force, must have "
aroused tie whale from her sleep. for of
he shot Ike an arrow. Notwithstanding :
ny fear, bad presence OF mind enough :
Q plunge the boat hook iutb her back, IN :,
rider 70 furnish me with asullicient hold. .
Ihe wound made her doatle her steed.ihe \
water became like powdered snow driven :
e"re violent gale Of wnl could see = !,
ohing, nor klow the cDrfse We were TAX
lg lhoash ! iell certain We we're making ~ -
y tie north, tacklng sometimes to tie :
,ght, sometimes TO the left was quite y
! despair, aud, feeling ny strength giving 4
ay, was often On the point Of slipping ia. - -
, tie water. y
"For he last Time offered my soul 70 -
iod, when perceived land toward which
g were directing cur course few min. -
.es aiisrward ! recognized il 10 be the