The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-10-23

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and haul it into the waist. 1t was load
ed-to the full limit of safety, probably
and made the lou6est noise we had
made yet. Of course they would hear
that if they were still afoat; but, to
mike sure, the gun was fred several
times. Then we waited, and peered into
the darkness but nothing came.
They've killed whale and are lying
by him." said the captain; "but don't
see why one of the boats doesn't come
and let US know where they are. They
must have heard the gun"
That was what we couldn't under
stand. Even if they had killed whale,
one of the boats would naturally c5me
to tell us, if they had known where to
find us. But none came, nor did we hear
any sound, and when we had lain with
the mainyards aback for more than an
hour. they were braced forward again.
and, keeping close to the wind, and going
about often. we continued on the look
out, firing the gun at frequent intervals
sill through the night
When it began to grow light. the fog
was still clinging to the water, though
the wind was blowing quite fresh.
Whether we would ever see our boats
again was question in the minds of all,
and we began to think what our poor
shipmates would have to endure, lost at
sea, in those small, open boats. Unless
the log should clear, the daylight would
not help us in finding them and how
far we were from them, or in what direc
they were, We could not tell we might
be going from them or towards them
it was just as likely to be one way as the
other.
1t grew lighter till it was broad day,
except that we could not see the sun.
But at last there began to be openings in
the fog, and we rejoiced to see that it
was dispensing and drifting away. Our
eyes pierced every new opening and soon
shout from the forcastle announced
that the boats were seen. Everyone
rushed 10 the bows. and there, some two
miles distant, were both the boats, with
their signal waits set to show that they
were lying by dead whale They were
to leeward, and, keeping of couple of
points, we ran rapidly towards them
The boats were soue distance apart, and
both had waits set
They've got 'em both, as true as
you're alive |" exclaimed the captain,
rubbing his hands. Il guess we'll
make very good night work of it after
alll'
1t was true, they had them BOTH One
boat had fastened to each, and they had
killed them with very little trouble,
though not till they had run so far from
the ship that they had heard no sound
from US, not even the firing Of the guns.
all through the night. 1t seemed strange
that they should not have heard the
guns, but probably they had been to
windward until shortly before we dis
covered them; which, with the fog that
covered the water, accounted for the
fact. They had been not little alarmed
at their situation, but, having killed the
whales, were determined to remain by
them, especially as their chance of being
found would be just as good as it would
be if they should leave them.
The whales were both secured along
side, aud it was a long job we had Cutting
them up. They were two of the largest
whales which L ever saw or heard Of, tho
l suppose others have been taken as
large. Our ship was about one hundred
feet in length, being six hundred tons !;
and these two old fellows. actually hoary
with age, reached from the port-hole in
the bows through which the fuke chains
passed that held them, clear past the
ships stern. The two yielded full five
hundred barrels of oil, and kept US greasy
for long time. We fried doughnuts in
their oil, when it was boiling in the pots.
and cooked whale steaks, the officers al
lowing US to indule In general good
time, owing to such Unprecedented sue
cess
This incident, which IS strictly true,
shows what risks whalemen sometimes
run 10 securing their prizes. The danger
of being lost frem the ship is very slight,
however, compared with dangers from
other causes. 1t was during the very
season in which we were SO successful,
that brother of our captain, also in COM
mand of ship in the northwest, was
drawn down with his boat, and himself
and five men with him all lost, in conse
quenee of the line becoming tool while
whale to which it was fast was sounding.
The news of this sad event came to us
while We were cruising on the northwest,
and for time threw a deep gloom over
our ship, though it caused not mo-
ment's relaxation in our commanders
efforts to make quick and successful