Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-08-28


came and then some tin trumpets-so
big that none but very windy men
could blow them-were brought out of
the cabin, and made such dolorous
sounds that ono hearing them, and not
knowing what they were, would GER
tainly never have ventured towards
them.
But there was no response, and no
one came 70 make it worse, watts of
wind began to be felt. They rippled
the water, aud the ship began to move
ahead. But the fog still chung, though
1t grew thinner, and we could see a
little farther from the ship. We could
see no boats, however, and the captain
was evidently alarmed. There were
muskets in the cabin, and they came
next, successive volleys being discharg-
ed, but bringing no sound in reply,
nor any boats.
1t was growing dark. and the wind
was increasing. The boats had been
pulled ahead, and the captain headed
the ship the way they had gone, and we
ran on, making all the noise we could,
them if we went farther, when for q
time the ship was hove to. Then VIC all
shouted, and the trumpets prayed, and
the muskets ratified out stunning
volley, aud We listened.
No sound; no boats. It was dark,
for>tho fog was still thick, clinging to
the water. The wind was freshenlng,
and the waves were already dashing
against the ships sides. Then the
bug lights were rugged ont on studding
sail booms over the sides. The bug.
light / must explain. 1t isn't q coach
lamp, exactly. A basket, holding a
bushei, perhaps, and made of hoop
iron, is filed with scraps and other
inhammnble material, lighted and sus-
pended over the side. It makes a good
light to cut in by, when that work is
carried on IN the night, and on such an
occasion as this one suspended out
board over each side makes the most
effectual beacon that could be devised.
While some were rigging the bug
lights, others went to cast off the LASH
ings of one of the stubby old guns
that graced each side of the quarter
deck, and haul it into tho waist. It was
loaded--to the full limit of safety,
pr ba5ly-and made the loudest noise
we had made yet. OF course they
would hear that, if they were still
atioat; but, to make sure, the gun was
fired several times Then we waited.
and listened, and peered into the dark
NETS but nothing came.
'They've killed a 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 hear! the gun.''
That was what we couldn't under.
stIfu. Even if they had killed whale,
one OF the bOais would naturally come
to tell us, If they had known where to
find lis. But none came, ner did we
hear any sound; and when we had
lain with the mainyards aback for more
than al hour, they were braced for.
ward again. and, keeping close to the
wind, and going about often, we con.
tinued on the lookout, firing the gun
ut frequent intervals all through the
night.
| When it began to grow light, the foe
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 81
all and we began to think of what GU
poor shipmates would have to endure,
lost at sea, in those small, open boats,
Unless the fog should clear, the day.
light would not help at all in findina
them; and how far we were from them;
, or in what direction they were, We
, could not tell; we might be go,nq
, from them or towards them,-it was Of
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 forecastle
announced that the boats were seen
Everyone rushed to the bows, ard
, there, some two miles distant, y or,
both the boats, with their signal waii,
set to show that they were lying by
dead whale. They were to leeward
. and, keeping off q couple of points, ",
ran rapidly towards them. The boat,
were some distance apart, and both hal
waits set.
"They've got 'em both, as true a.
you're alive!' exclaimed The captain
rubbing his hands. II guess vel
make good nights work Of it, aftel
ALT"
1t was true, they had them both
One boat had fastened to each, anl
they had killed them with very little
+ trouble, though not till they had ru1
40 far from the ship that they had
: heard no sound from us, not even the
, firing of the guns, all through tho
night. 1t seemed strange that they
should not have heard the guns, bu,
, probably they had been to windward
until shortly before we discovered
them which, with the fog that covered
| the water, accounted for the fact.
They had been not little alarmed OF
their situation, but, having killed the
, whales, were determined to remain b,
, them, especially as their chance o. be.
. ing found would be just as good as Il
would be if they should leave them.
The whales were both secured along
side, and it was a long job we had cut
ting them up. They were two of the
largest whales which I ever saw O,
heard of, though I suppose others
have been taken as large. Our shin
was about one hundred feet in length,
being six hundred tons; aud these two
old fellows, actually hoary with age,
reached from the portfolio in the bows
through which the fluke chains passed
that held them, clear past the ships
stern. The two yielded full five hun
dred 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 allowing us to indulge in q
general good time, owing to such un-
plecedented success.
This incident, which is strictly true,
shows what risks whalemen sometimes
run in securing their prizes. The
danger OF being lost from the ship is
very slight, however, compared with
dangers from other causes. 1t was
during that very season in which we
were so successful, that q brother Of
orr Captain, also in command of Il ship
on the northwest, was drawn down
with his boat, and himself and five
men with him all lost, in consequence
OF thu. line becoming foul while q whale
to Which lie was fast Was sO,1Di1nr
The news of this sad event came to ns
while we were cruising on the north
west, and for time threw a deem
gloom over our ship, though it caused
pot Il moments relaxation in our com.
manders efforts to make quick and
successful voyage.
| ARISTOTLE snyS there ia ono thinn