Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-11-19
THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN.

"Tales of travel" if well told, are al
ways interesting; and the accounts Of
long and adventurous voyages over seas
that are comparatively unknown save TO
u few old mariners, possess n peculiar
charm for all that part of the human
race which inhabits the land, which of
course is by far the greater part. A
book entitled "Nimrod of the Sea; or,
the American Whaleman," has just been
written bv Captain Davis, who left his
rustic home in Pennsylvania many years
ago, when mere boy, and went on a
long whaling voyage. Davis was moth
ing bu: an ordinary seaman at the time
of signing the articles, and his views Of
American life are the views taken from
the forccastle. The youthful whale
man, while he was just the rerson to
observe with great care everything that
passed, WAS scarcely able at that time
to mora!ize upon the events which he
saw passing BIT he did not begin the
writing of his book until two years ago,
and it is to be presumed that the many
years which elapsed since his voyage
was over have enabled him to adorn his
tale with some drops Of wisdom. Some
interesting extracts from the book are
given helow.
At times, when the ship had modcr-
ate hcadway. the boats with their green
crews were lowered. and We manuuvred
around dummy whalc-a spare spar
towcd astcrn Thus we were continu-
ally drilled in lowering away, shipping
oars at the word. 'yuliing III chase, go
ing on 'starning, 'pullins two oars
starn three, until our hands were sore
ly blistered and something like disci-
pline was established among the crews
Now We were fairly launched on our
cruise, and the Captain was ready for
whale. The injunction was given TO
keep our eyes skinned at the mast
head, and sing out for everything you
see And thus we ran through the to-
dious calms ard sudden squalls Of the
line into the southeast trades, which
blew us TO the banks Of Brazil. One
day the cry came from aloft, There she
blows Where away Z shouted Cap
tain B. his gray eyes swapping with
excitement. Three POINTS off the lee
bow; blows; blows, four miles off and
sperm whale All hands were now
alive, the watch from below came on
deck, the Captain sprang aloft. and a
long drawn shout came from above.
There goes tiukes as the whale went
down.
The excited crew were in the lee rig
ging, keeping sharp lookout, the boats
having been cleared to lower. The CAP
tain ordered the maintopsail ahack
Stand by 10 lower, he cried. There
she blows, close aboard
The boats were awkwardly launched,
the willing crews tumbled III, and great
confusion of oars ensued, bet in good
time we settled down 10 work ard were
fairly off in pursuit of our first whale
A long chase it proved. and fruitless.
although we had two fair darts. The
mates boat was first on, and ours was
second; but the hump seemed under my
bow car as We ranged across the corn
ers of his fiukes. Owing to a want of
nerve, or awAwardness IN the crew. how
ever. the iron dart came back straight.
and SO this fine whale was left in the
Sn,,th Atlaoti., IN hlou N, p.s,ra
Urquestionatlr the scamapship Of
the American whaling captain is Of tn,
highest order in every respect. and
MANY Of the most successful and adven-
turous comma nders of packet and clip
per ships graduate IN this school. The
seamen educated III whaling have Nc
superiors in the substantial elements ot
the sailer. although they may lack tn,
ja,mty tie of the cravat, the saucy look
of the new tarpaulin of other sailors,
and NAV make less parade of their Pc
culiaritics on shore. To he sure they
are clumsy aud rough as the walrus on
dry land, but they only :seed the wash
Of deep blue water and the excitemen,
Of the chase to bring the true elements
Of their character to the surface. NJ
one can witness the change which at
tends rctual service in the boats with.
out astonishment The dull, sluggish
and sleepy become full of animation
dash and endurance.
At 8 A. NJ. we raised sperm whal.
on the starboard beam, luffed TO tn.
wind, ard at Q lowered away al foul