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

boats. After long following to lee
ward for twenty miles, the mate and
second mate got iron into q fine bu,
whale. After fierce struggle he rar
out one line and wrenched out the irons
of the other, then coming to windward
headed out. The two unfortunate boats
made desperate efforts to overhaul the
flying game, but the whale made two
miles to their one, and we should have
lost him but for favorite maneuvre OF
ceptain b.. who lay well 70 Wind
ward for Just such fying chances. We
worked across 80 asTto intetcept the
whales course, and with sails and oars
we stood directly in line with his great
square snout, which was thrown eight
feet in the air at every spout.
Tugging away at the bow oar, l
had no share in the sport until his
great black head rushed into sight Just
outside my oar blade, and his polished,
glistening body rounded out as we swift
ly passed. A slight backward check Of
the boat told that Chipman was at
work, and two planted iron holes under
the hump tod us that we were fast
The laundering flaps of the whales
fiukes, and the quantity of white foam
and spray are all that l can recall of
the instant preceding the rapid whirl
of the Eoat, cs it swung to the tow Of
the line and followed the mad whale
Long John, midship oarsman, a little
white about the gills, was disposed to
be funny, and in a rather tremulous
voice remarked that 'his quid was shift
ted to the wrong side by the sudden
jerk, and that was the reason he didn't
trim the beat The fact is, John, with
some others of our crew, thought it was
in order TO Jump overheard rs soon as
the irons We're in the whale. But on
the whole we did creditably, and Cap
tain B had word of encourage
ment for US. He said tie had hopes
that III time we would be steady and to
he depended on. A great many things
were doEe with tie boat and lance in
comprehensive to me. / was alone re-
spons!b!e for TIE bow oar, and l pulled
and stamed as the rapid orders came
from the captain or boat-stcercr. In
good time thick blood was spouted, the
furry followed, and dead whale, float
ing TN out. WAS lying ahead of our boat.
We were still to !eeward of the ship
She ran down and :ufied to the wind.
with the for-yard back. This brought
tn" whale On the weather side, with the
tail toward the bows, ard then by Gu
rious arrangement of the buoy and line,
q heavy tluke chain was secured around
the small at the junction of the body
with TIE flCEcs, while the other end,
through q side hawscho!e, was brought
to the windiass bits. TIE cutting-in
falls for the morrow's work. l had
time to look over the side and try to
study a sperm whale. but as he law
along side, exposing hut small part of
his bulk, was disappointed in his APP
parent size. My notions regarding the
leviathan had been somewhat loose, and
l had n general idea that q whale was
4 large as 4 Pennsylvania barn. l set
this fellow down as baby, perhaps,
but was d;senchantcd by n remark Of
the second mate. that we would see few
larger. Our capture was estimated at
eighty-fve barrels. That night we
turned in with blistered hands but easy
consciencCs
Consider their harlships, You good
souls who are truly concerned for Jacks
temporal and spiritual welfare. and don't
give him over to perdition for his
thouShtlcss carouse when he is first
thrown from the privations of the sea
into The alluremcnts and temptations
of the shore. Remember that he has
endured long months in which the dis
agreeable has only been varied by the
dangerous, III which Re has ranked next
below the captains dog. Make allow
ance for this poor waif of the sea when
the land shark, the keeper of the grog
shop or the brothel, entice him with
false smiles. and with open hand Of
cherry welcome lead him through the
gates of hell. Now, / ask YOU, why
should be not enter: All other gates
are hermetically sealed to him. A SIM
pie glimpse or hope of heaven is shut
out from him by the coldness Of even
heavens ministers. and the caves Of
the Inferno seem inviting when viewed
from the forecastle of MANY a whale
ship, just in from an eight months
cruise. Good temperance men rs YOU
are. would dash the cup of temporary
oblivion from this poor wretch's lips
You say 1T steals his brains Exactly;
that he desires. With shillinc's worth
he becomes man: with twice that
quantity the old boy yhood is with him
again; with thrice that he stargers
down the street. and with his thumb
in his armpit tips his .arpaulin to his
Captain. bites his thumb nail at tie
Port Admiral. and votes the President
luhber. He feels for the time .ever~
inch a man
Your warning that he cudangcrs Efe.'
has no weight with being who lives
hourly with his life in his hand. Don't
plead the joys or duty Of lie to him
who 10 save his lie Will not waver a
step from the line of duty. You preach
never So well of heaven, and plead for
his soul III the accepted ways Of church.
6, hut Your good words and ways fall
weak and meaningless on the ear Of the
man who lives habitually in the pres.
ence II Gods mightiest works, and who
iii the lonely night-watches of the ST.
lent sea is forced into communion With
the divine authority for all things
Careless. thoughtless. and wicked as the
sailor may seem. il was not a bad i'm
pression l received IN NV discourses
with many seamen in the mig ght watches.