The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-18
FOLLOWING A WHALE.
/ TERRIBLE DIVE TO THE BOTTOM OF THy SEA
and a MIRACULOUS ESCAPE

and MIRACULOUS ESCAPE
: +
A ship some time ago arrived at Bristol
after successful whaling voyage. Time va
when thousands OF vessels tracked the grea
sea monsters IN search Of oil, bat the dlscov
cries Of the mineral article has made the trade
no longer remuneratlve, or at least, much
less an object OF pursuit. The ship referred
, to wa, tae West Wind, commanded by Capt.
Parker, who met with q most perilouS advtn-
turr during his cruise, and which came very
near costing him bis life. Under the most
tavorable circumstances the occupation Ct the
whaler is one of great danger and physical
trial, and very few ships ever return to port
| wilton. los ug one or more hands by the
oriu Try eXi3encics Of the service.
|. seems tat Capt. Parker was on. from
his ship VI it'll boat, crew. chasing whale
and having fastened his harpoon to The
! creature. It dived, usual, and the line,
| collcd IN the bows Of the boat, began to run
ont with lightning speed, as the monster
sunk to The extreme depth Of tie ocean. N
this critical juncture capt Parker went 70
the forward part OF the boat to be sure that
there was no twist in the rope 10 prevent its
working clear. The line was runli4gs ont
with S lch rapi lily as t. cause smoke to arise
from the woodwork Of the boat, and the Cap
tain threw water, as is the custom. upon the
oHHe' ny 5OLc I'M ithy iultl u liz Doil ie
was canted from his position. and he natu-
rally threw out his LETT hand TO prevent him
self from falling; but, in doing 80, he untor-
tulatelv place 1t So that the rope cOlled
about his wrist. aud he way overheard and
out OF sight IN an instant.
He was perfectly conscious while He was
rushing down, head foremost, and with :
an incredible swiitness, and it appeared to
him that his arm would be torn from the !
sockets. 50 great was tie resistance Of the va :
ter During these awful moments he was :
wellaware Of his perilous situation, aud that
his only chance for lite was to cut the line. I
Int how could he do this: He could not
move his right arm from his side, to winch it
was so closely pressed by the force Of the ele-
ment through which he was being drawn.
The pressure on his brain grew more and
more terrible. ana a roaring as OF thunder
sounded in his ears. He opened his eyes for
a single instant and II seemed as though
stream OF fire was passing before them. and
now came that inevitable activity of the
brain which characterizes all such perilous
where ones whole life seems to
pass III review in an instant Of time. But the
captain was very practical man, cool and
courageous always, and consequently still
self possessed.
He began to struggle with all his muscular
power to reach the knife which he wore in
MS belt He felt that he was growing weaker
Every instant, and It was now or never with
lin though We should say, parentheticallv,
hat what requires so long to describe occurred
n time which was reekoned by seconds rather
tan minutes On, if he could but command
lis right hand for one stroke upon that fatal
Inc Now his hears began to fail him. He
It'd not absolutely despair. but his brain
eeled, his nerves seemed to relax their ten
ion, light and darkness seemed to alternate
,etore his eye-b balls. and his head felt as
hough compressed in IN iron wise. Were
toS3 his last momentS' He thought. in
pite of the agonizinS pam he endured. lie
'olld make one more brave effort.
The line proyldentially sackened for
7cond he reached his knit. and, as quick
) thought itself, as the rope became tan.
GAIN the keen edge Of the blade was upon
and by q desperate effort Of his arm it be-
lme severed He was freed, and then COM
Fenced his upward passage, caused by the
atural buoyancy Of the human body. After
rs he only remembered feeling Of suiloca-
on, gursllng spaSm, and all was over until
e awoke to AZ agonNlng pain Of reviving
IN the arms of his boats crew.
ruly one of the most remarkable escapes
On4 death on record