Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-09-29

seemed as if something whispered in my
ear that we were going to lose one MAI
tonight.
/ / said he was growing as supersti
tious as old Kanka Joe; and he an
swered:
81 can't help it. It did seem that
heard that whisper, and SO plain was i
that nearly dropped the wheel in ter
ror."
Another shout from the sea cut of
further talk, and we soon had two NOR,
boats at the davits. The absent on,
was Mr.. Joseph's; and we knew tina
through thick and thin he would holt
on to the whale. It was hours before
we found him, and when we did he re
fused to cut his line from the carcass
The captain cried to him that he coulG
not hold che whale in such sea. Blu
the old whaleman shouted back. sHe'.
a hundred an fifty barreler; and, if yor
don't take the line aboard, we'll stick te
him in the boat!
Soon after, as the gale was moderat
ing, the line was taken in, passing
through strong iron brace, screwed OF
to the starboard rail just forward of the
gangway amidships, frc~ which it was
taken back an j made FAST to the wind
lass bits at the loot Of the mainmast
It was new line, of stout Manila hemp
aud it's strength was put to fearful
test. A hundred fathoms astern O.
the ship it held the monster carcass
and as the vessel rolled heavily to tn.
sea, the strain on the rope was terrific
Standing forward of it, laid my hanc
on the line as the strain came, and
felt it stretch and contract like rope O
india-rubber.
Mr.. Joseph's boat had come along
side, and the captain, standing on the
starboard rail, was shouting to hin
through trumpet. The line from the
whale, passing from astern to the brace
forward, and back to the bits amid
ships, made an acute angle, inside Of
whico the captain was standing. I saw
and noted this as I passed forward, and
I noticed also, in the dark, a tall man.
who seemed to be leaning against
the line. &C I hope he's forward of it,
[ said to myself as I went on with what
was about.
/ had not taken si4 steps from the
spot when I knew that something
strange had occurred. The ship
steadi5d, as if the wind had ceased. ]
heard no sound greater than the storm
but, instead, I seemed to hear a still
ness. ran amidslips and grasped fol
the line. 1t was gone A rush to the
rail, and all was clear. The strain had
torn cut the brace. The mighty pull OF
the whale astern had jerked the line
straight, like the cord of a gigantic
bow, and the captain who had been
standing on the rail, had been struck
by the flying rope and thrown senseless
far into the sea.
All this had been seen by the men in
the boat before any one on board had
realized the affair. In less than min.
ute the cry of ''Saved r. reached us
from Mr.. Joseph; and, in shorter time
than can be imagined by landsman,
the boat was hanging at the davits, and
the injured commander was being cared
for in the cabin.
Hard rubbing and rum are the
patent remedies on a whaler, and by
dint of these the captain opened his
eyes in a quarter of an hour. He had
been stunned, but not seriously injured
He was amazed at first seeing the
mate and myself standing over him will
the rum bottle. But without word he
realized the situation.
Chow is the weather 2" he asked.
"The wind has gone down." said
Mr.. Joseph. Were under foresail
jib and reefed topsails, and runniE ]
right away from the whale"
"Gone2" said the old man.
"Gone," answered Mr. Joseph. rue.
fully. "Stanchion dragged, and the
line parted, and eight thousand dollars
I went without an owner"
"Tell Chips to see to that broken
rail, said the captain, closing his eyes,
drowsily.
cay, ay, SIR" said the old second
mate, as he stamped on deck.
heard him stop at the after-hatch,
| where the boat-steerers and carpenter
lived, and call "Chips" two or three
times. At last there was an answer, in
another voice-not Chips; then round
of hurried feet on deck, shout dowr
| the forecastle, and shout back in an
swer. There was no Chips there.
Two minutes after heavy foot came
aft TO the cabin stairs. and Mr.. Joseph
with white face, entered.
I knew what he had to tell. I knew
now-just as if had seen all-whom
the man was whom [ had seen leaning
against the line.
The captain looked at the second
mate.
"Chips is gone, sir" said the old
sailor, with a tremor in his rough
voice; "Chips was knocked over the by
line, and we've gone four knots since II
parted. I've put her about, and we're
running down again.
There was dead silence We all
knew the search was hopeless. Nc
man could swim in such a sea; and we
had a thought, though no one spoke it,
that brave, strong Chips had been kill.
ed by the line before he struck lie
water.
| All night we beat about the place
| where we thought it had occurred. The
wind and sea fell, and the moon came
out in great beauty to help our sad
search. Every man on board staid on
deck till the sun rose, and then we
looked far and vainly over the needless
| swell of the unhrOkAn Gao Nb;Y,o woe