Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-10-20

lance from the ship, and we might
have seen him long before, had not
his white, bush-like spout been
lost in the angry whiteness that
was fast spreading over the sea.
For moment all eyes were fast
ened on the long body, like a great
black tube, over which the waves
washed. Every face was wonder
stricken at the immense size of the
whale. Captain Clifford had been
examining him through glass,
which he handed in turn to each
of his officers. "What do You say,
Mr.. Hussey.s' he inquired Of the
first mate, who glanced at the set
ting sun, and answered, $50 down,
sir; we can do it."
"Mr. Joseph !" and the captain
turned to the second mate, an old
Portuguese of extraordinary size,
and perhaps the most famous
whaleman alive. .
$50 down, sir, if we want to get
that fellow; wen never see him
again"
The two other officer were yonng-
er men, and of the same mind.
There was no time lost in further
consultation.
'swing the boats - shouted the
old man. The lines and irons had
already been thrown in by the
crews.
A "heave, on 70 and 4 straining
sound, and in one minute the four
boats struck the water and the men
were settled on the thwarts with
the long oars out.
The sun was low, and large and
red, and the whole western sea and
sky were magnificent in crimson
gold and black. The picture was
one of the finest / ever saw. The
rising sea was jet black, except
where it was bloody; broad road
of crimson shimmered from the
ship to the sun the long body of
the whale, even blacker than the
sea, was plainly seen in the rudy
glare and life was added to the
immence scene by the four white
specks-the whale boats-closing
t. a point as they drew near the
monster.
1t was not until the boats had
left the ship that we realized how
threatening was the weather.
Every moment the seas became
wilder and heavier against the yes
sci. Only now and again, as they
were lifted on a sea, could we
catch sight of the brave little boats.
The breeze grew stronger and
stronger every minute, and before
the first beat neared the whale, was
whistlibg through the rigging in
the wild way that tells of a coming
gals The captain regretted the
lowering of the boats, and soon
them to return. But the
men were excited, and refused to
see the signals. Filled to the gun
vale, the sea lashed over them
every moment, on they went where
only thing so near perfect as a
whale-boat could keep afoat. At
ter the firstsyung around to run
down to windward on the whale
the red sun stood fairly on the
black field of ocean.
Talk of the bravery, of soldiers
IN BATTLE, or Of men ashore in any
enterprise you please, what is ii
TO the bravery of such a deed as
this! A thousand miles from land,
six men in twenty-eight foot shell,
coolly going down in stormy sea
to do battle with the highest ere
ated animal! 1t is the extreme of
human GOODNESS and courage, be-
cause it is the extreme of danger.
The soldiers faces one peril-the
bullet. The whaleman, in such a
case has three mighty enemies to
fight-the sea, the gale and the
whale.
We saw the harpooner of each
boat stand up as they came within
hearing distance, and send in his
two irons. All the boats were fast
before the monster seemed to feel
the first blow. Then came the fight,
the cruel and unnatural fight be-
tween vast power and cunning
skill. The black water was churn-
ed white as the flukes struck out
in rage and agony. The sun dis
and the gale screamed