Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-03-15
A pERILOUS ADVENTURE.

shin some time ago arrived at Bristol after
suecesstul Pacific whaling voyage. Time was
ubpn thousands of vessels tracked the great
monsters in search of OIL but the discovery of
,hr mineral article has made the trade 20 long
Or reuuperative, or, at least, much less al OBJ
;pct of pursuit. The ship referred to was the
IVES, Wind, commanded by Capt. Parker, who
met with most rerllous adventure during bis
cruise, and which cau1e very near costing him
ms life. Under the most favorable circum
Stances the occupation OF q Hhaer Is one OF
great danger aud physical trial, and very few
ships ever reluru to port without losing one or
more hands by the ordinary exigeucies OF the
service.
I, seems that Captain Parker was out from
bis ship With boats crew chasing whale,
and having fastened his harpoon to the cres-
ture it diyed, as usual, and the llne coled IN
the bows Of the boat began to run out With
lightning speed as the monster sunk 70 the ex-
,reme depth Of the oceau, AT this critical
uucture Captaia Parker went to the forward
part of the boat to be sure that there Was no
twist 10 the rope to prevent tsworking clear. The
line was ruuuiog out with such rap.dity as to
cause smoke to arise from the woodwork OF the
boat and the captain threw water, as Is the
custom, upon the spot. By some ualucky lurch
Of the boat he was oauted from his position,
and he naturally threw out bis left had to pre-
vent himself from talling but in doing so be
unfortunately placed it SO tha, the rope coled
about his wrist and he Was overheard and out
of sight in an instant.
He was perfectly conscious while he was
luShipg down, head for, most AID with an 10
credible swiftness, and it appeared to him that.
bis arm would be torn from the socket, so
great was The resistance Of the water. During
these awful moments he was we'll aware of his
perilous situation, and that his only chance for
lite was to cut the line. But how could he do
this? He could not move his right arm from
bis side, to which it was closely pressed by the
force Of the element through which he was be-
ipg drawn. The pressure on his brain grew
more aud more terrible, and..a roaring, as OF
thunder, sounded in his ears. He opened bis
eyes for single instant, and it seemed as
though stream OF fire was passing before
them. And now came that inevitable activity
of the brain which characterizes all such peril
Gus situations where ones whole lite seems to
pass 10 reviewiin an instant Of fstime: But the
captain was p 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 ID his
belt. He felt that he was growing weaker
eVerp instant, and it was nowLOr never With
him.. though we should say. parenthetically,.
that what requires so long to describe occurred
10 time which we're reckened by seconds rather
,han minutes. Oh, if he could but command
his right hand for one STOKE upon that fatal
lue! Now his heart began to fail him. lie
did not absolutely despair. but bis brain. reeled,
bis nerves seemed to relax their tension, light
and darkness appeared to alternate before bis
eye balls, and his head felt as though COM
pressed in an iron vice. Were these his last
moments? He thought, in spite Of the agoniz
ing paiD.he endured, he Woeld make one more
brave effort
The line proyidentially slackened for a
second; he reached his knites and, as quick as
thought itself, as the rope: became taut ugaiu,
the keen edge of the blade Was upon it, and
by desperate effort of his arm it became sew
cred. He was freed, and then commenced his
upward passage, caused by the natural buoy
aucy of the human body. After this he only
remembered feeling of SuffocatOn, gurgllng
spasm. and all was over until he awoke to an
agouizing pain Of reviving consciousness, 10 the
arms of bis boats crew. Truly, one OF the
most remarkable escapes from death on re-
cord
AN INGENIOUS modification of Ericsson's
plan Of employing hot an in;the place Of steam
bas been devised, With a view to meeting the
requirem ents of an economical, safe and reliable
engine for light work. The machine is de-
cribed as com mparatively noiseless, works very
steadily, and:is comp act and simple IN Its con-
.ruction. With the use of from fifty to sixty
pounds of coal each day of from ten to twelve
hours, with continuous work, this machine
can be worked up to two horse power, and re-