Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-04-15

aug DUG on tue une under the whales
I'M, until It brought up firmly at the
''knuckle," I could then secure my
self upon the whale to avoid sliding
on at every roll. The situation was by
NO means . pleasant one, as had all
could do to keep my mouth entirely
above water.
While had been thus absorbed in
the one object Of securing my own
temporary safety, the rest Of my ship
mates had all disappeared. nor was
Snything to be seen or heard, either
OF them or the boat. A light spruce
pole and a. paddle were dashed in my
way, and / secured them by cutting
holes with my sheath-knifs and plant
Ing them, like masts, in the blubber
Of the whale, but these were all that
could find. The waif set in the
whale by Mr.. Andrews still stood in
Its place, and this was important, as
1t might be the means Of the ship find
ing me, could keep alive where was
till daylight. Within half an hour
after I secured the landing upon the
floating island, the squall was all over,
and the wind again settled down to a
| steady moderate breeze. The heavens
were clear overhead, and it was as
light as we'll it could be on a moonless
night. But where were my comrades?
And, Of more vital importance
yet to poor me, where was the Druid?
Light ho!" I actually sung out the
words, as had just spit half a pint or
less Of brine from my mouth, and
shaking my eyes clear, they rested
upon a bright light directly in the
winds eye from me. Then there was
a binding flash, and the report of the
Druid's old carriage-gun thundered
forth, SO near as to be startling, and
I roared with all the voice at my COM
mand, which was not much, hoping to
make myself heard. More iight q
fierce flame, now evidently nearing me.
Soon, I could make out the ships
sails in the immediate glare of the
light, and then the whole outline of
the stout old craft.
My lungs We're strained to their ut
most power for my only. chance of
safety depended upon attracting their
attention before they should sweep on
beyond me- IT left astern unknown
to them, there was little OF no hope of
salvation.
But sharp eyes were on the alert,
below and aloft, for they had found
the whales ''slick," and were follow
ing it down. My outcry was heard,
and the ship brought rapidly up in
the wind, while two boats were drop
ped into the water and manned as
quickly as eager men could accom-
plish it. never relaxed my cries un-
til one Of the boats was near enough
for the crew to see the waif, and set
up their answering shout. was
pulled by strong arms from my
cramI'ed position into the boat of
Captain Gibbs, who seemingly excited
almost to insanity, had come himself
on this errand Of rescue.
My story, which I told in as few
words as possible, excited them still
| more. We shot alongside, and I was
helped up to the deck, while he was
issuing all sorts Of urgent orders.
All three boats were soon down,
with directions to "spread their
chances" and to search thoroughly
every foot of ground" or sea, as they
went. A set of signals were rapidly
agreed on, and the ship-keepers had
their orders issued faster than they
could take in their meaning. As the
captain sprang down the side again in
to his boat, overheard him say in q
low bitter tone:-
God help me! Why did lido it?"
And God did help him. Within an
hour, the reports Of three muskets
from the boats told us that the lost
ones were found; and strange to say
all were alive, though well-nigh ex-
hausted. The boat had filled and
rolled bottom up, but all had succeed
ed in climbing upon her bottom,
through the supperhuman efforts G;
Mr.. Andrews, who, all said, appeared
to take little care of his own life, SO
that he could save the others. The
stronger supported the weaker ones
and kept them up on the boats bot
tom; but the preservation Of the whole
crew seems to me miraculous, when T
think Of it at this present writing.
The old colored boatsteerer Beers
was almost gone, being, in fact, quite
insensible when help arrived.
When the first excitement was over,
I saw the captain take Mr.. Andrews
aside, and heard words which I could
not make out, but his voice seemed
choked with emotion, and the two
stood grasping each others hands for
some little time. as if their whole souls
were in the act. A bond of brother
hood was established between them
! from that hour, which was broken on
| ly with the close Of their lives.
We were SO fortunate as TO find and
secure the whale the next day, and in
the happy state OF feeling consequent
upon our good luck, the perils OF our
| adventure were soon lost sight OF; but
upon C0ptnin Gibbs at least, the lesson
Oh that fearful night was not lost.
! ts-----~~- ..-~..---s--@s-a--s-
He seemed more than seventy year:
old, and Ill who saw him thought he
was d defunct negro when the whee
of the stage rolled over lis buck. But
he slowly got upon his feet, wiped the
mud out of his eyes, shook himself
and mutteIed dismally as he potterec
toward the sidewalk, "In Moo Yawk
pussons afoot 'ain't got no rights as
pussons on vehicles is bown' to re-
spec'."