The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-11-24
FOL WING Il WHALE.

A ship arrived at Bristol, not long ago.
after a successful whaling voyage. Once
thousands of vessels tracked the great sea
monsters in search of oil, but the discover
les of the mineral article have made the
trade no longer remunerative, or at least
much less a object of pursuit. The sh p
referred to was the West Wind, command
ed by Captain Parker, who had a most
perilous adventure during the cruise which
came very near costing him his life. I'm
der the most favorable circumstances the
occupation of the whaer is one of great
danger and physical trial, and very few
ships ever return to port without losing
one or more hands by the ordinary exisen-
cies OF the service.
Ii seems that Captain Pa. ker was out
from his ship with boats crew, chasing
whale, aud having fastened his harpoon to
the creature, it dived, as usual, aud the
line, coIled i'll the bows Of Ile boat, began
TO run out with lightning SPEED, as the
monster sunk to the extreme depth of the
ocean. At this critical juncture Caluain
Parker went to the forward part of the
boat, to be sure that there was no twist in
the rope TO prevent lis working clear. The
line was lunning out with such Iapidity as
20 Cause the smoke to arise from tue wood
Toik OF the boat, and the Captain thew
water, as is the custom but by an unlucky
iurch of the boat he was canted from his
pusition, and he naturally threw out his
left hand TO prevent himself from falling,
but in so doing he placed it SO that the
rope coiled around his wrist and he WAS
overheard and out of sight in an instant.
lie was perfectly conscious while he was
rushing down headfoIomoSt, and with an
Incredible swiftuess, and it seemed to him
that his arm would be torn from the sock
ct, so great was the resistance of the water
During these awful moments he was well
...E lie
that his only chance for life was To cut the
line. But how could he do this? lie
could not move his hand from his side, TO
which 1t was closely pressed by The force
of the element through which he was being
drawn. The pressure on his braiu grew
more aud more terrible, aud a roarilg as
OF thunder sounded in his ears. FOR an in
stanI he opened his eyes, and it seemed as
though stream of fire was passing before
them and now came that inevitable ac-
tvlty OF the brain which chaIacterizes all
, such perilous situations where ones life
seems 10 pass in review in an instant of
time. But the captain was very practical
mao, cool and coui ageous always, and con-
sequeutly still self-posSessed
He began t. Struggle with all bis " .,scn-
lar power 80 reach thc kpife which he wore
at his belt. lie felt thaG he was growing
weaker every instant, aud il was now or
never with him, though we sbould say
parenthetically, that what requires so long
to.descrioe, occurred in time that was leck-
oned by seconds rather than minutes OH
II he could command but his right hand for
one stroke upon that fatal line Now his
heart began 10 fail him. lie did not abSo-
lutely despair, but his brain reeled, his
nerves seemed to alternate before his eve
balls, and his head seemed to be compi ess-
ed in an. iron vice. Were these his last
moments? lie thought, in spite of the ag-
onlzing pain, he would make one more
brave effort.
The line providentially slackened for
second be reached his knife, and quick as
thought itself, the rope became taut
again, the keen edge of the knife was upon
1T, and by desperate effort of his arm it
became severed. He was freed, and then
commenced his upward passage, caused by
the natural buoyancy of the human body
Af;er th:s he only remembered a feeling of
suffocating, gu.gling spasm, and all was
over until he awnl<e to an agouizinp Dain
of reviving consciousness in the arms of
his boats crew. Truly one of the most re-
markable escapes from death on record
CtegelaRd Times.