The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-13
A iB1G lsrsfr STORY.
An sold Salt who Proposes to Drive g
-..s,,i Whale Team, FOalr.in-handsls a
tstsrT t.f- across tho Ocean dGtssi
From the New York Star.

captain EiiJAu w IlllatnS Is WSatH-
er-beaten old sailor who lives on the
north shore OF Long, Island. For
over thirty years he was engaged in
the whale-fishery, and was known as
one of the most successful captains in
the, trade. lie. is q bachelor, and his
homestead---which loekshas weather
beaten as himself stands 1t the end
of creek. miles away from any hab-
itation. "Old Elijah," as he is called.
is known to be eccentric, but some
years ago. when he put down fence
at the mouth OF, the creek and was
seen in little boat all day long talk
ing to invisible beings in the water,
the neighbors thought the old man
had gone crazy. Last summer lady
from the city determined to. pay him
visit. Captain Elijah at first threat
ened to put her off the farm, but after
a while he took her down to the creek
TO show her his wonder which, he
said would revolutionizeo sea-travel-
ing, f.,..-.5 -,ii f.,il a. .t-sfssr
The lady followed the Captain, and
without hesitation, stepped into lit
tie boat with him, and was soon in
the middle of the stream. ass The Cap
tain took in his oars and blew little
whistle, which Immediately brought
several monsters to the surface. The
lady was SO thoroughly frightened
that she shrieked and compelled Cap
tain Williams to land her. AS soon
as her feet touched terra firma she ran
home, and since then the people have
verified the lady's statement, that the
old man kept several large pets in the
creek. 3....,...,...t ,.f. .;...
Last Christmas the comman ty of
the North Beach were thrown into
CONSERVATION by the report that the
Captain had contracted with ship
building firm in Port Jefferson fol, the
construction of a vessel, to be built
under the personal supervision of the
Captain. and soon after the keel was
laid, and the ribs of q curious cen-
struction became visible. The ship
builder said that the Captain was call
right" bat that the vessel would have
neither steam nor sails that the Cap
tain had discovered power by which
the vessel could be drawn to, Liver
pool In tArec days. Ilufsse g,uoiHsu
The Star reporter started for the
Captains farm, and walking down the
north road found the old cabin hid
away between cluster of trees. No
one answering the knocking at the
front door, the reporte walked around
the house, and hearing voices. i'm the
barn went towards it, and OH pushing
open the door discovered an old man
sewing on q large strip of leather.
Is The Captain said he had heard of
Darnum training seal, and why
shouldn't we train the fish TO draw US
around on the water as the horses do
on the land? la G.5Da @uiiisVGgi sdj
"Well, you see," continued the Cap
tain, 81 must commence at the COM
mencement. When / was boy and
made my first trip on a whaler Iasaw
a boat pulled by a harpooned whale
about as fast as ever seed anything
go. 1t made "a deep impression on
me, aud made up my mind that if
ever became any body " ould tame
aiwhale, the same as farmers tame a
colt, and drive about the sea. Many
years passed, and l seen the same
thing many timea, and have eften been
in boat pulled along like Lightning
by one of them. On my return after
long cruise, l found that an old
aunt of mine had left me this farm
and little ready money. soon af-
ter bought share in a whaling ship.
which commanded until a few years
since. | thought 1 would give up GO
ing to sea and live the rest of my days
in quiet. 1 went to farming the same