The Republican journal., 1877-04-19
A Terrible Dive to the Bottom OF the Sea

y snip some time ago arrived at BrlStul.
after Il successful whaling voyage. Time
was when thousands of vessels tracked
the great Sea-monsterS in search OF oil,
but the discovery Of the mineral article
have made the trade no longer remuner-
atiye. or at least much less an object of
pursuit. The ship referred to was the
West Wind, commanded by Captain Par
ker, who had most perilous adventure
during the cruise, and which came very
near costing him his life Under the
most favorable circumstances the occupa-
ton OF the Whaler is one of great danger
and physical triad, and very few ships
ever return to port without losing one or
more hands by the ordinary eNigencies of
the service.
Ii seems that Captain Parker was out
from his ship with a boats crew, chasing
Il whale and, having fastened his halpool
to the creature, it diVed as usual, and the
line. coled III the bows of the boat, be
gan To run out with lightning speed, and
the monster sunk to the extreme depth
Of the ocean. At this critical junction
Captain Parker went to the forward part
OF the boat, to be sure that there was no
twist in the rope to prevent its working
clear. The line was running out With
such rapdlty as to cause the smoke to
arise from the wood work Of the boat,
and the Captain threw water, as is the
custom: but bN an Inlucly lurch of the
boat he was canted from his position, and
he naturally threw out his left hand to
prevent linn from falling, hut in 50 doing
lie placed il 50 that the rope colled around
Ia al
OF SIGHT III an instant.
He was perfectly conscious while he
was rushing down, head foremost. and
with incredible sWitlncss, and ii appeared
To him us il his arm would be torn from
the socket, 50 great was the resistance OF
the water. During these awful moments
he was we'll aware of his pcrluus situation,
and that his only chance for life Was to
cut the lines. Bun how could he do this
He could not remove his right arm from
his, side, to which it WAS closely pressed
by the force of the element through which
he was being drawn. The pressure on
his brain grew more and more terrible,
and Il roaring rs of thunder sounded in
his ears. He opened his eyes tor Il single
instant. and ii seemed as though It stream
of fire was passing before them: and now
came that inevitable activity of the brain
which characterizes all such perilous sit
uations, when ones whole life seems to
pass in review in an instant of time. But
the Captain was 4 very practical man,
cool and courageous always, and cOnSe-
quently, still sclt-possessed.
He began to struggle with all his mus
cllIar power to reach the knife which he
wore i'll his belt. He felt that he was
growing weaker every instant, and it was
NOW or never with him, though We should
say. palrntheticallv that what requires 50
long To describe. occurred in time that
was reckonrd 10y seconds rather than
minutes. O, if he could command but
his right hand for one stroke upon that
fatal line, Now his heart began to fail
him. He did not absolutely despair, but
his brain reeled, his nerves seemed to al
ternate between his eyeballs, and his head
felt as though compressed in an iron wise.
Were these his last moments? He thought,
in spite Of the agonizing pain he endured,
he would make one more brave effort.
The lines providentially slackened for
a second; he reached his knife, and as
quick as thought itself, as the rope be
came taut again, the keen edge of the
blade was upon it, and by desperate
effort of his arm, it became severed. He
was free, and then commenced his up
ward passage, caused by the natural
buoyancy of the human body After this
he only remembered a feeling Of suttoca-
ton, gurgllng spasln, and all was ovel
until he awoke to an agonizing pain OF
reviving consciousness in the arms Of his
boats crew. Truly one of the most re-
marlable escapes from death on record.