The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1877-09-14
Selected Story.
AN HOUR OF PERIL

Captain Blank is a retired son of Nep.
tune. He IS brimful of sea yarns, and when
in the mood can reel off a strand that would
do credit to the most sensational boy. His
tavorite yarn, however, is of the shark
order, and as it comes within three leagues
of the coast, may be reckoued sufficiently
domestic to warrant publication.
In 1886 Captain BIank-the captain does
not wish his name mentioued-was first
mate Of whaleship cruising out Of New
Bedford. The William King was one OF
those oId-fashioned tubs peculiar to the
last century, sailing equally we'll either
way, bow or stern. She was commanded
bv Rufus Hatch, bluff New Englander,
who had done little else than spit whales
the best part of fifty years. He had two
mates, Captain Blank and jim Watson,
the latter a thick-headed SQUAD of fellow,
always laundering, but, like most blum
dcrers, Of an amiabIe nature, and owner Of
a heart as big as tar-barreI.
The crew were "makeups," hard, soft,
and wild cases from every quarter Of the
globe ; the cook, as usual, an African, and
the steersmen and stroke oarsmen natives
Of the extreme East, Yanks to the back
bone, shrewd, wiry, and keen as razor
water. Such were the men who hunted
blubber in the William King.
The "off.shore ground" was their usual
haunt, butthis season whales were shy, the
catch poor, and prospects cloudy, so they
squared away to the northward, intending
to try bout with the blowers of the Polar
Seas off Pitcairn's Island. A gale nabbed
them, and sent the venerable oil-case bowl
ing before it with wall of foam ten feet
high before her nose. 1t made some work
for the riggers, for her rope gear was as
rotten as the inner man of champion sin
ner Her-top-sides also suffered, and she
began to be as wetinsid9 as she was out
side. .
The blowing easing a little, her captain
thought he wonld lay his craft ashore, and
put stopper on some of the worst leaks.
So she ran for San Francisco Bay, where
he listed his shin under the lee of the tall
dome now known as Telegraph Hill, cured
the leaks, relisted her, and put out.
AS the tub ,yabbled over the bar school
of whales was raised, Ted by an immense
bull, and steering in a-northerly direction.
Two boats were at once lowered, but they
had scarcely touched the water when the
seheot parted one rarkrpnning north, the
other south. Captain Blanks boat follow
cd one band, while Jim Watson, the mate,
followed the other. The captains boat
had crew Of magnificent oarsmen; they
laid to tbeir, work with a will, and, after an
hour'spall, came within range of the bull.
Captain Blank got an iron into him in
short order; the fish sounded, and went
down at a speed. which almost equalled
that ofthe late >"ightniug express" train.
Inc line ran out with deatenlng hum
the loggerhead smoked, and the boat laid
her bows deepein the water. Suddenly the
strain ceased, and the whale was coming
up, and every eye conned the seas for a
glimpse. Of the monster. He game up like
rocket, str -ck the boat on The keel amid
ships with his nose, and hurled it thirty
feet into the air. AS il descended, It capsiz.
ed, and fell bottom uppermost. The men
immediately swan for it, and, with the
exception Of the captain, reached it, where
'hey squatted, holding On tie keel and
presenting the appearance Of lot of pen
gums nesting on chunk of kelp. The
captain was also up; but-f finding me keel 7
'Fo"ded, resolved not 20 risk an unsetting >
" yentnrlng upon it. So he put an oar 9
under each arm, and treGi1diii6gg water, kept I
leaF the boat, cheering tie crew, who, as 9
"3S natural to men IN their situation, we're 9
nervous and downhearted.
They aoated tins way several minutes
'a0 were gradually getting over tbe 6rsf !.