Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-09-26
FOLLOWING A WHALE.

| y snip some time ago arrived at
Bristol, after successful whaling
voyage. Time was when thousands
of vessels tracked the great sea mon
Sters in search Of oil, but the diScOy-
cries of the mineral article have
male the trade no longer remunera-
tive, or at least much less an object
of pursuit. The ship referred to
was the West Wind, commanded by
Capt, Parker, who had a most pc
rilous adventure during the cruise,
and which came very near costing
his life. Under the most favorable
circumstances the occupation of the
whaler 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
exigencies of the service,
1t seems that Captain Parker was
out from his ship with boats
crew, chasing a whale, and, having
fastened his harpoon to tie creature
ii d!ved, as usual, and the line, coil
ed in the bows of the boat, )egan to
run out with lightning speed, as tle
monster sunk to the extreme depth
of the ocean. At this critical juno
ture Capt. Parker went to the for
ward part of the boat, to be sure
that there was 40 twist in the rope
to prevent its working clear. The
line was running out with such ra-
pidity rs to cause the uOke to rise
from tho woodwork of the boat,
and the caDtain threw water, as is
the custom but by an unlucky
lurch of the boat he was canted
from his position. and he naturally
threw ont 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 over
board and out of sight i'll an in
slant.
He was perfectly conscious while
he was rushing down, head foremost
and with an incredible swiftncss,
and il appeared to him that his arm
would be torn from the socket, SO
great was the resistance of the wa
ter. During these awful moments
he was well aware of his perilous
situation, and that his only chance
for life was to cut the lines. But
how could he do this ? lie could
not move 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
terrible, and a roaring as of thun.
der sounded in his ears. lie opened
his eyes for single instant, and it
seemed as tho ugh stream Of fire
was passing before them and now
came that inevitable activity of the
brain which characterizes all such
perilOus situations, where ones
whole life seems to pass in review in
an instant of time. But the cap
tain was,a very practical man, cool
and courageous always, and, conse-
quently, still self-possessed.
Tie began to struggle with all his
power to reach the knife
which he wore in.his belt. He felt
that he was growing weaker every
instant, and it was now or never
with him, though we should say,
parenthetically, that what requires
so long to describe, occurred in time
that was reckoned by seconds rath-
er than minutes. Oh, 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, bnt his brain
reeled, his nerves seemed to altern-
ate before his eyeballs, and his head |
felt as though compressed in an iron
wise. Wero these his last moments?
He thought, in spite of the agoniz-
ing pain he endured, he would make
one more brave effort.
The line proYidentially slackened |
for a second he reached his knife,
and as quick as tho"ght itself, as
the rope became tighS again, the
keen edge of the blade was drawn
upon it, and Jy desperate effort of |
his arm 1T became severed. lie was
freed, and then commenced his up |
ward passage, caused by the natural |
Of the human body. At
ter this he only remembered a feel /
ing of suffocation, a gurgling spasm,
and all was over until he awoke to