The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-12-19
Following a Whale,

A ship some time ago arrived at
Bristol, after a successful whaling voy-
age. Time was when thousands of
vessels tracked the great sea monster
in search of oil, but the discoveries Of
the mineral article has made the trade
no longer remunerative, or, at least,
much less an object of pursuit. The
ship referred to was the West Wind,
commanded by Captain Parker, who
met with a most perilous adventure
during his cruise, and very near cost
ing him his life. Under the most
favorable circumstances the occupa-
ton of whaler is one of great danger
and physical trial, and very few ships
ever return to port without loosing one
or more"hands by the ordinary exigen-
cies of the service.
1t seems that Captain Parker was
out from his ship with a boats crew,
chasing whale, and having fastened
his harpoon to the creature, it dived
as usual, and the line, coiled in the
| bow of the boat, began to run out
with lightning speed, as the monster
sunk to the extreme depth Of the
ocean. At this critical juncture, Cap
tain 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 rapidity as to cause
smoke to rise from the woodwork of
the boat, and the captain threw water,
as is the custom upon the spot. BY
some unlucky lurch of the boat, he
was canted from his position, and he
naturally threw out his left hand to
prevent himself from falling; but in
doing so, he unfortunately placed 1t so
that the rope coiled about his wrist,
and he was sverboard and out Of sight
in an instant.
He was perfectly conscious while he
was rushing down foremost, and with
an incredible, and it appeared to hin
that his arm would be torn from it
socket, so great was the resistance o.
the water. During these awful mo
ments he wss well aware of his peri
lous situation and that his only chance
for life was to cut the line. But how
could he do this? He could not move
his right arm from his side, to which
it was so closely pressed by the forc'
of the element through which he wa
being drawn. The pressure on his braiI
| o.,-o,,- ,,,o-o o-J ,oO~o 4arrih hlo a01 ,
roaring as of thunder sounded in hi
cars. He opened his eyes for singh
instant, and it seemed as though {
stream of fire was passing before them
! And now came that inevitable activi
ty of the brain which characterizes al
such perilous situations, where one
life seems to pass in review III an IN
stant of time But the captain wa
a very practical man, cool and cours
geous always, and consequently stiI
: self-possessed.
He began to struggle with all hi
muscular power to reach the knit
which he wore in his belt. He fe
that he was growing weaker every il
slant, and it was now or never wit
i. him, though We should say, rarenth
cally, that which requires so long
describe was reckoned in seconds ratl
er than minutes. 0 if he could bl
:, command his right hand for one stroB
upon that fatal line! Now his heal
" began to fail him. He did not aba
t lutely despair, but his brain reele'
his nerves seemed to relax their tel
sion, light and darkness seemed to 9
d ternate before his eyeballs, and h
head felt as though compressed ii 8
iron vice. Were these his last N
ments? He thought, in spite of Il
agonizing pain he endured, he wou
make one more brave effort.
N The line providentially slackent
q for an instant; he reached his knit
and quick as thought itself the rol
n became taut again, the keen edge
the blade was upon it, and by de
perate effort of the arm it was severe
He was free and then commenced b
upward passage, caused by the patu
al buoyancy of the human bod
After this he only remembered a fe,
ing of suffocation, as gurgling spas
and all was over until he awoke to i
agonizing pain of reviving consciot
nees, IN the arms of his boats ere,
Truly, one of the most remarkable {
capes from death on record. II Ex.