The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1879-11-22
THE YANKEE WHALER.

$ proEe Of the most striking hcadlands Oh
from -'outh African coast is the Bluff Of
ofA I. It's majestic position, standing
Ct Soy out from the mainland and rising
The yht up from tho deep ocean 10 a
is In ut of fsevcral hundred feet; the bril-
for vsr hues of the thousand and one varl-
infect OF tropical foliage which cover It's
.efully sides from top TO bottom the clear
| TN above and the bright pl0ma9c IF the
them flashing IL the sun-all contribute
d onlrlake the SPOT picturesque n the cx-
;. G. In the maze # the gigantic IN
ary n -ood on the Bluff, At the time Of which
ornr writing, leopards, tiger-eats, mon
! mar, serpents ana other beasts and rep
va I roamed at Will, the preeepitous SIDES
i il, wild entang.ement lnsuring protee-
IA !. from the attacks of the hunter.
i !. lin the last few years q road hus
! IN made up the Bluff and alighthouse
ora j, crowns the summit. The inner CT
tbor. .ern side OF the Bluff forms one side
rar., ,.y.. le Bay OF Natal, while low sand hills
sod !. ose it on the north. Tie northern
low low :. is Irregular, and !. sand-hill project
nj ar into the bay almost puts t into
-. parts, so forming i doukle harbor
o O. n this point the harbor bar stretches
~ = :. = ", Apd the water being there very
vessels of large size arc prevent
ny. - dsX passing into the inner hArbor.
!. ~ Il .unatelY, however, the bluff protects
- u on the south. and except when
le $ h or east winds are blowing, a toler-
in8' good anchorage is obtainable On
lee' unit Of the impossiblity Of emlgrant
iise' IS sailing over the bar, the early emi-
ohce ! IS were transported from the ships
ale u le beach in the inner harbor in large
any boats, and frequently had to be car
through the surf to the shore by
irs. On the sand-hill that divides
pun Oay there stands look out and the
tlhlN captain or harbor- masters house,
not datuated the town OF Durham, the only
kills to which. at the date OF this story,
whale through the bush-path.
in the afternoon OF one Of the
es Of est days Of the summer Of IS the
Lips mOmeter registering something like
D as hundred and ten degrees III tie shade,
fend bay as calm as glass, and tie beach
ge se deserted, the men III III lookout
he dee surprised to see 4 long, raklsh
oner sail the bluff and drop anchor
npuahe outer bay. No sooner was she
" might to than whalc-boat was lower
that and put off from her side. The har-
of th' master hurried down. followed by
I tLE-a-dozen men, to the beach, aud be
uene: tho msn had reached the shore a
sher II crowd Of white men and kaffirs had
ed thered round. As the boat ran on TO
ameI shingle, a tail, sallow man, whose
low ~ frame, sharp eyes and features pro-
med him an American before he spoke,
ashore, and asked, in d sharp
ten al tone, "Who's boss (chicf personagel
y.forse"
ycufL am the Port Captain, said that
stepping forward. Dc you
pue l 1t met"
of wal. yes, | do-some. I'm cap n
,hit he Southern Cross Schooner thar she
he q She's sprung a bad leak, and ! want
vSoeach her here and examine her tim
fayas. Ny lads is Almost done up with
hat npin'. She's film most awful
Sick, aud want some men come of
oalil take hand at the pumps Nv
Nv can't keep on much longer, l guess
all Where are you from, and where bound,
~ dtaln2'sashed the harbor- master.
4 kI'm cruisin after whales, and tilar's a
II i, OF lie abroad. But sir, if we stop
,er av'ring here, | shan't get ny ship
ched. What men can you Gil me,
', quick
There's plenty Of kaffrs about. said
harbOr master: but YOU must get per