The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-09
TURNING a WHALER INTO 4 BETHEL.
A bark Saturated with whale OH Serving 20
Years as sailors Church.

At the foot OF Harrison street, Brooklyn,
n dismnntled bark is made fast 10 the string
piece by heavy chains. Her hugo black bow
spirit projects over the end Of the wharf and AN
iron martingale stage with iron bands instead
Of bobstays. support on either side Of the PROV
passageways leading from the ship 10 the
wharf A sort Of temple OF liberty stands upon
the main deck forward. and within the six pill
lars that support the roof hangs u large bell.
This is used to call together the congregation
81 Norwegian. Scandinavian. Danish, and
Swedish sailors from the surrounding ship
ping. who three times n week assemble in the
ncUt chapel formed by the housing over OF the
main deck aft
Bor twenty years this craft has been used as
bethel ship. wealthy Now York merchant
has recently offered the pastor the Rev. Dir
Johnson. a plot Of land at the intersection Of
President and Van Brunt streets. Brooklyn.
upon which TO erect stationary cdilce for his
people. To raise part OF the money for ;his
| edilce. Mr. Johnson advertised the bark for
sale Yesterday. He describes 1t as coppcred and
| copper fastened. 1t may be- again rugged into a
| lark or three mastod schooner. or used for a
| HOHting chapel.
This bark before 1t was fitted for its present
use. has an exciting history connected with
| tempestuous scenes in the waters OF the north
urn seis.
Capt. Jugssen ia we'll remembered by old
| whalemen, who speak OF him rs one OF the bold
est A. well rs one OF the most succ Ssful OF the
hardy mariners who wnrrrd against the huge
balecn. sperm and right whales. For years he
commHnded u 5OO-tOn brig that was known for
her sailing qualities. Ia | JJ. rs he was about
returning TO Denmark with a two-ihiris cargo
| OF sperm oil. whaebone, ambergris. and sper-
maceti a large right whale was seen to spout at
a short distance from the ship. the vessel WIS
hove 10 ana tho boats were sent out. The inn
mense FISH was moving slowly toward the brig
| and when an iron WIS thrown into its side from
one OF tho boats. he seemed To consider the ship
as the source OF the blow and made at her. strik
INK the bilge u furious blow that sent n shock
| through her frame. and opened the seams To
such an extent that the pumps could not free
| her from water. Shortly aiicrward she sank, ,
and the boats crows wandered about for several
days. until they were picked up hyan American
ship that brought them 10 this country
Can't. Jugssnn. who was already rich In his
own country. sent for money and had bark
built for him Of oak and hack metark i'm Belfast
| on tho Maine cOaet lie called her the Norr-
koping. after his nntiye village 81 miles from
Stock holm. near the banks OF the baltic. Rs.
shipping his crew he took his vessel TO Den
marx, where she was given register. Then
| he set out for the whaling grounds. There he
was 50 successful TINT il is said he not only
made another fortune. but that mis- crew. who
| shipped on what IS known rs lay or I'or-
| This WIS in 1861 50. After returning To
| Denmark in the latter year. after series Of
| successful voyages. Can't JuEss"n. bning taken
| down with an old malady. sold his bark and re-
| manned ashore.
In 1850 the Norrk0plng. changed into a pro-
| an East India tradrr. Like most whaling ships
| her hull WAS saturated with whale oil, which Is
| u great Ur"-crydtlyu al wood. She WIS pur-
chased by a Norwegian firm in this city. who
clriy L. be used rs a bethel ship. She WINS made
| fast to Pier IL, North River. whore she laid for
seventeen years as a npnting church Tor Nor
wrgian. Danish. scandinavian. aud Swedish
| sailors There she remained until 1876. when
| she was towed over to brooklyn AMI made last
TO the pier at tho foot Of Harrison street. where
| 6AO has been ever since.