The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-01-21
THAT YANKEE wHALER.

7, on the South African Coast Is .
: Bluff of Natal. Its majestic positio
standing boldly out from the mai
o land, and rising straight up from Il
/! deep blue ocean to height Of sever
t huDdred feet; the brilliant bues
5 the thousand and one varieties
tropical foliage which cover It's ste,
o sides from top to bottom; the Gle
J. sky above, and the bright plumage
E The birds flashing in the sun--sll co
r tribute TO make the spot picturesqr
~ the extreme.
: la the mezs of the gigantic unde
{ wood on the Bluff, at the time
whici am writing, leopsrds. tige
cats, N Ibkeys. serpeuts, and otbe
beasts and reptiles, roamed at will
the precipitous sides and wild entar
clement iusufing protection from ID
: attacks of the hunter
Within the last few years a roa
: has been made up the Bluff, and
lighthouse nov crowns the summit
| The inaer or Dortbern side of th
bluff fJrms one side Of the Bay o
Natal, while low sand hills inclose
ON the north
The northern coast is irregular
and saad bill stretching far into tn
bay almost cuts it into two parts s.
forming Il double harbor. From thi.
point the hsrbOr-bar stretches across
and ihe water there being very shal
low. vessels Of large size are prevent
e from passing inio the iln,r her
Dor
Fortunately, however, the bluf
protects them on the south and, ex
cept when north or east winds are
blowing, a tolerable good anchorage
is obtainable.
Ga account Of the impossibility o!
emigrant ships sailing over the bar
the early emigrants we're transported
/ from the ships to the beach 10 the 10.
ner harbOr in large surf boats, aud
frequently bad 10 be carried through
the surf to the shore by Kalfirs. DC
the sand bill that divides the bay
there stands lookout and the port
captain or harbor masters house; and
about two miles up the south shore
l. situated the town of Durham, the
only road 10 which, az the dare of
this story, was through the bush
path.
Early iG the afternoon Of one of the
botLest days 10 the summer of 185-,
the Thermometer registering some.
thiog like ll01 in the shade, the bay
as calm es glass, and the beach quite
deserted, the men in the lookout were
surprised to see long ,akish scboon-
er sail round the bluf aud drop au-
chor 10 the outer bAv
No sooner bad she brought to than
a whale boat was lowered aad put of
tom her side.
Tre has ber-master hurried down,
followed 5y ha.f dozen meu. As
the boat ran on the shingle, a tall
sell0w man, whose bOny frame,
sharp eyes and features proclaimed
hin an American before be spoke,
jumped ashore and asked in q sharp
nasal tone:
WHO'S boss (cbief personsge)
here?'
II am the port captain" said that
furctionary, stepping forward. "DO
you want me ?"
"Wal, yes, | dO-some-lm caplD
of the Southern Cross schooner-
thar she is She's sprung q bad leak,
and | want to beach her here and ex-
anime her timbers My lads is Almost
done up With pumpiH' She's film
most awful quick; and l want some
men to come If and take a hand at
the pumps. My crew cant keep on
much longer, | guess"
Where are you from, and where
bound, captain 2" asked the harbnr-
master.
"l've bin crusia' after whales, and
thar's pile Of lie aboard But, sir
If we stop palvering here shan'S git
my ship beached What men can
you get me, quick ~
There's plenty of K4ffirs about"
said the hsrbor master; "but you
must get permission before you can
take any Of 'em off to your ship"
Permission !" echoed the stranger
"Wal, never! Who's got charge
OF tnis lot? Who do hey belong
to ?"
They don't belong to anybody
This is British coloDy, captain.
But you must get leave 20 take 'em
aboard. or else you can't have EN-"
replied The harbor master in an EN-.
Dhslic manner
Who'll give me permission-you?"
asked the cap ala.
NO, can't, you must go and get
! magistrate 5 order"
"Vhar's he 10 be found ? Jest
'how me the way Look sharp, boss, |
COS Pm in a mortal hurry, you
Know"
The harbor master turned away,
saying:
up in Durham, and"
Hoy far's that ?" broke in the
I sukee.
"A good two miles through the
'nsh path You'll have to get a
horse"
"WhsT'll l get one ?" asked the
captain.
AT this moment Mr.. Mckay, the
government land agent, who full of
,fii ious curiosity, had come down
rom the custom house, pushed bis |
way through The crowd aad said:
"l'll lend you horse, captain, just
'ome this way"
You're very obligin', sir" said the |
.apian, turning and following the |
igeDt, II accept your offer, and feel
lonored +"
Ia few minutes horse was pro-
Iuced, a1d niger engaged to run
'bead and show the way. As the
ap;ain mounted the horse, be turned
o the barbor master aud said:
You'll be able to fad b1sts enough
Q take fifty niggers Of al once, eh ?"
80 yes we can do that"
Wal, now." said the stranger as a
airing observation, "ain't it a
lsguery shame that a msn can't
ave his ship without all this palaver?
Here's The Southern Cross-as smart
schooner as ever sailed under stars
nd strinps-a maxim, yyeter Iikamad