Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-08-10
A HARNEsSED WHALE,
That Ran Away with "a PlueIky
BOat Crew At the Rate Ofa
Nile "a Minute.

ranged about, so that the old tar
seemed at home. The conversation
turned on the recent boat race, and
the time made for two miles by the
Har 1ard and Columbia freshmen
crews. The old sailor thought that
the boys rowed well and went pretty
fast; but he had gone faster, and prob
ably faster than many ever went in a
row-boat. The scribe urged the mar
liner to tell the story, which he did
substantially as follows
1t is about thirty-fve years ago
since | went out from New London
as boat steerer. That is a pretty
lively berth, as any whaleman can tell
you, especially when a whale is tack
led. The steerer has virtually the
control of the boat and the safety of
the men in it, and when the whale be-
gins to lash the water with his tail
look out; there is danger in being
near the big fuke. Sometimes you
can put an iron into the whale and he
won't splash on the surface, bat will
start off Ikea rocket, or perhaps 90
right down, and you have to cut loose
and lose your line and irons. Still,
whaleman gets used to these things,
and when a boat is stove in by a
whale, or when the crew get into diff
fculty they generally know what to
do, and take matters philosophically.
They are tough fellows, and can row
for hours, and without training, and
with heavy oars resting on the gunnel
of the boat.
In those days a different class of
men went whaling from what go now.
Previous to the war-that is, some
years previous-there was money in
both oil and bone, though just before
the war they sold for less than you
could get them for. But when there
was money in whaling captains could
get a passably good set of men for
their crews. Stout young fellows, who
couldn't make more than their salt
upon the farm, came down to New
London to 60 to sea. They had heard
Of the big chances for a good voyage,
which, if realized, would give them, in
few months, more money than they
had ever seen. If the owners got the
lions share of the money there was
still good lot left to be doled out in
lays (proportionate shares) to the
men. In fact, fortunes were made in
one voyage, or what would pass for an
acceptable competency for the man
who was contented to live modestly
Well, on the ship on which | was
boatsteerer this time there was as fine
set of men, pluck and endurance
considered, as you ever saw. In my
boats crew there were some par
ticularly good men. But what
happened to us one day tried
the mettle of several OF them.
We were lying beealmed one day on
the Cape Of Good Hope. 1t was as
smooth as mill-pond for miles; you
couldn't see ripple on the water, for
not breath Of wind stirred There
we're several whalers lying off the
land, close III, waiting for wind or
something to give them occupation.
By-and- by we saw two or three whales
coming up to blow, about two miles
away. The captain called the watch
up, and couple Of boats started for
the whales, which were lying still as
| if summing themselves. In my boat
was big negro, black as the ace Of
spades. Every time he rowed astroke
the boat would shoot ahead, and he
would open his mouth and grin, show.
ing a wonderful display Of ivory. We
raced with the other BOAT and got
ahead, for my men were 1.-THE and
tough, and presently we got alongside
Of one of the big fellows. The esteering-
oar was pulled in; the oars were
packed that is, pulled in so they
couldn't strike the water, then an
iron was thrown into the floating
island.
The whale laid still for a minute, as
| if struck with amagement that any
one should dare to touch him. The
rope which was coiled up in the tub
at the bottom of the boat didn't seem
to be of any use for a moment. In the
meantime the other boat had come
up. Suddenly the whale made up his
mind what to do. lie started off like
a locomotive, the rope wbizzing around
in a wav to astonish a land lubber.
! The boat didn't follow slow. When
the rope was out we were rushing by
the captains boat like mad. The
captain took off his cap and waved 1t
at me, shouting. "Go it yogpg man,
YOU re going out of town faster th4n
you'll ever 90 again" All we could
| do 10 that double ended boat was to
sit still and see her go through the
water. | candidly believe that we
went at the rate Of mile minute,
and the water was a very wonderful
sight. 1t reminds me, now that
think of it, of Poe's description Of the
interior of the maelstrem, where the
water went around SO fast and was sc
black that it must have seemed
like a wall of polished eb,
ony. The pressure downward
piled the water up on both sides Of III
SO thaE it seemed to be at least three
feet higher than the edge Of the boat
, but it couldn't ypp in, for we wer'
going so fast it hadn't time. Everl
ones eyes we're blurfed with the wind
which seemed to be blowing a hurFi
/ Gene against us. The line hitched Il
; the whale was rushing through tn,
t water as rigid as an iron rod, ant
there must have been line Of foam
I. mile long behind US. This thin
couldn't 20 on forever. The Begr
had got q little scared, for !
looked as though the whal
1 - nal N