Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-12-09
EAST TO the wha," was the answer

Fast 10 the wha," was the answer,
and there are no lanrns on the boat,n
One of the men trn the boat relieved
Chips at the wheel, I'd he went forward
to rig lanterns at ihdore and main tops.
When this was don We stood together
on the torecastle, liking and listening
tor the boats. Suddsly he turned to me
and said:
We're going to lostsome one 10 night
While l was at the weel 1t seemed TO me
as If something whispered in my ear
that we're going tolose one man to-
night.
said that he was growing as super.
stitious as old Ksnka Joe, and he an
swered:
81 can't help it. Il did seem that
heard that whisper, ind so plain WAS il,
that nearly droppd TO the wheel in
terror"
Another shout fro, the sea cut off fur.
Their talk, and We sou had two more boats
at the davlts. The assent one was Mr.. 10
seph's, and we KNEE that through thick
and thin he would bid on to the whale.
1t was hours beior. we found him, aud
when we did he reused to cut his line
from the CARCASS. The captain cried TO
him that we could ut hold the whale in
such q sea, but the 'halemsu cried back I;
He's hundredan' fifty barreler, and
II you don't take lie line aboard, Wen
stick to him in the oal"
Soon after, as thegale WAS modera,ing,
the line WAS taken n, passing through a
strong iron brace sGewed on 10 the star
hoard rail just forward OF the gsngwsy
amidships, from Which ii was taken back
and made fast to thu wiDdlass bits at the
foot of the mainmaa
1t was new line # stout Manila hemp,
and its strength was put to q fearful test
A hundred tsthoms a-stern of the ship il
held the monsters carcass, and as the
vessel rolled heavil' 10 the sea the strain
on the line was terrific. Standing forward
OF 1t laid my hanl on the line as the
strain came, and fdt ii stretch and con.
tract like a rope OF ndia rubber.
Mr.. Joseph's boat had come alongside,
and the Captain, sanding on the star
board rail, was shouting to him through
a trumpet. The lin, from the whale pas.
sing from sstern 10 he brace forward, and
back TO the bits amilships, made an acute
angle, inside of which the Captain was
standing. | saw and noticed also, in the
ing against the line. al hope he is for.
ward OF it," said t. myself as went on
with what WAS abolt.
| had not taken six steps from the spot
when something strange occurred. The
ship stesdied, as If tle wind had ceased
There was no sound greater than the
storm; but, instead. there seemed to fall
suddenly stiffness ran amidships and
grasped for the line in the dark. Ii was
gonei A rush to the rail and all was
clear The strain had torn out the brace
The mighty pull OF the whale astern had
jerked the line straight, like the cord OF a
gigantic bow, and the Captain, who had
been standing on the rail, was struck by
the flying rope and thrown senseless far
into the sea.
All this had been seen by the men In
the boat before any one on board had re.
allied the affair. In less than a minute
the cry of "Savedl" reached us from Mr.
Joseph, and, ia a shorter time than car
be imagined by landsman, the boat wa
hanging at the davits, and the injured
man was being cared for IN his cabin.
Rum and hard rubbing are the poten
remedies on a whaler, and by dint OF these
the captain opened his eyes in a quarter
of an hour. He had been stunned, but not
seriously injured.
He was amazed at first ST seeing The
mate aud myself standing over him with
the rum bottle. But without WORD hi
realized the situation.
"How IS the weather z" he asked.
"The wind has gone down." ssid Mr.
Joseph "We're under foresail jib anC
80 IL lgyi,t
from The whale"
Gomez said the old man
Gomez answered Mr.. Joseph, rue
fully. "Stanchion dragged, and the lint
parted, and $4,000 went without al
owner"
Tell Chips to see to that broken rail,
said the captain, closing his eyes drow
silly.
"Ay, ay, sirp said the old second mate
as he stamped on deck.
/ heard him stop at the sfter-hatch
where the bost.steerers and the carpenter
lived, and cali "Chipsl" two or thre
times. AL last there was an answer in an
other voice--not Chips; then round o
hurried feet on deck, shout down tn
forecsste, and a shout back in answer
There was no Chips there.
Two minutes after a heavy foot cam
aft to the cabin stairs, and Mr.. Joseph
with white face, entered.
/ knew what he had to tell. knew nov
just as if / he'd seen it sll-who the tai
man was whom hac seen leaning agains
the line.
The Captain looked at the second mate
"Jhlps is gone. sir" said the old sailor
with a tremOr In his rough voice; imp
was knocked over with the line, and view
gone four knots since it parted. I've pu
her about and we're running down again
Thero was dead silence. We all knew
the search was hopeless. No man coulc