The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-05-31


numbers, nearly forty thousand dollars.
Such prize was not to be lost, for Cor
ham and his commander were both
shrewd Yankees with All eye to good
fat salvage. 1t was possible for the En-
clenUor to spare her mate and four men,
for prize crew: and Barna Gorham,
who felt host himself, was confident
that he could take the BoheDiid into an
American port even with very small
crew. The season of the year was favor
able, and he could keep her Under mod
crate canvas.
Not many minutes were spent In prep
aration, for IL was only necessary top pass
the personal effects of five men into the
boat. The Bohemia was in good condi-
tion, with plenty of stores, and water,
on board; and within half an hour,
Gorham had assumed his first command,
and was cutting away the loathsome
CARCASS of the whale from alongside,
while the E'ndedUor had spread all her
kites, and was speeding away on her
course toward the British Channel.
0OIHdil Oupbhiu
Randall, were to make the best of his
way back to New York, and then give
up the property to the agents of the
packet line, leaving the matter of ad-
justment in their hands. AS soon,
therefore, as the incumbrance of the
whale was cleared away, and the
main top.sail was filled and the courses
set; keeping close on wind, and
heading nearly up to her course for the
home port. The topgallant-sails were
suffered to remain furled, but Gorham
did not propose, short handed as he was
to carry sail like full-manned ship
But the bohemia proved a rapid sailer,
and the weather continued favorable
Everything went on regularly and ship
shape, and repeated trials at the pumps
showed the bark to be perfectly tight.
OF course the new crew talked much
about the mystery that surrounded the
disappearances of the old one, and en-
deavored to account for it by variety
of theories, more or less absurd. AS
before related, there was not the least evil
dence of mutiny or trouble on board,
nothing denoting that the ship had
been abandoned by reason of panic; all
around had the appearance of the crew
having left on some temporary business
intending to return very soon. All the
boats were gone, except one new one
which was on the skids over the quar-
ter deck, where whalers usually carry
their spare boats. OF course they might
have gone in chase of more whales,
after securing one alongside, and this
seemed a natural explanation, ,supposing
they had lost the run of their ship by
darkness or otherwise; but who had
ever heard of all hands leaving a ship
at sea, even a whaler,to take care of her.
self without any ship keeper? The
case certainly had some strange features
about it, and Gorham and his men,
after discussing it, at length were oblig-
ed to dismiss the subject in an unsatis-
fled way.
A week later, the Bohemia, having
made good stretch to the sonthward
and westward, was crossing one of the
favorite whalin G grounds of the North
Atlantic, and whaling-brig was seen to
windward with her boats down, and
making various manmuvers. But, as
all this was none of Gorham's S business,
and he had no need to communicate
with the brig, he kept steadily on his
course. The briggs boats apparently did
not succeed in overtaking the whale,
and, having abandoned the chase. were
lying with their oars a. peak, when the
bohemia passed along under their lee,
within mile. One of the boats there
were only two of them suddenly head
ed off under the full impulse of both
oars and sail, pulling directly athwart
the bark's track as if desirous to head
her off and speak to her.
Gorham had no objections to exchang-
ing few passing words with any broth
er seaman, if he could do so without
deviating from his voyage; but was
quite unprepared for the angry shouts
and frantic gesticulations of the man
at the steering oar of the whale boat
His peremptory orders to "Heave to !"
were enforced by a volley of oaths and
threats, received only with contempt
uous smile.
whats the matter with you, man?"
he asked. "And who are you, any
how? What brig is that to the wind
ward ?"
He caught the answer Droco, of
Provincetown! from the boatsteerer in
J..