Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-10-18
NANTUCKET wHALERs.
LIppIneots Macazlne.

a wbaler One dark and rainy nigh
when they were sailing on the Chin
seas, it began to blow very hard, on
all hands were ordered aloft to short
en- sail. In the darkness and rain TIL
boy fell from the mast. Had he fall
on upon the deck he would in al
probability have been killed; but h
struck the back stay--a rope draw
tight like the string of violin-ant
rebounded in the water. Soon tn,
cry came, "a man overheard !" TIL,
captain felt very sad when he learn
ed that ii was Walter J.. He pu
ship about and turned back and forth
but nothing could be seen of the boy
Before giving up the search, however,
be called the men aft and asked them
whether anything else could be done,
''for | don't want to 90 back to Nan
tucket and say that if something else
had been done Walter j. cOult,
have been saved" No man, however,
offered % suggestion, and, although
the time had been long perhaps half
an hour--since the lad had fallen
overheard, the captain made o few
turns more and called on the men for
final decision whether anything
could be done. He finally concluded
to hold on his course, when one. of
the men sad he heard q crJ. They
listened, and soon heard a call, "Keep
her away, or you'll run over me-"
Half a dozen ropes were thrown out
by as many different persons, when
the boy said: 'Make line.
Pm too weak to hold on.n A bow
line is u rope with a large loop firmly
tied in it. It was thrown out, the lad
put 1t over one leg, held on by his
hands, and was drawn on board. He
had fallen into the water with suit of
clothes, tarpaulin overalls, and shoes
on. He was drawn out as naked as
when he first appeared in the world,
having managed, in spite of the great
exertion of swimming, to divest him.
self of his clothes, in order that they
might not impede his movements.
When asked how he had been able to
endure so long, he answered that he
vas Oh the point OF giving up from
atigue, and letting his feet go down,
preparatory to sinking, when he
bought of his mother and kept on.
Is is still'living in Nantucket.
Laban NJ was the Oldest son of
quaker parents in Nantucket. His
ather had been successful in busi-
Tess, and the son, who was an excel
emit seaman, and although very
Dung, was already first mate, was
DING on voyage for the sake ofhis
arents. The ship went for whales
nto tine North Atlantic Ocean. One
ay II whale was seen spouting at
ONE distance. The boats were i'm {
lediately lowered, and as soon as
hey came near enough a harpoon
'as thrown from the first mates
oat. which struck the animal. In
lch eases the huge creatures frantic
lunge into deep water often caused /
lie rope to which the harpoon was
'stened to 60 ont over the side of t
le beat SO fast that water had to be
lrown upon it to prevent its taking k
re. As the rope ran out, by some |
rrible mischance the young mans |
ct became entangled in it, and in an
slant he was drawn over the side o
tho boat and drawn into deep wa a
r. He rose once, called out, "Take
re of the whale y and with these
lf-forgetfal words on his lips sank
rever from human sight. He was
have been captain on the next voy- tt
re. o.
job C---was a whaling captain. tt
is wife, tired of the monotony of al
Q on the island, went with him up- ia
one Of his long voyages and G;
nused herself by learning naviga OF
IN. Her husband was taken sick in
len the vessel was still in the Pa q
ic Ocean. AS neither of the mates III
lderstood how to steer the ship, O,
g plucky woman performed this 50
ty herself, and brought the vessel
fely around Cape Horn and home. b,