Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-06-23
LEA YES.
Wilmington SUNDAY star.

this ridiculous whaling episode of my life,
wish to say that did not engage in it
with any idea that | would realize any
money out of it. The truth is had been
working pretty steadily for several years
and this was my way of taking "A vaca-
tion.
Another thought that oomed as pos
sibility was that we might put into some
West Indian port during the voyage,
where would desert the ship and realize
one of the dreams of my youth--an in
definite sojourner on u foreign soil |
have not completely outgrown that dream
yet.
By reference to diary kept at that
time find that the EiisdbeM sailed from
New Bedford ON the 18th OF August,
1864 and that | took with me the follow
ing outfit, which was advanced by Taber,
Reed x Co., and duly charged to my ex-
pected "lay," with interest at per cent.
and something else whiei have foregot-
ten the nature OF, at 4 per cent. added to
the good round prices at which the arti-
cleS were booked
One pair coarse pants, one coarse shirt,
one pair coarse socks, SOU waster, oil
skin coat and overalls, sheath knife,
puShtN hhiit, tWo pOuhuS VI Sudp, lamp
and wick, comb, needles, thread, thimble,
leather palm, scissors, clay pipes, tin
dish, cup and spoon.
This outfit was not very expensive, hut
| may as we'll say here that what was
coming to me at the end of the voyage
was not sufficient to square the bill.
Being, as firmly believe, constitu-
tionally proof against sea-sickness, had
/ a. Al la., 1,
voyage at the expense of those of my ship
mates who were not thus favored.
On the eighteenth day out we sighted
our first wales. 1t was about 6. 80 o'clock
in the morning and several of MS were
grouped on the forecastle deck, the look
outs not having yet been set. Suddenly
one of the group, Young Scotchman and
a greenland, pointing almost directly
ahead, said in an indesorbable sort of
way something like this
81 say, fellows; look there - amt
that - don't you see - don't that
look like whales spout i''
One of the able seaman, a red-shirted
fellow, sprang up on the rail and after a
glance in that direction, yelled out
'The-e-e-e-re blo-o--o-ws -
When whale is sighted the cry is
understood to be "there she blows" but
put in practice, so far as my experience
goes, the 'she' is omitted and mighty
little is heard of the 9Th" in ''there."
The yell brought the cold man" out
on deck in hurry. lie was excited and
not more than half-dressed.
"Where away ~ he gasped.
"About one point on our lee bow, sir"
was the reply.
Officers OF a ship are very particular
about the "sir," believing, in the Ian
guage of an antique ditty, that it "a par
ticularly gentlemanly tone implants."
The "old man rushed some look kouts
to the masthead to watch the whales,
directed the man at the wheel to 'let her
fall oil a point" and then asked
"Who raised them ?" w..
"This Scotchman here, sir"
"lIe shall have S. extra if We get fast, y
shouted the delighted captain.
Under light breeze we ran up to
within half a mile of the whales and
then lowered the boats. The Captain
did not have to swear much on this occa-
sion,. as we were all, the green hands
especially, as eager for the chase as he
could be.
Within an hour the captain and first
mates boats were each fast to small sperm
whales The second mates boat, in
which was did not have quite so good
luck, chiefly because our boat steerer
was inexperienced, this being his maiden
effort, and consequently somewhat ner-
vous.
After lowering, we piled our oars
vigorously for about half an hour, at the
end of which time we found ourselves
close to a small school of small whales
We then exchanged our ours for paddles
which, besides being lighter, enabled us
> to sit with our faces to the game and
watch the progress of the chase. The
whales did not seem to he very scary
lust then, and soon one OF them crossed
our bow about 80 feet ahead. AT thu
T. same moment, looking downward, Will,
tine attention of the others was directed
Il ahead, | saw another whale passing di
recty under our boat. lie was proba-
i, bly ten feet below the surface, but i
J. seemed 10 me that | could easily have
y touched his broad back with the blade o
- my paddle. turned my head eagerly
= to attract the boat steerer ) attention anf
= saw that he was Just in the act OF dartlni
l. his harpaon at the whale crossingpur bow
= The second mate tried to check him, bu
u it was too lata, the "iron' left his hahd
" whiAzcd through the air ana ieii--"n
e foot short of its mark. only the mai
:, who has fooled away lotlery t'ehe' s"o
- for Slo,oOO can iully appreciate 'ne u'9
70 comtlture OF that unfortunate '"'aV Sleeie'
: If he still lives, he may nave hop'y re
), trieved his blunder; he may nave slne
:. struck many bigger whaie' ne ma
~ have achived wealth ana own s'ilps
~ his own; but years OF prosperity ca
!, never entirely eilace me mott''yinS re
- tlection that the hrst time ne move
y iron he missed the whale A..
!" Which recalls another accident, th'
. has been embalmed IN verse
ia, The line it parted III the eye "hch E'ieN''''
y hearts iuli sore, ,,,,. fro,n nlou
" VI Nh'. ~ ~ VT nf liz. Tie "lI !, I1,nlor.
III We naddl.d around for three houi
III irving to get shot at another whal
hit ti,ey had now taken fright and kel
Mt n tantali2ing distance.
So W. were forced reluctantly to giN
nm the chase and help the captains ere
~ tow th.ir whale to the ship. The old Hi-
r. LsL was well down on the distant horizo
he ,hn wind had completely died way Al
of there was n provoking calm. The su
OF tnc. of the ocean was as smooth as mi
NJ nond and the sun shone right strais
doyu on ms from an unclouded sky. III
TO shin of course was becalmed and utter
of halnl.ss. she could not come to us III
ds ~. lad ~ mil that whale over the MI
he n,,.,,,i,,,r ,,,ilas In liar IL toe