The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-08-30
What Patrolanm Killed.

In the prosperous days of New Lon
don, Conn, rs many as six whalers used
to come in one day to that port They
had made voyages of two, three and
even five years. Six whalers would en-
ter the harbor together, each striving to
come in first. When the anchor was
let go from the side of the first shin to
get in a boat was lowered and the burlv
captain was set ashore. Everybody
shook hands with the captain, and to
each shake he replied with a grip that
would have pulverized an Eng glish wal
nut.
This was in the golden years of 1849,
1849 and 1850. Prices were high and
sales quick, both for oil and bone, and
the voyage afforded splendid s.lays," as
the whalemen said. Even the dark
faced Portuguese, the Gonzales and Pc
tros, had for their share $100 or 5000
in gold.
AT that time Beach, Bradley and Por-
ter streets were nothing more than rows
of boarding-houses and saloons for sail
ors. ALI nationalities were represented
at the carousals. There were Portu-
guese, Kanakas. Cinnamon, Mexicans,
negroes, mulattoes, red Indians, Las
cars and Norwegians. Money was
poured upon the bar and no change was
asked for. Gold was only gold while it
was being spent. The New London of
that time was full of fat negresses in
pink and yellow gowns and wearing
mOnstrous earrings and breast-pins.
Fights were common, and then sheath
knives flashed above the heads of the
molly merry makers. Jealousy, in
famed by drink, was the usual cause of
these affrays. The proprietor of the
dance house would sooth his customers
into decorum by carcsSing their skull
with the sword of swOrd-fish or with
an island war-club which some native
had one day pawned for Il drink.
The return of these richly laden ships
(and tho fleet was them so large that
one whaler came in weekly while anoth-
er went Out) always brought prosperity
to the commercial world of New Lon
don. But whales became scarce. This
was the result of the indiscriminate
slaughter which the whalemen had
made. Before long petroleum was dis
covered. The market soon dropped to
point that rendered further successful
whaling impractcablc Not ship
sails out of the Port of New London
now, and but few schoOhers are en-
gagged in sea elephant and fur seal fish
cries. The great fleet of ships, having
Out-lived their usefulness, laid their
bones during the rebellion at the bottom
of Charleston and other Southern har-
bors.
OF the many anecdotes concerning
the old whaling captains, few are pre-
served. On one occasion the gloomiest
apprehensions were felt for the safety of
the Arctic whaling fleet. Ten months
had passed and still no tidings. Finally
word went forth that letter had been
received by shipping firm from one of
the Arctic captains, who was partner
in the concern. The yellow-tinged mes
sage, smelling of smoke and blubber
and the sea, was opened in the presence
of an eager throng. The letter read as
| follows:
CUMBERLAND, INLET
the 2st day of June, 1878.
| DEAR PARTNERSHIP me by first oppor
| tunity five gallons more of that old cider bran
| dy, and great shall be your reward!
Truly Yours, -
Not word about the whaling fleet,
not a word concerning its whereabouts
| or prospects.
Rarely in those days did q sailor get
arrested in New London, but when he
| did, his story to the police magistrate
would run about as follows:
"Well, Cap'n, hadn't been ashore
long enough from the old Tecumseh to
shake off my sea legs, when l cruised
alongside an old ship-mate. Twas with
him Greenland-whaling. 'Ship-mate,'
he says, 'heave to. What o'clock is it?'
Eight bells says l, 'and glad to see
you Then, says he, let's splice the
main brace We went into the free
and easy, and found ourselves alongside
a whole fleet of shipmates. Let's
brace up and gather aft says Ned Car
ter, and then the banjo struck up and
we swung in for a fore and after. Then
we shilp ped another sea of grog, and
then had Il hornpipe, and then sang Billy
Prime Let's put the brazil on the
gait and then we all dropped anchor
for the bar. Lets square the yard, said
l, arter we had spliced and pretty soon.
when we had spliced and braced and
brailed up and squared, the floor began to
raise and fall like potato-hill sea. We
| got under way for the street, and then an
old ground swell set in. grappled with
my ship-mates, and we all tried to ease
her when she plunged. Bum by l part
/ ed cable with my comrades, and went
pitching ahead in the trough of the
| sea-
1.-The gutter, you mean," suggested
| the court.
Jack mods and continues:
"Well, l kept good watch forward,
when see that clipper-built chap there
| (pointing to a policeman) bearing right
down on me, with the North star on his
jacket and Delaying pin in his fist.
| Then hove to and he took me in tow.
l stayed in snug harbor all night, and
this morning they run me into this dry
dock for repairs"
The court would let Jack off with a
reprimand, whereupon he would give
his Honor handful of yarrow cigars,
offer the policeman an orange, and then
| roll jovlaly into the open air.