San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-01-25
MyNCHAUSEN WHALE STORY.
BY EDWARD MANNING.

The good steamer Katahdin was
bound to Boston. The last bell had
been rung, and as the gang plank
was hauled i'm and the lines cast off,
the great wheels began to revolvs, and
soon she was steamlng down the beau
hful and placid Penobscot: The city
Of Bangor graduallypassed from view,
and walking forward took q camp
stool, and seating myself near the
capstan on the hurricane deck L pre-
pared to enjoy the picturesque and
beautiful scenery that extends back
from the river on either short until it
is lost in the gloom of the distant
hills. The throb of the engine, COM
bmed with the balmy air, had pecu-
harry qHieting effect on the nerves,
and the inclination to doze was al
most irresistible, despite the beautiful
and ever changing views presented to
the eye.
While enjoying this delicious sensa-
ton and Obvious to all things else, L
was aroused by loud talking and
laughing, which came from the group
of brown and hardy-looking men who
were seated near the rail OH the star
board side of the steamer. They
were apparently sailors, and as they
spoke III very loud tones could not
fail to hear their conversation. One
of the group was % powerfully built
colored man, with hands and feet of
immense proportions, and as he was
called Doctor" by his companions, |
inferred that he was or had been Il
ships cook by profession. He had
evidently been telling some improba-
bic sea story. The others were laugh
ing and chatting him about the mar
ms" story he had told. Finally one
of them whom the others
called Chips, said If they would
choke their jaw tackle he'd tell them
u whale story as is whale story and
don t you forget it either, Doctor"
This raised Il laugh, and after
brief discussion of Chips reputation
for veracity he was told to "heave
ahead"
Nearly twenty years ago." said he,
Il found myself out to sea on bluff
bowed old bark that was bound on
whaling voyage. The old hooker
looked like box under sail, and when
she was ON the wind she'd make as
much leeway as an old mud scow.
Her spars were rotten to the core, and !
it was IL mystery how they could hold /
themselves up. The mizzen topmast /
was in Il particularly bad condition.
The rats had eaten IL big hole into it,
near the heel, and when the yards
We're braced up on the port tack the
wind would blow INTO it and make a
ghoStlike noise.
The captain {. ne old What Cheer
THAT was her nal.,) was an awful big
man, and his face was shaped like the
stern of the Dutch man-of-war. But
he was Il good man, and treated his
crew well. The only weakness he
had was his love for the old bark.
He was very particular with her decks
and l. KEY, Is washing and holyston-
ing them a,uut hall ul the time until
W. uIvpt "a ;hs whaling ground.
Il was coming ait one day TO re-
levc the wheel, and Just as | was
yeing on tie quarter deck | accidental
" d.orvei a quid of ohacco. don't
chew mucL. md tin, guid wasn't and ,
Digge 'ngn q Yca. The Captain hap
pence 20 l., ,,anLiuguu tue Starboard ,
,lde q ,Ey grat,T deck, lorewari when
| dropped 10, ana he ,Iw it. D
What do yoU mean, sir, what 10 {
ron mean. ST., hy >v.ling nv decks :
With such gtlt chaws Of tobacco 2
ie said very, much excited. n
u, vas al accident, SIT. ] re-
NE. 1t l. only "a very small piece. g