Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-03-06
A MuNCHAUSEN WHALE STORY.
BY EDWARD MANNING.

bound to Boston. The last bell ha'
been rung, and as the gang. plank wa
hauled in and the lines cast off, IN
great wheels began to revolve, and sool
she was steaming down the beautiful
and placid Penobscot. The city of Ban
gor gradually passed from view, ant
walking forward | took a camp stool ant
seating myself near the capstan on tn
hurricane deck, | prepared to enjoy th'
picturesque scenery that extends bacl
from the river on either shore until it il
lost in the gloom OF the distant hills
The throb of the engine, combined will
10 balmy air, had peculiarly quieting
effect on the nerves, and the inclination
to doze was almost irresistible. despi,,
the beautiful and ever-changing views
presented to the eye.
While enjoying this delicious sensa.
ton and oblivious TO all things else,
was aroused by loud talking and laugh
ing, which came from group Of brown
and hardy-looking men who were seated
near the rail on the s,arboard side of the
steamer They were apparently sailors,
and as they spoke in very loud tones
could not fail to hear their conversation.
One of the group was a powerfully built
colored man, with hands and feet Of i'm
mense proportions, and as he was called
Doctor" by his companions, inferred
that he was or had been ships cook by
profession. He had evidently been tell
ing some improbable sea story. The
others were laughing and chatting him
about the " marine 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 a
whale story as is a whale story-and
don't you forget it, either, Doctor"
This raised laugh, and after very
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 a
whaling voyage. The old hooker looked
ike a 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 a mystery
how they could hold themselves up. The
mizzen topmast was in a particularly bad
condition. The rats had eaten big hole
into it, near the heel. and when the yards
were braced up on the port tack the wind
would blow into it and make ghost-hke
noise.
The captain of the old What Cheer
(that was her name was an awful big
man, and his face was shaped like th'
stern of a Dutch man-ofw war. But HI
was good man, and treated his crew
well. The only weakness he had wa
his love for the old bark. He was very
particular about her decks and kept us
washing and holystoning them about h al
the time until we arrived on the whaling
ground.
81 was coming aft one day to relieve
the wheel, and just as | was going oil
the quarter deck accidentally dropped
a quid of tobacco. ! don't chew much
aud this quid wasn't any bigger than
pea. The captain happened to be stand
ing on the starboard side of the quartz
deck. for ard, when dropped it, and h
saw it.
"'What do you mean, sir what d
you mean, sir, by soiling my decks wit
such great chaws of tobacco: !: he said
very much excited.
"'It was an accident, cir, replied
1t is only very small piece. l vii
pick it up and throw it over the side
sir
".No, sir, you shall not It's as larg
as cocoanut! Go for ard and get a shove
and broom
81 went for ard, and after getting
shovel and broom, he made me spee
this tiny chew of tobacco into the shovel
"'Carry it carefully for'ard sir, AM
when you get on the t'gallant fork'sl, tos
it as far to lu'ard as you can, sir
"He was so polite about it that
thought I had better accommodate him
and went on the tgallant fork'sl. an
lust as tossed the shovel the old bar
gave heavy lurch to lu'ard. l let 6
the shovel, and it went spinning over
Il, Wy - - Al