The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-07-02
IN TIE POLAR SEA.

il was in the month Of April the good
ship Baldwin, commanded by myself, IN
company with the ship Norwich,
weighed anchor at the port Of Labaina,
Sandwich Islands, for a cruise TO the
Arctic Ocean, 10y way Of Behring's
Straits, in pursuit Of whales. We had
agreed TO keep company. The Baldwin
was woll-iittcd for n voyage to the North,
with plenty Of provisions and crew Of
forty MI told.
A wbaler's crew differs somewhat from
crew Of merchantmen, the former
consisting OF captain, four mates, four
boat-stcerers, carpenter and cooper
Each mate takes charge Of boat in
whaling and is called the boat-header
This ship SWING four boats, requiring
twenty-iom men to man them.
We were to make the coast Of KANT
chatka near the southern extremity.
From the commencement OF our cruise
all had been excitement. As our ship
passed northward, each day grew colder.
We had had from the first stormy and
heavy weather TO contend with Aswc
drew still nearer TO the land OF ice the
path with mbrdled fury, the great
waves tossing us mountain high. But
the faithful ship struggled on her way.
The fore top-gallant mast was carried
away, the main top.sail split and rent
asunder and amidst the wild cry of the
gale, the binding and drifting snowa,
the hardy seamen ran aloit to replace the
sails, up rigging encased in ice.
The gale passed away. A new top.
gallant mast was sent aloft and we had
safely weathercd the storm. With a
fair wind, our course was still north
ward. In the latitude of ffty.eight
degrees north, We had favorable weather.
Here wesaw our first polar whale, in com.
pany with our consort, tho Norwich.
The boats were lowered, four from each
ship.
Now commenced new excitement
in the magnificent chase Of the great
sea monster. OF course each bont was
anxious to secure the prize for her own
ship. The boats were lying upon their
oars waiting for the monster TO come to
light. Each bOat-headcr was to use his
own judgment. Tho whale had been
down some ten or fifteen minutes and all
hands were keeping bright look out to
catch the first glimpse as he should
come to the surface. Tho whale rose
near the Norwich's boat. Captain
Vests crew took their oars and pulled
ahead. Ihe rest Of the boats lay quietly
upon then oars, as only one boat should
pull for whale at time. They drew
near to tho whale, heard tho captain
urge the crew on. The harpooner man
stood up and let go his iron into the
monster Ms the captain cried, "StcrD
ALL"
Up went the whales nukes thirty feet
in tho air; down they came with n crash
knocking tho boat into n dozen frag.
mcnts. The whale disappeared. Our
boats rushed in and picked up the crew
of the steven boat and took them to their
ship; while the rest of the boats went in
pursuit of the whale. No ono was badly
injured. The whale had made his grand
dive in search of safety, taking out some
six hundred fathoms of line
For some minutes we saw nothing of
Sim. Once more he rose to daylight, to
receive the bright, keen lance. He now
threw into the mr. crimson column and
breathed his life out in the red streams
OF his vital blood. Outlines our industry
fails OF its reward, as was true in that
case. The whale went into his last fur.
ry, kicking and threshing the water
with his enormous aukcs. Then he
rolled upon his left side, with
his fin out of water, his head
pointing to the sun, and sank. Tho
boats returned to the ship and called itf
bad beginning.
Hhe next morning was awakened by
Che cry from the masthead, "There sho
blows there she blows |" and quickly
made my way on deck.
"Where awayp" from the officer of the
deck.
"Three points upon the lee bow, three
miles off,"
what does It look likep
"a pod Of three Polar whales"
keep her off," to the man at the
wheel. "Sing out from aloft when the
ships heads for them"
"Aye, aye, SIR"
Everything was hustle and excite
ihSho. no iluo tuDb WeTo DluCeu Ill the |
boats, the boats cleared away and made
ready for lowering, the crew standing
by, ready to lower and jump in Of word
of command.
Now the order came:
Lay the mainyards square and lower
away the boats |"
The whales were to the leeward OF the
ship and seemed to be quietly feeding.
they turned 1ukcs to 20 down, to re-
main ton or fifteen minutes. The boats
Nere so placed rs to be rs near to the ,
whales as possible when they should '
ome up. was in my own boat that c
lay and told the first officer to keep il
andy to me. We were all on the look o
ut to catch the first glimpse of the n
'hales. Soon one of them came up close d
0 my boat. ordered my crew to take I
heir oars and pull easy, as we were OK u
Getting to see the others break water W
Don, close by. il
"Now, spring hard to your oars, spring ! !,
ard II is noble fellow. Spring hard, Ii
,oys |" ",
The whale was coming head on TO the
boat and we were soon alongside Of him ii
"Stand upW to tho harpooner-man. W
Give it to him hard n ",
In went one iron, then the second e.
md down went the whale. -,
"Pay out the line, pay out the line a,
lee the line runs clear" ~
Soon one tub ran out and 1 gave the -
rider:
bend on tho otherp Still he took
ne. "Now, bend on the tub to the A
ID of the line" N
Ont went the end OF the line, tub aud a
!. He remained down some minutes w
me up, and the boats went after him W
oked up the line and soon had the in
MISTER of the deep alongside of the w
p and made fast with chain around