Morris tribune., 1885-09-09

sea that was close behind us. 1t rolled
us over ito starboard, the gunwale
ofthe boat going fully six inches I'M
der water. and almost capsizing us.
A quick motion of the midship oars
man saved the boat, however, and we
came up once more, but with the
water smashing up to the thwafts.
"Rail boat boys, for Gods sake bail"
was all / said to the crew. They knew
from experience what was needed,
the tub aud midship oarsmen took
the bucket and bailed like madmen.
My boatsteerer grasps the hoat-ax and
knocking in the head of our freshwater
cask, balls with that, and the balance
of the crew use there hats. L could
not hold the line for my boat was low
in the water, so let it run, but it was
like pulling teeth to see it running out
Would that whale never stop? He
had run out nearly 200 fathoms of my
line when he did By this time the
crew had balled the boat clean, and |
called my boatsteerer aft and wentin-
to the bow to kill the whale.
With 200 fathoms of line out, and
such sea as we were atioat in it took
a long time to get to the whale; but
nv men hauled in the line us fast as
they could until we were within some
fifty feet of him. looked around for
the vessel, and saw that those on
board were making sail trying to go
windward of the whale. / did not eX-
pect any help because OF the weather
but knew if Bob Macy could come
to me, he would. 1 tried to make my
oars pull to the whale, but could not,
so was obliged to haul line close to
him. 1t was dangerous job but the
whale acted very good and soon had
him spouting thick blood. AS long as
he lay quiet had nothing to fear,
but if he were to run much, either to
windward or to leevward, [ knew l
should lose him. Fortune favored me
and / had the satisfaction of seeing
him die under water. He roso to the
surface Of the water. fin out, the water
around him very smooth from the
slick made by him and l could lay to
leeward of him in comparatively
smooth water. Now that he is dead
the next question that arose, was as
to whether we could take him along
side the vessel or not. In such sea
it was impossible to haul HIM to the
vessel and make him fast, for the in-
mense strain on my chain would have
parted it. There was only one chance
ofsaving him, provided we could get
near enough to the vessel to runa line
q very dangerous piece of work, and
that was to take The end of a three inch
hawser we had ON board, and making
it fast to the whale, slack out lo0
yards or so, and lay by until the
weather should moderate.
This was easier said than done, and
the first thing in the work was for the
bark to get to me. Captain Black was
almost crazy least he should not be
able to reach us, ard save the boats
crew; he had thought of nothing else
the whole time since he had arrived
on deck and seen the state of the
weather. The chance of saving the
whale, even after he saw that l had
killed him, had never for moment
entered his head. But Mr.. Macy had
some hopes, and had against the
Captains remonstrances, brought the
coil of three inch rope on deck, and
making one end fast to the foremost
got already for the boat to come along
side.
1t took long time for the old bark
to get to me, but knew the folks on
board we're working and driving hel
for all she was worth. AT least l saw
them wear ship, they could not tack
in such gale. AS she came to the
wind on the other tack she shipped 8
terrible sea. For moment | coulC
not see her, and ! thought she wa:
gone, but the next moment she rightet
and came on again. She has blown
the lib clean out of the boltrope ane
had shipped sea that had WASHED
everything before it. One of the crew
had been washed against the lee bull
warks with such force as to break hi
arm, and number of the crew hat
narrow escapes from drowning. Th'
mates boat had been dipped undo
the water and coming up full to thu
gunwales had broken her in two, ant
she hung dangling at her davits. I
was terrible wreck on board the bark
And all this time was lying com
paritively safe in my little boat. Blu
knew it would be terrible job t
go along side of the vessel, and a
she came nearer to me [ realized
more than ever. I could see the cor
per when she rolled and pitched
down as low as her keel, and it seeme
: at times as if she must pitch he
| masts out. At last they begin to tax
in sail and moment later was run
i ming my line, and was alongside tn
t vessel. tits q moment ofexcitemen
e Captain Black shouts, "nerer min
t the whale, grab theselines, land try an
g care for yourself" But 1 threw III
0 line to Mr.. Macy, and he throws til
Y hawser to ME. / grasp the end an
4 shout to my crew to haul line back
d the whale They do so and ] 500
e have the ne fast around the whal.
] fiukes. Not moment TO soon, hoy
t ever, for the vessel has dFifted fast
!, than the whale and the 4awser rc~-
v taut and INSTANTLY fi,- ~
..c whales fuk
- coming under my boat, she capsiz
e and we find ourselves swimmin
r The crew and boatsteerer swim
/ the vessel, not over IS yards distar