Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-23
A MODERN JONAH.
Swallowed by "Sparm" Whale-His Navy
Plug Makes the Monster Sick.


On almost any evening there may
be seen gathered in the cosy room of
West street hostelry much favored by
seafaring men company Of red-faced
old "shell-backs" who casually drop in
when they happen to make the port of
New York to get taste of the fragrant
hot Scotch or spiced rum, for which the
place is famous among all merchant
sailors. 1t is favor to be admitted to
the room. which is rarely accorded to
any one who has not made dozen
''deep-water" voyages or doubled
the two capes" two or three times. A
spirit of the utmost democracy pervades
the place. Afore-the-mast Jack" Is
every bit as good as mate or cap
tain, and enjoys his glass of steaming
grog Just as much as his superior in Of
flee and without the slightest restraint.
Everybody seems to know everybody
else, and if he doesn't he soon becomes
acquainted when he is admitted to the
charmed circle. Here almost any night,
amid the fragrant perfume of the hot
liquor and the thick clouds of smoke
from the Clipped navy plugs" in the
short pipes of the sailors, old shipmates
meet, exchange stories of recent voy-
ages. recall old tales of toll and peril
that they have undergone together. and
spin sometimes the most marvellous
yarns for the edification of the assembly.
SOME WONDERFUL STORIES
are told at times. On recent occasion
Tribune reporter was present at one
of the reunions when one of the old
salts. Tom" Hughes by name, tall.
powerfully built Liverpool Irishman,
who seemed to be a general favorite,
reeled off the following '.twister':
You know, mates, he said, that a
while back took turn on a whaler.
I'd never had any of that kind of work,
and thought I'd take try at it anyway.
It's a rum kind of business, any way
you take it-good enough for Kanakas
and Portuguese, but no more of it in
mine.
Right You are. mate" chimed in a
weather-beaten old fellow of 80 years or
thereabouts, who looked as though he
had been knocking about the world for
at least 100 years. I've been there my
self, and it amt fit for white man no
WAYS
.Well. | shipped into tight enough
little bark. out of New Bedford, bound
on three years cruise in the South
Pacific fishing grounds" continued
Hughes. Il was before the mast on
the 225 lay, that is. got one barrel of
oil out of every 225 caught. Wed
been cruising around among the South
Pacific Islands for upward of six months
with varying luck, doing pretty well on
the whole, when one day the lookout
gave the cry that we was always look
ing for: Thar she blows and thar she
breaches!
sPARM WHALE
three pints on the lee bowr" and the
speaker gave the call in the true sing
song way of an old whaler. well,
mates. if you've never been aboard a
whaler YOU don't know what commO-
ton that sound makes. Itwas beastly
hot day, and the watch was lying
around the deck doing all sorts of little
odds and ends, of which you know
there's always plenty aboard ship, and
principally hunting out snady places.
But at the first sound everything was
alive. The watch below was turned
out. Men were rushing to their boats.
The old man run up to the foremast
heau with his glasses to sight the
whale, and the officers was tearing
around cussing the men fore-and-aft.