The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-01-28
BY GEO. c. WESTON, n. Y.

ceding July, they sighted vessel, aud
supposing it to be ours, came off in their
boats to meet US. Upon approaching
within hailing distance theys found they
were mistaken, the vessel being larger
than ours and of different rig. From
memory they described the strange ves-
sci so accurately, that the Captain recog
nized her as brig from the whaling port
of New Bedford, Mass, by name, the
abby Bradford" He, also, from their
description of the Captain and officers on
board, seemed almost certain of the names
OF the Captain and First-ma The
natives told us that seeing their mis-
take, they turned their boats shorewards,
and endeayored TO have nothing to DO
with the new corners. A boat was lower
ed from the brig and reached the shore
shortly after they had landed, containing
the Captain, Mate and a boats crew. The
Captain, who seemed to be shrewd, I'M
principled man, by few adrot remarks,
soon found out the state of affairs on
shore. He then told the natives that our
vessel had been lost in the ID, and all
hands had been frozen to death. They
would never SEQ us again, he assured
them, and therefore, waiting for us would
prove futile. He was ready to take the
blubber and bone off their hands, and
give them plenty of tobacco, WOODEN
clothes, ammunition and rife each in
exchange. These poor deluded savages
supposing be was telling the truth, and
we would never again put in an appear
ance, accepted his offer, and for about
thirty dollars worth of clothing, tobacco
aud dozen old muskets, they gave him
nearly fifteen thousand dollars worth of
whale oil and bone
Shades of the illustrious Sam Slick
Was Mt that trade.
Considerably disheartened by this sud
den calamity, which had descended upon
us, we marched sadly and YEARLY back
to our boats. Many and varied were the
anathemas hurled after the ABBY Brad
ford" and her rascally Captain, on our
return to the vessel, and much figuring
was done on board in estimating indi-
vidual losses, and comparing them to
what Knight have BEEN" Slowly and
silently we obeyed orders to ''brng that
one empty cask aboard that re-
manned OF the once valuable cargo that
had awaited our coming, but alas we
came too late.
We left Ok-et.le.ah the next morning
and headed up the straits toward the bay,
hoping to sight the brig somewhere in
the bay, as the natives had informed us
Of the direction taken, after carrying off
our oil and bone. We cruised for over
month, but saw neither brig, nor whales
While cruising about one day, we saw
some natives coming off from shore, and
soon boarding us; two of the party were
recognized by our Captain as belonging
at Ok. leah. They told us that they
had been away from there for long time,
and were very desirious Of returning to
meet their friends and relatives. Being
on our way back, the Captain agreed to
take them with US. They seemed greatly
pleased with the idea of once more meet
ing their kindred, but exhibited an al
most childish fear of going on an ''Oom-
iakchu," as a vessel is called by them.
This fear seemed strangely at variance
with their boldness in venturing out upon
the white capped waves in their frail
"Kyaks," an undertaking that would be
rs much ms PERSONS life was worth who
was unskilled In managing this strange
craft.
On the passage down the straits we
the beautiful Aurora Borealis, equalling,
If not surprising, any we had yet Wit
messed. These displays were of almost
nightly occurrence, and finally became SO
common, as to cause no comment.
Thus far we had been sailing along very
smoothly, having had fine weather and a
fair wind. But this state of affairs rapidly
began to change one evening. Dark
clouds began to spread over the clear SIX y
the wind came in titful veering puffs,
that caused the helmsman to have his
hands full to keep the vesse, from "iib-
ing as it is termed, when the wind
strikes the wrong side of the sails. The
wind, what there was of it, seemed 10 be
like "Mickey's hurricane; mostly up and
down the masts." Running rigging
which had been kept taut by the strain
put upon it when tue sails were full, now
waved to and fro, cracking like pistols,
whenever it struck the canvas. Far
away to the eastward could be heard q
low, sullen roar, which we well knew the
import of. We at once began making
preparations to put our vessel in tim to
meet the approaching storm. The watch
below were called forth from their sound
slumbers to assist us, as we had no time
to spare. The port watch took charge
of the sails forward, while the starboard
looked out for things aft, and by oui
combined efforts, we soon had our sail
shortened down to double reefed fore
and main-sail, and single reefed stay
sail, forward. All movable articles OF
deck had double lashings put around, ant
over them, and we were ready to NEE
the rapidly approaching tempest, which
could be distinguished by line, or wal
of foam, less than mile distant.
(To BE CONTINUED