Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-08
WRECKED BY A WHALE.
Experience OF the Ann Alexander and
Her Crew in the Offshore Fisheries

From, a Ne,c Bedford Letter.
/ Volumes might be written Of thrilling
adventures and hairbreadth escapes OF the
men who 20 down to the sea to hunt for
whales. Just listen to the story oil the
/ fate Of the good ship Ann Alexander,
/ Capt. John Deblois. which sailed from
this port on an Atlantic voyage. Having
reached that whaling locality known as
the ''onshore ground" whales were dis
covered one morning about O'Clock. The
boats were Immediately lowered, and by
noon the mates boat was fast TO one.
After being harpooned the whale ran a
short distance, and then, turning, rushed
at the boat, seized it in his jaws, and IN an
instant had smashed 1t TO fragments no
larger than a common chair. Capt. De-
blois Immediately FASTENED to the rescue,
and took the mates crew into mis- boat,
which, this being done, contained Is
men. In the meantime, the disaster hay-
ing been observed from the ship, the
waistboat was dispatched to assist.
When she arrived at the scene OF the con-
fict the crews were divided, the mate
taking command of the waist and the
Captain continuing with his own Cor the
starboard) boat, and the attack was re-
commenced the mates boat being In the
advance. No sooner had the whale per-
ceived this demonstration that he again
turned upon the mate, and before any
thing could be done to avoid the assault
the second boat had shared the fate of
the first. Again Capt. Deblois picked up
the swimming crew, and ordered his men
to pun for the ship.
The situation had now become exceed
inRly critical, for the whale still main
tanned hostile demonstrations toward the
now greatly overloaded boat. They had
proceeded but little distance on their re-
turn, when he swas discovered with jaws
widely opened in hot pursuit Situated
as they were, six or seven miles from
their ship, with an enraged whale in puI-
suit and no rescuing boat at hand, de-
struction seemed inevitable; but, TO their
surprise and JOY, the monster passed
without harming them, and they soon re-
gained their vessel. Again on board, a
spare boat was sent to pick up the oars
of the demolished one, and upon her
return the attack was renewed upon the
cetacean from the ship. AS she passed
him n lance was thrown into his head.
This but served to still more inturiate
him, and he again assumed the offensive,
making for the ship. AS he came near
the vessel was hauled to the wind, and
the whale allowed to 20 past, after which
Capt. DeblOis again advanced his ship to
the attack; but when within about fifty
rods OF the whale it was discovered that
he had settled some distance below the
surface of the water. 1t being about sun
down, the attack, so far as the sailors
were concerned, was given up. Not SO
with the whale.
Capt. Debois had been standing on the
knightheads, iron in hand, ready to strike,
when the ship got near enough, the vessel
moving through the water at the rate of
five knots an hour. Before time enough
had elapsed for the Captain to change his
position he discovered the monster rush
ing toward the ship at a terrific speed.
In an instant he struck her a terrible
blow, about two feet from the keel and
Just abreast of the foremost, shaking
her with as much violence as though
she had struck a reef and breaking a
large hole In her bottom, through which
the water poured in a rushing stream.
Is soon as the extent of the dam
dge was discovered by Capt. Deblois
! he ordered the anchors cut away and the
cables got overheard, that the ship might
| be lightened as much as possible. One
! anchor and cable was cleared, but the
! other chain being fast round the foremost
could not be cast OFF. Captain Debois
secured his chronOmeter, seXtant and
/ charts, though the water had invaded the
cabin to depth of three feet. Such arti-
! Giles of necessity as could be obtained
were put into the boats and they were
| ordered to shove off. The ship was now
/ on her beam ends with her tOp-gallant
| yards under water, and the Captain. who
was the last man to leave, was obliged tC
| swim to reach the nearest boat.
When clear of the wreck, an examina
/ ton of the stores in the boats was made
aud they were found to consist of but
three gallons of water, not a mouthful Of
provisions Of any kind having been saved
The boats each contained IL men, and il
required constant bailing to keep them
afioat. The next morning at daylight
the vessel being etill above water, the
CAPTAIN, who alone dared venture again
on board, succeeded in cutting away
her mast with Ratchet. This being
done, she righted. The crew then Went
on board and cut away the chain around
the foremost, and when that went over
board the ship sat nearly upright
Holes were cut in the deck, bu
all that could be got out was five
pounds OF bread. The shipwreckeC
mariners again set off on the wide waters
with not one days full stock of proVls
ions, and with the terrible alternatiy,
that unless a speedy rescue was effected
the time was near at hand when the If,
OF one or more Of their comrades must b.
sacrificed that the others might survive
Happily no such awful tate was in stOr,
for them. Steering nOrtherlY, hoping q
reach a rainy latitude. and thereby pro
long with water that life which they hat
no food to sustain, two DAYS later the,
sighted a sail, signaled it, and, TO their I'm
descrlbable joy, were seen, and soon the.
trod the deck of the whaleship Nantucket
of Nantucket.