The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-02-11
Written for The RECORD.
"REMINISCENCES OF A VOYAGE TO
THE NORTHERN SEAS,
BY GRO. c. WESTON, N. Y.

The llodgkins' crew remained with us
until late in the evening, when they were
J summoned aft by their Captain, who was
now ready to return to his own vessel.
, Wishing us all ''good night, they clam
bered over the rail and let themselves
down Into their boat, which had been
made fast by painter to belaying-pin,
forward. Getting out their oars. thew
pulled aft under the taffrail, to let the
Captain and Mate aboard. The Captain
came down all right, but the Mate, hav-
ing INDUCED little too freely in the
flowing bowl, y missed his footing. aud
tumbled overheard. One ofthe men fished
him out with boat-hook aud we all had
hearty laugh at the poor Mates expense
Preparations were begun the following
uay, by both vessels, for the Fall whaling
The Hodgkins cruised more than we,
sailing around the bay and out to sea,
nearly every day, while we went from our
/ vessel, which lay at anchor, quite as regu-
iarly to some high point on shore, where
we remained during the day, on the look
out for "blows." As the Hodgkins was
smaller than our vessel, she did not haye
to capture as many whales to complete
her cargo She had no try-works on
board, and therefore had to carry the raw
blubber home, picked in casks. She was
fortunate enough to kill two large whales,
which filed her casks, and one fine morn
ing she spread her sails and glded away
! to the southwark, leaving us once more
"alone in our glory" From our point of
/ lookout on shore, We watched her as she
sped on 'homeward bound, = many of us
wishing we were on board, until she be-
came mere speck ON the horizon, and
/ was finally lost to view. Wishing her
and all on board, pleasant voyage. we
once more turned our attention to our
duties.
AS l have depressed somewhat from the
main thread of my narrative, hope my
readers will pardon me where endeavor
to give them an idea of the peril and un-
certainty attached to a sea- faring life.
Captain Miner, the commander. of the
Hodgkins, had accompanied our Captain
up TO where We now were on his last voy-
age prior to this, as first-mate, and hav-
ing lifted her out for whaling voyage,
came to this locality. His first voyage
on his own vessel was prosperous one,
aud on his return he purchased larger
vessel and sent her on sealing voyage
around Cape Horn; whle he once more
came North. This time success crowned
his efforts, and a splendid voyage was
made. A third time he headed his staunch
little schooner for the icy shores of the
North, this time for the whaling grounds
of the eastern coast Of Greenland, where
species of whale known to whalemen as
the fright whale, abonnds. After ex-
periencing much rough weather, he snc-
ceeded IN once more filling his casks fall
his vessel would hold, and started TO re.
turn. All went well until one uigtt,
when oft the coast of Massachusetts, less
than two hundred miles from port.
squat unexpectedly struck the vessel
cahsizing her instantly. The Captain
and crew managed to get at the boats
and all escaped drowning; but before the
boats reached shore (which was not till
morning. four or five had persisted from
exposure. AS the vessel was never heard
OF, or seen afterwards, it WAS believed
that she sank and SO at one blow, Captain
Miner lost vessel and cargo, and came
very near losing his life.
AS our provisions would only last for
eighteen months. and we had now been
out nearly sixteen, we kept bright look
out for ice, not caring to pass another
winter like the last, in these regions.
Our Captain wanted one more whale,
which would, If as large as the former
ones, fill the remainder of our casks with
oil, and told us the sooner we caught one
the quicker we would get home. A few
days after, elbows were seen close in
shore, and after short chase, a large
bow-head was struck aud after lively
Fourth of July celebration, in which
bomb guns played prominent part lie
slowly rolled over and with one last con-
vulsive sbiver, expired. The yield of oil
was sufficient to fiji all tho remaining
empty casks on board.
After we had rendered out the oil and
slowed it all down in the hold, we cleansed
the vessel thoroughly from the grease
and smoke occasioned by Urging out"
as rendering is called, and were all ready
to make sail for home; but where o
where was the wind that was to take us
there 1t was dead calm, and the water
around us was like mirror Everything
was in readiness to set sail, except hoist
ing the anchors. The anchor watch re-
ceived instructions at night, that If
breeze sprang up the Captain and the
balance of the crew were to be called, and
the wind to be taken advantage Of In
stead OF breeze coming it began to rain
and "a strange thing for that country
iNHo wac ucdiu, anu OCCdSlOudiiy,
flashes of lightning lit up objects around
us. f b5 3E4
The next four days were spent in wait
ing for breeze. None came, however,
and 1t still continued to rain. The night
of the fourth day, It showed signs of
clearing, and the morning of the fifth the
rain ceased, and 1t began to grow colder. A
fair wind commenced to blow, and we
soon had the anchor up and all sails set.
The wind was light at first, but by noon
it had grown to gale, and we we're
forced to shorten sail 1t also began to
snow, and our last glimpse of land was
caught through binding snow storm
AS the starboard watch, to which l be-
longed, had been on deck since eight
bells that morning, eight o'clock, A. NJ. J
it was time for us to go below, and as
soon as the other watch came on deck,