Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-07-24
AN OLD WHALER.
ROMANTIC CAREER OF A LONG
ISLAND SKIPPER
A Story Which Recalls the Time
When Oil Was Struck With Har-
poon and Cold Spring Harbos Was
Whaling Port.

When Oil Was Struck With a Har-
poon and Cold Spring Harbos Was
Whaling Port.
In the office of the Cold Spring House,
up on the north shore Of Long Island,
are displayed two fine specimens of wal
rus tusks which the proprietor, George
Van Austall, values highly, says a cor
respondent of the Brooklyn Standard
Union. On the faces of the tusks are
| the figure of woman and little child,
cut in by sailor with penknife, the
lines being brought out by blackening
them with India ink, which is called
scrimshawning by the men of the sea.
The figures are graceful and in one hand
the lady holds a scroll, upon which is
engraved, "Ship Java, Capt Enos,"
and thereon hangs tale.
In the tifties Cold Spring Harbor was a
whaling port and dozen or more vessels
went out from there to pursue the festive
sea monster up into the Arctic and down
again to New Zealand and the South
Seas. Many ship came back to port
loaded with oil and bone, which was
valued at 1925, 900 to $3.50, 600, which
enriched their owners and gave good
stake to the officers and men. Sailors
would be shipped at several ports, where
vessel called, so that when she arrived
home the crew would be likely to consist
of natives of various lands, New Zea-
landers, Portuguese, Malays and Kanakas.
All about Cold Spring might have been
seen at this period, notices nailed upon
trees aud posted in stores and public
places, which called for "mcn to go on
whaling voyages" Thus attracted came
Manuel Enos, Portuguese sailor, who
had shipped originally on vessel from
Sag Harbor, L. l., which had called at
Fayal in the Azores.
He became one of the crew of the
Sheffield, which was the banner ship of
the Cold Spring fleet. Enos was a
splendid blocking man physically, weighed
about 225 pounds, and was called "Big
Manuel in his sailor days He did not
remain long in the ranks, however, but
was soon made boot steerer, which is a
very Important position in whaling,
The boat steerer is the man who takes
his place in the bow of the boat while
pursuing the whale, and hurts the har-
poon He then cries stern ALL" and
the crew tacks the boat as the whale
plunges beneath the surface. and often
dives with such velocity, that it becomes
necessary to put water on the rope, to
prevent it from setting the boat on fire
by its friction.
The rope, which is often 100 fathoms
in length, is soon exhausted. and it fire.
quently becomes necessary to attach a
second one and sometimes a third.
After the boat steerer strikes the whale
with the harpoon he goes to the stern,
takes the rudder, and then much depends
upon his skill and judgment in directing
the course of the boat and escaping
destruction by the whale.
The ships used to ride at anchor in
Cold Spring Harbor during the summer
retitting, taking in supplies, etc, and
would get away in the early fall, and
usually 60 to the port of Honolulu in
the Sandwich Islands, and from thence
proceed to the Arctic and remain there
during June, July and August, returning
to Honolulu about September 1t was
while at the last-named port that Enos
left the Sheffield and shipped aboard the
Philip l., of Greenport, Capt. Sisson.
When in mid-ocean the Philip /. sighted
Japanese junk in distress. which was
at first regarded with trepidation, because
OF the fact that the seas at that time
were frequented by Chinese pirates.
Enos volunteered to board her however.
and rowed away with boats crew under
his command. He found seventy-five
men, women and children on board who
were removed to the ships, as were also a
goodly portion of the cargo, which CON
sisted OF silks and ether costly stuffs.
The persons saved from the wreck were
landed at japanese port, and the res
cuers were feted by the Governor OF the
city. The latter tested the various dishes
before passing them to the guests, so
that they could see that they were not
poisoned. Enos went back to Honolulu
and there met the Sheffield and Ieshippcd
on board OF her and returned to Cold
Spring, bringing with him his share of
the salvage from the junk. ''He had a
suit OF clothes made from some of the
silk, " said Mr.. Van Ausdall who told
the story: sit was a blue and white
check, and ! thought it looked quite
fine.p
Enos had accumulated a little money.
SO ne. opened store in Cold Spring. but
the love of the sea was too much for
him, and, after years experience behind
the counter, he made up his mind to try
whale fishing again. This was in the
spring of 1859. The business was de-
'llnlng at Cold Spring Harbor, and the
proud ship Sheffield and number of her
sonsorts had been broken up, to get the
'ld metal, but New Bedford, Mass. was
IN fourishing whaling port and
hlther Enos repaired and accepted the
POSITION OF mate ON board the ship Java.
apt. Finney
instead OF receiving regular pay, both
Ulcers and sailors got what were called
lay, which was certain percentage
the profits. The captain, for instance.
'ould get one-sixteenth lay, first mate
one-twentieth lay, second mate one
'rueth, third mate one-sixtieth and
'urth mate one seventy-6fth, and the
oatswaln the same, while the sailors
celved one hundredth lay, Thus
cry man on the ship, from the captain
'wn to the steward, was interested in Z
alking the voyage as profitable as nos. '
,le Enos had special inducements !
cred him to 60 on the Java. pettino Q
same nav as the cantain a,d Is L7 .