Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-12-09
NO WHALE FOR THREE YEARS.

Dismay of the People Southern Long
leland Over Losing Pin Money.
The Inhabitants of the southern shore of
western Long Island are in dismay because
the thi I'd season in which they have caught
no whale is past. They have usually cal
culated on about one good sized whale a
season, and they have for many years re
lied on it, Some of the institutions of the
cOuntry are arranged on the supposition of
the whales keeping up their average.
Among other things, the minister's salary
is partially dependent upon the capture of
a whale. But now three seasons have gone
by with out the appearance of one, and that
source of comfortable pin money Of that
term can be used in so homogeneous a con-
nectionl threatens to become obsolete.
In the good old days when whales came
that way there would often be 81 200 TO
s., 500 TO divide among the seaside people.
The ret red sea captains who lived in ease
and dignity on that coast built their houses
with broad observation towers on the
roofs, and spent large part of their time
upoa them with their spyglasses sweeping
the horizon for whales When they saw
one the neighborhood was aroused. 1t
didn't take long to do this, so far as the
immediate circle of those interested was
rung, and news travels fast in the country
There would soon be a good sized crowd
gathered on the shore.
Then the appointed crew of old, expert
enced whalers launched their boat, kept in
readiness, and if they were successful in
harpooning their whale would have him
lowed in to shore. Then there was a big
blubber trying bee. The 'whalehouse" on
the shore was opened, the big kettle it con-
tanned put into requisition, and the whole
country side engaged in profitable IL not
very appetizing recreation of cutting up
the whale and trying out the blubber, and
extracting the whalebon ne from the head.
Then ca me the division of the spells. The
man who first saw the creature had GER
tain extra share, and the others divided,
while the minister received an exceedingly
welcome addition to his stipend.
So absorbing is the occupation of look
| ing for whales for the linen folks" of the
| shore settlements that they have far
away, Captain Cutie look in their eyes all
the time; their gaze being bent, not exactly
| on the coast of Greenland, but on those
| quarters whence whales are generally to
| be expected. One grizzled old mariner
| who had been spending the declining years
| of his life right on the edge of the water
was one day competed by e&lgencles OF 9
domestic nature to move up into the vii
lage, back from the water side, and quite
| inaccessib BILE to views of the ocean.
| "M' fe got crazy notion that shed
| have to he in the village" querulously ex
| planned the old captain to any inquirinf
| visitor, IS he sat disconsolately whiting
and splitting in the warm sunshine, "'n
had to do what Miranda wanted, though
did male n powerful kick. But it's ,
mighty poor place to live.
Convenient to the store? Oh, yes, u
to church, n all that. But it's way baci
from the water, N it's so cluss n dusty
IN they make such an infernel racket
and here the Captain Cutie look came int
his eyes rs he added the chief clause in hi
indictment of village life-''and you cam
see a whale nor nuthin, if there should b
one. New York Tribune.