The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-09
MADAGASCAR JACK.

MADAGASCAR JACK.
Look out for big sperm whale
with the stump of harpoon in his
hump. and about fifty fathom of line
towing astarni"
"Ay! Look out for Madagascar Jack.
He's a rogue. Ye may know him by
the hoss-shoe mark on his head. Give
him a wide berth he's man-killer.' 81
Ny cruise was in the Acasta. of Sag
Harbor, Captain Harlow, which re-
turned on account of the illness of the
Captain and was withdrawn; and it
was not till three years after, when 1
was on the Dread. Captain Wyford,
that first saw Madagascar Jack"
We went through the Sunda Straits
and cruised on the Indian Ocean
grounds for eight months. There we
took 2, 100 barrels of whale oil, but
was an elderly man who did not now
enter whale-boat himself. Some, in
deed. hold that the master ought never
to enter one. But we had second
mate who made up in pluck and dar-
ing for anything the Captain lacked.
1 have cruised in good many ships.
but never saw Cliff Andrews match as
a whaleman.
One morning during the tenth month
of our cruise whale was sighted
soon after daylight. In fact we heard
him spouting before we saw him. But
the captain would not order the boats
down till the men had their breakfast,
and the delay chafed Andrews.
We ate our breakfast in few min
utes, and two boats were lowered.
Meantime the whale, after blowing a
few times, had gone down to feed.
The captain said that we would not
see him again for an hour; but we
pulled off to the spot where he had last
been heard blowing, and then lay on
our oars.
Mr.. Cummings the first mate, was
in our boat and Andrews in the other.
We listened and watched for a long
time, and meantime the mist lifted a
little. although the surface of the sea
was still dim.
Andrews declared that we had lost
the whale. like pack of duff eaters,
who must needs stuff ourselves with
breakfast, whatever betided;" but while
he was fretting, the whale suddenly
preached, scarcely a cables length
from where we lay.
He had been down long time. His
big, square head broke water like a
small mountain; and he blew heavily
as he turned. We saw his head dis
tinctly. There was a semi i-cireular
whitish mark on it, six OF eight feet
across, and as he rolled we saw the
stump of an old iron in his back and
another in his side.
Madagascar Jackr' l exclaimed.
That's the whale that killed the mate
of the Dryade."
"Ay, Madagascar Jackr' echoed
several voices from the other boat. A
description of the whale was curren
among whalemen in these waters.
I'm Madagascar-jack him" ex
claimed Andrews. Give way-sharp.
He stood up. harpoon in hand, anc
at the whales second spout we laiC
the boat alongside him.
Another shoot boysp' Whispered
the mate. ''Put me just past his hump.
He darted the harpoon and buried it t.
the bitches, shouting, Down to you
oarsr'
Feeling the iron, the whale sounded
and ran off perhaps seventy-tiv
fathoms of our line, not more. whel
the strain suddenly stopped.
Back waterI' muttered the mate
"He's coming up! Hand me tina
lance, blacksmith. Haul line for 'ard!'
Suddenly we felt a tremendou
shock under foot, the nextfmoment W
were all turning somersaults in the air
| The whale had preached with venge
ance. In the washing and confusion
! of the moment, can not say exactl
what happened; it was every man TO
himself.
struck out for the boat of the frs
mate, Mr.. Cummings. Our own boai
badly shattered, had fallen back bo
tom up.
Three men contrived to dock then
selves astride it. and Andrews appear
ed to have caught grip on the shan
of one of the irons in the whale. Il
held ON there for some minutes.
The whale meantime moved slow
1 forward, nosing for the boat; then, sui
denly with single clack of its gres
Jaw. crushed it to fragments.
The three men astride it dived off
time to avoid the blow and swan fl
us; but still Andrews held fast to tt
harpoon, or to the line at the whale
side. One poor fellow had disa
peared.
There were now five of US with M
\ Cum mings, and his boat was crowde
How to rescue Andrews from his per-
ous situation was now our only though
We dreaded to attract the whales a
tention, and dared not approach. A
drews could swim like a fish, as
knew. and at length Cummings hall
him. -.
.Retter take a header under hir
ond then swim for usr' he advised.
"Pnt in! Put in, man, and fasten
b;n,r; Andrews shouted back. You
not goin' to show the white 1eatner'
\ yeP" :, .,:oa ~,
Its not my duty" replied Cul
mings, with boat loaded down
the gunwale! If you want to get 0a'
to the ship with US, make haste!
again hailed.
Andrews let go the whale, whl
was still thrashing the fragments
the boat in pieces, and swan Oh TO
But he was very angry.
Cummings headed for the sh
Most of the men were badly scared.
Meantime the Captain had order
out another boat. We met it coml
| off. Andrews. wet as he was, jump
in and took command.
.Tll kill that whale, or that VIII
kills mel" he shouted. But if ther
any man here who can't swim, or
afraid, he had better get into \
Cummings boat"
x Four of the crew lost no time
= tumbling out; but two of us. who b
: been with Andrews before, took tn
places. Andrews seized an oar a
we started to pull back to the whale
The first mate, by the Captains
vice, put his wet men aboard and tt
followed slowly after us to pick US
as he said.