The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-02-16

times that length originally.
The whaling vessels that frequentlthe Arctic
regions generally spend the winter off these
coasts, making expenses by catching sperm
whale and black fish for the oil in them, re-
1AturnirTg so thereto III II c ssc'rrr,e-'
The most tohing and impressive thing we
saw was an empty whale boat lying on the
beach 1t was equipped with masts and sails,
oars, paddles, harpoons and an empty water
beaker. There was certainly no doubt OF the
kind Of boat, whalers had occupied 1t beyond
question, but how came it there? Had they
made fast to a whale and been towed away
from their ship only to land on beach where
starvation stared them in the face, which 1t
surely must, as there is not a known hablta-
ton within two hundred miles, nor stream
OF fresh water? Possibly, now their bones
may be bleaching somewhere on this desert?
An omen boat at sea or stranded On the
beach is n touching sight to a sailors eye. lie
knows that al some time it has been the prop
erty Of a ship and used as last resort IN
somo frightful accident or horrible wreck.
Could It but speak what heartrending tales OF
suffering, hunger and thirst might be poured
forth AS stood watching the find, my mind
coniured up q motley crew OF half starved
men with wan, anxious countenanceS scan-
ming the horizon for miles III search OF some
kind of vessel to rescue them from a slow
and certain death, the contemplation OF which
would unbalance the strongest mind, as
through the long hot days the eyes would be
| strained increasingly for the succor that never
arrives. Or as lHo solemn gloom Oh HlSnt SetS
in and leaves the poor unfortunates to the
bitterness of their medtations, in on inly
| blackness that seems to never end. A sailor
! feels for his shipmate in distress as a brother,
| and for fellow seaman not shipmate as a
person would for his own Countryman III a
, land of strangers. 1t is needless to add that a
| searching party secured the beach for miles in
: hopes of finding the inmates OF the stranded
boat, but without success.
! The hunt twas continued on up the beach
| with any amount of sport in the way of cur
| lew, snipe. and variouSother kinds Of birds.
| Great crowds of gullS, cranes and pelicans
| swarm the beach from morning until night. 1t
| is amusing to watch the pelicans fishing They
| subsist principally on the pilot fish, small
| fish that lives around sharks.
| The pelicans fly along some distance above
the water, apparently unconcerned, but watch
/. ing sharply nevertheless. AS soon as they
| sight their prey they make very awkward
! but rapid fall into the water, striking it with
| their breast and wings wide open, dipping
| only their heads to catch the fish and leaving
the water again rs quickly as possible. Should
/ they inmerse the body or remain many min
| utes on the water, shark would be sure to
| have them, which fact they fully appreciate.
| When several them are flying together they
| form into a straight line and always mimic
| the actions of the leader. Ii the leader flaps
his wings they all Zap, when he sails they all
! sail and when the curve is changed they ali
| fl up to the same point the leader changed