The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-08
ARR BLOWS !!
Hour Years On . New Bedford whaler, ne.
Tag The straightforward Tale Of
PlalA SauoraAa.

CAPT. ]. n. II. ROBINSON.
Copyright. 1882. BY J. II. B. Robinson.
CHAPTER w.
MARROW ESCAPE.
On Jan. 10 we were sent to masthead earlier
than usual as the mate stoutly insisted that
he could smell" whales. 1t is true that there
Is very perceptible odor from whale. and
with the wind favorable his presence is ofte n
noticed at night when 1t Is too dark for him to
beseen. On the present occasion there was re-
ward offered for tho man who should first an
nounce the presence Of q whale. provided we
afterwards succeeded in securing him. So we
ran up the rigging willingly. although as yet
we could hardly see mile in any direction.
Hardly had I reached the topsail yard. when
the man at the mizzen shouted:
There sho white waters!' And In another
instant tho boat steerer at the main had
caught sight Of something on the leo BEAM
and. hailing tho dock. he shouted excltedly:
Largo school Of sperm whales on lee beam.
sir. big ones. only about two miles awayP'
By this time every man was on deck. and the
boats were rapidly lowered
Whenever We had lowered for practice the
mate had invariably succeeded In capsizing or
stavinG his boat. and on the present occasion
the big Dutchman. Hans. who was ono OF tho
matos boats crew. whose duty 1t was to
see that tho oars and bailers were all in the
boat. made his appearance with huge bucket.
which he was placing In the boat, whom the
mate snarled out:
You big double-headed Dutchman. what
are you putting that in the boat for ?"
"Vell. Mr. Laurie. don vas know how to
swim. and dnks 30 bedder dake 1t along to
bail do bond vid ven We gets dipped ofer!"
The look OF perfect honesty with which he
said this satisfied even tho mate that no re-
Election on his skill us boatman was intend
3D. but the second mate and had hard work
to smother our amusement.
Once clear OF the ship up went the sails. as
the whales were to the leeward OF US. and
away we went with q good breeze. We soon
ran down among Thorn and Mr.. Perry. our
fourth officer. who was harpooner in tho Cap
tain's boat. stood up with his knee In tho
clumsy cleat." and every nerve braced for
throwing the keen iron. We shot across the
corner OF the whales flukes. and looked over
the side OF the boat, where I could see the
huge black fan moving from side to side.
not more than two feet under US.
I knew II he lifted It We should be
sent flying into the air like things Of
no weight whatever. However. we passed
safely over and shot alongside the whales
hump. saw Mr. Perry draw back his arm
and buried itself near the whales shoulder
blade The second iron was poised for
throw. but the whale settled like lead upon
Iceling himself wounded. and up went the
dreaded flukes. Just clearing our boat and ILL
ing ithalf full OF water.
stern ALL I'm fastI" cried tho boat steerer.
"Sternl Stern!!'
"Stern for your lives" cried the old man.
and then with yell:
GOOD Godl Look Quit"
Before we had time to realize what new dam
ger threatened US. q loose whale shot its enor-
nous head out Of the water not ten feet away.
apparently coming directly for us. While we
sat almost stunned and waiting to be crushed.
the line WAS flying out Of our tubs as the whale
We had struck sounded" at great speed.
Our new neighbor came slowly toward US.
and when his head almost touched ours he
sank under the surface and went directly
under the boat, his hump" raising US gently
few inches. but doing no damage. Icannot
answer for tho feelings Of the other men. but
am sure should not have crushed an egg had
1t been between me and the scat occupied.
Twas aroused by the voice Of the old man:
BY thunder. Mr.. Perry. that was q purity
clus shave Now get the mast and sail in
lively. and we won't haul up alongside our fish
yet. There's three or four loose fellers round.
and mebbe when he comos up they'll run with
him and give tho other boats chance to get
fast There he Is now. to wind'ard! And thar
goes the second mate and mate. too. after 'cm
other fish. Somebody gimme a chaw O. to-
backer!"
passed over my plug and saw half Of it dis
appear into his mouth. while the remainder
went into his pocket. ITO do him justice will
say that some days a.terward he gavo me
pound OF tho weed to remunerato mol
The boat steeror now went aft and took tho
steering oar. Tho mast and sal! were carried
aft and ono end Of the former placed under tho
after thwart. while the better part OF both pro-
jected far over tho stern and out OF our way.
We then peaked" our oars and faced the bow
of tho boat. The old man occupied the bow.
and We pulled in the line hand over hand"
while the boat stoerer allowed it to pass over
the storm into the wator. For short distance
the vhalo towed US at speed certainly
not loss than fifteen miles an hour. but tho
Iron interfered sally with his locomotion.
and no soon allowed us to come UP with him.
and then tho old man sent tho sharp lance
again and again into his yltals until tho water
from his spout holes began to be tinged with
red and shout Went up from the boats crow, |
rs We saw the infallible sign that the whale
was mortully wounded.
We backed off out of the way while the death
Agony or furry" lasted. At last the monster
was dead. ''' W. anu We knew no
than In his s agony he had wound our limo mora
WHEN %mlls We were clearing it the other whales,
and we saw ny .m m WI boats. came close by us |
vas wild with cagerness. and danced md
yetleIa as II he could in that way assist in tho
whales. the men pulling like giants Wills t th,e
cmsers ~ the stern. each eager to be the tlrst
every known method 70 urge their men on uS Wa
could ! 'ar them like bidders at an auction W.
PIP boys. pull! You Amt half nuliing, |
Put In another pound OF backbone, Jumi, hur
! sayl Pc you want tho mate to beat ISL
new shirt for every man in the boat il Wa pct |
fast before 'em! That's the way TO d" do III ~
We're. gaining on 'em!" Wv ~.
treaty and con Hat W strsa@ Of
everything sailor vskass. tsstiAsd to the en- n.