The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-02-17

~ fascination for the landsman,
aud SO i. was that group of
Arctic blubber hunters had
lot of interested auditors.
"How would you like to have eight
or ten thousand dollars on a string"
asked one Of them, knocking his pipe on
the edge Of the ssringer and addressing
tho group OF landsmen collectively.
"Well, I've had that much many a
time," he went on without waiting for
reply, sand it makes a fellow rather
nervous guessing whether he's going to
land his fish or whether he'll get tipped
overheard. I've been to sea now thirty
four years and expect I've struck about
as many whales as the next one, but it's
pretty exciting business yet. Why, last
season one of our boats struck abig sperm
whale and he started down. Our ship
had five boats and each boat carries $50
fathoms OF line. That whale took down
the whole five Of 'cm-1400 fathoms in
all. 1t began to look as we had lost tho
whole thing, but he was too tired, aud
him."
"You wouldatfbs,feve that flsh-at
least spoutinssnG-are influenced by tho
moon2" said another of the group.
swell, they arc. I've seen it time and
again, and I've caret other peoples at
tention to 1t, too, N>St never found any
ono else who had potscsd 1t. Sometimes
when you are at 8 SsS whales aro to be
seen frequently--it may be at the full
moon or at new moon-well, all Mt once
they will disappear and you won't SEQ
one for two weeks. Then just as sud-
denly the water will be full OF them.
I've compared notes with other vessels.
Maybe they were sixty miles or more
away at the time aud the whales there
would be numerous just at the same time
they appeared near our vessel. On, you
fellows needn't laugh. There is some
thing IN it.
"And then I've noticed another thing
about this same class of fish. When vou'
catch them you will always find that
they have the pu "; of the eye the same
shape as the moou at that time. If the
moon is full the pupil will bc round, and
if it is half or quarter the sight will
be like a crescent"
The Captain stopped to light fresh
pipe aud another ono of the whalers
spoke up.
"rve had some experience myself"
said he, "but two years ago l came the
nearest taking after Jonah that man
ever did. We had made str,ko all
right and the whale went down, not
very far, but when he came up he had
his mouth open, and some how or other
he came up with one jaw on tho port aud
the other on the lea sido Of cur boat.
Surprised? Well, that whale looked
very much as if he was ready to receive
company, but wasn't invited, so made
a streak for another boat"
"You would be surprised" said the
first speaker, changing the direction of
the talk, "what queer mixtures there
are in a whaler's crew sometimes. Why
I've had lawyers and doctors and any
number Of young men with degree Of
some kind. And once 1 shipped fol.
low that turned out to be a preacher,
and wish could, get him again, for
we got eight whales that season. be-
lieve he was masct. One poor fell DIV
who went overheard an agale, had in his
trunk physicians diploma, and any
number Of letters with high recommend
ations, but 1 guess he had gone wrong
3me how, and wauted!to get out Of the
way for while. He. succeeded better
than he intended. 1 guess they wont
think of looking for him at the bottom
of the Arctic.
awe get lots of men for a seasons
cruise that way. II a fellows wants to
hide himself for while don't know OF
any place he could do it better than on
board a whaler. Nobody would think
Of looking for such a man in this bust.
ness, and then they couldn't look much
If they wanted to. That kind of q sea
man never makes you any trouble. It..
the shiftless fellow you pick UP here on
the wharf that you've got to handle
pretty roughly before he learns now to
keep decent tongue in his head"
"On one of my cruises had big,
black West Indian in the crew." said the
first speaker. "One dayfor some reason
he jumped overheard. The sea was q
little rough and it was quite while be-
fore we got the boats lowered, aud we
lost sight CT him. But we pulled back
little way aud soon saw him, swim.
ming with all his might, but in the op.
posite direction from the boat. yelled
to him, and when he saw he was discov-
cred he made no further effort to get
away. And where he was going is moro
than I know, for it all happened in mid
ocean. We hauled him into the boat,
and made for the ship. 1t was four
months before we made port and yet in
all that time, Sandy, for that was his
name, never spoke word. Nc one on
board could get sound from him. Some
times he wonld lie down on the deck
and seem to be asleep and some OF the
crew would slip up ard stick him with q
pin. At first he would twitci a little
aud then would not move at oil. w,
made bed for him down below and
kept him away from knife or other
weapon. You could tell him to take the
wheel and he would steer right enough,
L5ut il you asked him what course the
= ship was making he was silent as the
grave. And when we made the first
port he went ashore and never saw him
again. But some Of the crew said he