The morning call., 1894-11-05
Some of Them Secured Plenty OF
Bone and Cash.
A FEW DOLLARS FOR POOR JACK.
Old-Time Headers Were Kings Dur
ing Good Days for BIubber
Hunting-Notes.
SIS there money IN whaling ?"

terpri5es of the nature OF whaling ex-
petitions ?"
Some men get rich, but they are never
seamen. Boai-headers and professional
hunters can make enough in lucky sea-
son to insure them comfortable living
for the balance of their lives. But whaIers
are reckless men; they spend money like
water when they make it. l have often
heard of lucky headers squandering $500
to $4,000 in less than six months time"
1t was an old "blubber hunler" who
answered the questions above propouuded.
He sat in an armchair in the rear room
of a Broadway sailors clearinghouse,
Whitfield tiny yardarm for a small model
of brig he was tashiOnlng and paused
only between words to calculate the dis
tance of q square box filled with Sawdust
that served the caTavanSary as a spIttOOD.
Ordinary sailor men, as a usual thing,
do not grow rich or fat over whaling
voyage. The sailor ships on lay pays
doZen prices for everything he buys
from the ship, aud unless the seasons
catch Is a mighty large one he comes home
sick, with only few dollars due him for
all his hard work and privati0n.
But b0at-headers," continued the
speaker, ARE paid so much pound on
the bone secured. If the catch IS very
large ne often mas several thousand Qoi-
lars coming TO him.
SIN New Bedford when whaling was in
its prime, and when the chasing of
'nIlers' was one of the most thriving of
New EnglaDdS industries. the boat
header of a whale-veSsel was big man.
He was the kingpin of the saloon and the
monarch Of the dancehali. His credit was
unlimited, and be could sport just as many
diamonds and jingle just as much loose
cash as the wealthieSt man in port.
There were two classes of headers
the man who was lavish of expenditures,
reckless of bearing and always ready for
a regular waterfront spree. and the man
who was careful enough of his earnings
to build himself a little cottage uptown.
surrounded by grass and bright flowers,
q sort of harbOr where he could cast anchor
after the storms of long voyage and be
safe from the sweep of the tide of human
ity with whom he associated while on
board ship.
There are men who have made for
tunes In bone living right here in San
Francisco to-day. These men are from the
whaler Narwhal, that has made a record
for catching the largest number of whales
ever harpOODed by Pacific Coast whalers.
The boat-header of the Narwhal came
back to port after two-years' cruise TO
enjoy from $4,000 TO $4,000. One man
made $1,000 clear and is putting
vested a good deal OF it and intends TO
make only one more trip TO the Arctic,
then give up heading altogether.
Just think of il, $4,000 in two years
that's more than the average bank pres-
dent gets as a salary. 1t was a little over
81 pound that this lucky man made on
the total number OF pounds of bone
secured during the Two seasons. The
Narwhal, you remember, caught siXty-fiv e
whales.
The Narwhal's crew did pretty well,
too. They couldn't help but DO we'll, al
though they did have TO pay pretty good
prices for tobacco, clothing ami food.
Sixty-ive whales would make any crew OF
men rich, temporarily, at least
You notice | say temporarily. Well,
that's because an ordinary whaler can
never stand prosperity. He is too fond of
whisky and woman. He can never keep
any money when there is a designing
woman after his purse.
THE NarwhaPs crew all made good
resolutions when they started for San
Francisco on their home trip. They swore
that no bleeding boardng-house man or
saloon sharp would get anything out of
them. Every man had a scheme. The
principal plan was that quiet little time
would be had for week or So then a trip
to the country for good rest would follow.
"Bless you, l don't believe that there are
a half dozen men of the vessels crew that
have $50 left apiece. Marty all had
amounts averaging about $500 when they
came ashore few days ago.
"Boai-headerS all manage to keep nearly
even. though. They are more intelli-
gent class OF men than those who ordina a.
rily have 10 ship on wha!ers. They have
TO understand their business. and If any
body on board the ship is going to make
money thew are the persons.
"One of the Boleana's boat-has ders
signed on lay of something over So par
pound for bone, l am told, and is ST, COO
ahead. The BoleaDa had big eaten and
comes in with the Narw hal for a record.
). ii. Cornell is the genteman's name,
and his showing is greater than c. E.
Cuckley, who, l believe, is header for the
Narwhai
"The Narwhal aud Boeana left here
only few days aparr. The first vessel
sailed on March II. 1892. aud the latter de-
parted on Tie 10 h of the same month.
They both wintered up north two seasons
and all of their men did well. 1. is
strange, but the Pacific Steam Whaling
Com pany always denies that any great
money is made by its employees. 1t might
affect the price of bone, perhaps"
.'rhe nd-jammers have not been very
lucky. Their men are drifting about the
front without much coin. They are being
utilized by the bosses as suffers, and ex-
pect to make few dollars that way; then
they will be broke"
The Cape Horn Pigeon is at section OF
the seawall. The Grampus is expected
hourly.
The Red Stack Towboat Company has
been doing rushing business. Iester-
day MAS their busy day. not n boat at their
Vallejo-sireet wharf being idle.
Edward Grave, an employee Of Henry
| Bonnemann, a Waterfront nQuor-dealer
got into difficulty with his employer Satur.
day night, pulled pistol and tried 10 use
! il. Officer DoDOhue OF the harbor police
heard the sound OF scuffling and arrived in
/ time to diserm Grave. preventing hin
| from doing harm. The prisoner was
| charged at the station with assault with
a deadly weapon.
The steamer Homer arrived yesterday
morning from Yaquina with Captain Boise
and seven of the crew of the abandoned
brig T. w. Lucas. The story of the Lucas
| has been fully told in various issues of thi
| paper. She was abandoned In a water
| logged condition off the UmpQua River TIT
early part OF last week.
| Joseph S. Jordan, the Chronicles marine
reporter, who is one of the best known
| journalists ION the 'front.'" is obliged Il
take vacation on the Sth of this mon til
as he is on that date to be welded 10 Mis-.
| Jeanette w. Stadermann of this city,