Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-09-06
PERILS OF A WHALER.

Bows of q Good Ship Stove In by an En-
ragged Leviathan.
A most disastrous accident occurred
to the whaleship Essex. belong TO Nan
tucket, and commanded by Capt. Ron
aid Pollard. While cruising in the
South Pacific the ship discovered a
school of large sperm whales. and all
the boats were at once lowered to as
sail them The mate and captain sue
ceeded in fastening at about the same
time. The former lanced his victim,
and while engaged in tying his fms to-
gether preparatory to securing him
alongside the ship, which was about a
mile away. but bearing down in re-
Spouse to the mates signal, the cap
tain was placed in danger by the
whale which he had struck making
for his boat after rising. Great dex-
terity on the part of the rowers and
steerer swept the boat out of the
path of the Infatuated fish, which kept
on in a direct line. dragging the whale
boat after him with such velocity that
the parted waters stood a foot above
the gunwhale. but were prevented from
falling into the boat owing to the
great speed maintained. 1t was quick
~ seen that the ship was in the path
Of the fleeing whale. and the captain
hallooed to the men on board to alter
the course of the vessel. and it was evil
dent that the danger was appreciated
by the helmsman of the Essex, for the
head of the ship was observed to fall
off: but ere she could be swept out of
the track the whale struck her with
such frightful force that the bows were
crushed in and all three masts were
carried away. The vessel Immediately
filled with water. but remained float
ing. with her upper deck even with the
water, owing to the number of empty
barrels in her tween decks.
Fortunately quite a quantity of pro-
visions was in the galley when the ac-
cident took place, and a barrel of salt
pork and one of beef were recovered
from the hold day or two later. For
over a week the crew lived on the deck
of the ship, hoping to sight sail. But
none appearing. and realizing that they
were in an unfrequented part of the
Pacific. they took to the boats. with
the idea of reaching Valparaiso, the
nearest port. A few days following
they sighted Ducie's island. an almost
barren land situated in the latitude of
p deg. 40 min. south, and the longi-
tude OF lai deg. s. min. west. In a
cave close to the beach the men found
eight skeletons and board in which
had been cut with a sailors knife the
words: ship Elizabeth of London"
Three of the crew, however. preferred
remaining on the sterile island rather
than venture three thousand miles in
an open boat: so leaving them a small
stock of provisions and some fishing
lines the remainder of the men headed
to the eastward.
For several days the boa is keptto-
gether: then they became separated.
never to meet again. Six weeks later
battered whale boat drifted into the
harbor of Valparaiso just as the sun
was sinking across the wide reach of
crimson-tinted waters The glory of
she sunset bathed the stained and tat
tered sail until it looked to be woven
in threads of gold. Even the gaunt
face of the crew. caressed by the ten
der touches of the mystic glow. became
fair to look upon, and their ragged
vestments seemed to wrap them about
with the raiment of a king.
Upon learning the story of the ship
wreck an American man-of-war then
at anchor in the harbor was dispatched
to Ducie's island. where the three men
were rescued Young People.