The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-08-15
FIGHTING AN ALBATROSS.

Most extraordinary are the details of
the gallant action for which an Albert
medal of the first class was conferred on
Thomas Averett Whistler, first mate of
the ship Ennerdale, of Liverpool.
Early in the morning of December
II, 1885, when the Ennerdale was round
ing Cape Horn, an apprentice named
Duncan McCallum was sent aloft to
loose the skysail. The Ennerdale. we
should mention, was one of Messrs. j.
D. Newton's Dale Line of steamers.
Presently, as the captain was descend
ing from the poop. he saw heavy body
strike the main rigging little above
the bulwark. and rebound into the sea.
That heavy body" was McCallum, and
the ship being almost under full sail at
the time, he was carried rapidly asterr.
Immediately after this tragic occur.
renee. HI. S. Pochin. an able seaman,
leaped overheard after the apprentice,
but the latter sank before Pochin could
reach him. All things considered, the
rescuer's position was now pretty serious,
and fearing lest he should be seized with
cramp before boat could come to his
assistance he hailed the ship. asking for
lifebuoy to be thrown to him; at the
same moment the master, Captain Gun.
son, called all hands to man boat. The
frstmate, Mr.. Whistler, who had been
asleep in his Der nth, ran on deck and heard
Pochin's hail. Calling to the boatswain
to heave him lifebuoy, he at once
sprang overheard. secured the lifebuoy
which was thrown to him, and succeeded
in reaching Pochin. This poor man was
already on the point of sinking, but with
the help of the lifebuoy Whistler was
able to keep him up.
Meanwhile, considerable delay had oc.
Cured in the dispatch of the boat-for
one thing her lashings had been secured
very firmly for the passage round Cape
Horn, and when she was launched SO
many men crowded into her that she
capsized, which says much for the popu-
larity of Whistler. The boat was soon
righted. however, and dispatched in
charge of the third mate and two sea-
men. All this time the two men in the
water were rapidly becoming exhausted,
and they had made up their minds to
abandon the lifebuoy and strike out side
by side for the ship, when they were con-
fronted by a new, weird danger.
An immense albatross swept down
majestically on Pochin and Whistler,
and, after lowering round quite close to
their heads, alighted on the water just
beyond arms length. There the great
bird remained. staring them in the face,
and evidently only waiting until they
had become little more exhausted. In
few minutes, however, the boat reached
the spot, and its crew drew their perish
ing shipmates out of the water. Direct
ly they were lifted into the boat both
men became insensible, and Whistler
was delirious for come time afterward.
Amazing as it may seem, the two men
had remained in the piercingly cold wa
ter for upward of forty minutes. The
expectant albatross was greatly disap-
pointed at the turn events had taken,
and had to be driven off with boat
hook. 1t was remarkable fact that
the attack of this bird contributed not
little to the saving of the lives of both
Whistler and Pochin. This was because
their vigorous efforts to beat off the saw
age bird materially helped to keep their
blood in circulation, thereby averting
the fatal cramp.-Strand Magazine.