The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-10
An UP-COUNTRY WHALE STORY,
with which the Stockbridge Valley in
Madison County Is Connected.

From the Utica Daily Iress.
In 1898 colony of six runaway slaves came
to the Stock bridge Valley. the first OF that race
ever seen in Madison county. The history OF
these six slaves Is full Of romance. for they
were no common men. They had seen all
parts OF the world wherever ship could ride
at anchor in q harbor All could speak several
tongues, but none could read or write. All
were slaves from Virginia. and had been bound
Es4y II Nsw Bed9Td. t MniS s The ship 6p
about fifty miles out at sea from New Bedford
dered these six sailors to, go in small boat
and follow the whale When he came to the
sSre% one Sapo 'aGs T MSa sa' In
striking him Just back OF tho head, which is
the usual the sTq ha she Whale
is OF q hbrous nature and caused no loss OF
blood TO the whale. Then the, great monster
middle OF the ocean, carrying the boat. and
that was the last the captain Of that whaler
This narrative as related by Paul Cum. the
sailor who threw the harpoon reads like big
with it afterward proved its truthfulncss. as it
was corroborated in full by all the other sailors.
After this whale had gone about ffty miles IN "A
Straight course at sea, carrying tn" sailors be-
| hind il in n small toat and some OF the time
going az. the rate Of forty miles an hour. i
| then turned again back to he rca Sometimes
the whale would dive down 800 fort and rise
white VIII great oam u TIM mes a'H he Wu Hf'2 spu TT
volume OF, water, POO feet IN the air 1Ali
tHs TIM f ia ap SGs
biggest fish in the world ana making me last
great merchant ships bearing their country's
flag. but they had no nag no country. no home
! They passed an English man oi-war that ga2ed
! with amazemcnt at the singular sight. hey
| thought 1t was tn" devil incarIat" hltchcd to a
! dragon and Attempted to tire broadsde, hut
snors "n so rapd was their course On they
went Ike q comet shooting lts nery lame
Alter riding in this style for almost three DAYS
| up and down the ocean hitched to u whhics
| tail by slender cord. the great fish took IA
ors He sircred his course southwest and by
accident struck the bay and outlet 81 The karl-
water was dcep and h" followed its course tor
two miles His no Sc str4ck The Piers oI one
the, river, The, whale then struck an oy?tcrsloop
| and shlvered that 10 atoms, drowning three sail
ors. On he went, but the water soon became so
three hours he was dead BY this singular ac.
! cdent the six negroes became the owners Of
e sRS IN New FORK CIV on s Eo5
! who did not know they were slaves bound out
in, the marine service and not entitled to the
| proved good. for the company in New Bedford
hsns9 Of hs Rdn an
was the largest ever found Oh the Atlantic
| coast
After receiving their money the slaves made
| an equal division. wheel! gave them $1,000
| each. and through IN" advice OF their leader,
! Paul Cur. they 80, their faces toward the west
Tie thoy T T"ached Albany they met net" PaTuod In.
dian who was returning from r.iotpg some
/ missionaries 10 the Stock bridge Valley The
/ Indian gay" them Il Inc description Of the
! country, aud they INDUCED him 20 return with
them for IL st'ru,at",l price. lie did So, aud
lived with them in this locality TN ne died.
They bought on contract with the Oneida In
dians about 200 acrrs Of and for each at n
nominal sum, Aftcrward tn" titles we're con-
| frmcd hy the State OF New York. They
I ali lived to a Ane old age ana all were highly
/ resrerte I. All - thcm died hero "Nc"pr one
! who returned to New Bedford after \ lapse of
fifty wears and hict there about 'or,y years ago.
The remains Of tho others are ind to rest side
hv siin in the old Indian graveyard az Valley
Mills, aHd there is nothing whatever T. mark
| their graves There was one" a small slab at
tn" head OF one grave. OF rude ,orm and CHS
elcG hv an, unsS!.rd hand. Tn" inscrpt On
read as flows. Jack Morgan, a runaway
slave who chased IN" Whale" Then followed
age and date. but the slab has long since mold
| cred away.