The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-10-07
HITCHED TO A WHALE.

In 1876 a colony of six runaway slaves
came to the Stockbridge 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 where
a ship could ride at anchor in a harbor
All could speak several tongues, but none
could read or write. All were slaves from
Virginia and had been bound out by their
master for p years on whaling vessel that
was owned by company in New Bedford,
NJ ass. The ship had started for the south
sea, to be gone on a cruise of three years.
When about 80 miles out at sea from
New Bedford, the lookout discovered q
large whale and ordered these six sailors to
90 in a small boat and follow the whale.
When he came to the surface one of the
sailors, who was an expert, threw n har-
poon at the whale. Instead Of striking
him Just back of the head, which is the
usual way, the harpoon struck the whale
about ten feet from the end OF the tail,
which is Of a ibroUs nature and caused no
loss of blood to the whale. Then the great
monster shot Oft with wonderful rapidity
toward the middle Of t6e ocean, carrying
the boat, and that vas the last the captain
of that whaler ever -Aw Of his ~ .iiCg-.
This narrative, as related by Paul Cuff
the sailor who threw the harpoon, reads
like fish story, hut the circumstances
connected with it afterward proved its
truthrulnesa, as it was c0rrohorated in fun
BY all the other sailors. After this whale
had gone about 50 miles in a straight
course at sea, carrying the sailors hehind it
in q small boat aud some of the time going
at the rate of 10 miles an hour, itturned its
course back toward the shore and then
turned again back to sea. Sometimes the
whale would dive down 800 feet and rise
with great fury and heat the ocean to a
white foam. At times he would squirt a
volume Of water POO feet in the air
All this time" said Paul Cuff I'VE
were riding over the sea in great splendor,
harnessed to the biggest fish in the world
and making the fastest time on record. ="
II ey saw and passed great merchant ships
bearing their country's laG, but they had
no lag, no country, no home. They passed
an English man of-wlr that gaZed with
amazement at the singular sight. They
thought it was the devil incarnate hitChcd
to dragon aud fired broaCside Mt them,
but their cannon balls passed a mile be
hind the sailors, 50 rapid was their course
On they went like comet shooting lis
fiery flame across the sky.
After riding in this style for almost three
days up and down tie ocean hitched to a
whales tail by slender cord the great fish
took singular turn and a lucky one for
the six sailors He steercd his course
southwest and by accident struci, the bay
and outlet Of the Raritan river, on the
coast of New Jersey. The water was deep
and he followed its course for two miles.
His nose struck the piers Of a bridge that
cost 81, 600, and it fell with crash into
the river. The whale then struck an
oyster sloop aud Shirerrd that to atoms,
drowning three sailors. On be went, but
the water soon became so shallow that he
landed on the shore, and in three hours he
was dead.
By this singular accident the six negroes
became the ownera of the whale. They
sold it to an English oil merchant in New
York city for 3l2 900 in gold who did not
know they were slaves bound out in the
marine service and not entitled to the
whale under the laws. llis title, how
ever, proved good, for tue company in New
Bedford never heard Of the transaction in
% years. The whale was really worth
about $780, 600 and Was the largest ever
found on the Atlantic coast.
After receiving their money the slaves
made an equal division, which gave them
$4,000 EACH and through the advice Of
their leader, Paul Cuff, they set their faces
toward the western wilds OF the State OF
New York. When they reached Albany,
tntY met 1 etl Not lENINH WIN was "
turning from plotting some missionaries to
the Stockbrdge valley. The Indian gave
them fine description Of the country, and
they induced him TO raturn with them for
a stipulated price He did so and lived
with them in this LEGALITY until he died.
They bought on contract with the Oneida
Indians about 200 acres Of land for each at
a nominal sum. Atterward the titles were
confirmed by the State OF New York. They
all lived TO a fine old age, and all were
highly respected.
All of them died here except one, who
returned to New Bedford after lapse OF
so years and died there about 40 years ago.
The remains of the others are laid to rest
side by side in the old Indian graveyard at
Valley Mills, and there is nothing what
ever to mark their graves. There was once
a small slab at the head of one grave OF
rude form and chiseled by an unskilled
hand. The inscription read as follows
slack Morgan, runaway slave, who
chased the whale" Then followed age
and date, but the slab has long since