Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-08-14

a THRILLING RESCUE

OUT OF THE VERY JAWS OF DEATH.
WAS HE sNATcHEp.
An Old whaleman's Exciting story
OF Race For Life That Made His
Hair Turn Gray and Caused Him TO
Quit the Business.
1T was in 1876" said the old sea cap
tain. and was an able seaman on the ]
whaler Rivenoak looking for blubber in
the south Atlantic, with seat in the
second mates whaleboat. We had had
the boats ready to lower and the mast
8hends manned for over three weeks be-
fore we sighted grease, and when the
cry, There she blows!' rang out from
the fore skysail yard the old man went
wild with delight. Sperm whale surf!'
he bawled. Down from aloft, every
one! Stand by to lower!' We got the
boats off in good shape, and our boat took
the lead, which we held till we came up
with the whale. The boat header let go
his harpoon. sending it out OF sight into
the side of the monster, which started off
at a rate of speed that made the boat
up for 20 minutes, and we soon lost sight
of the Rivenonk and the other boats.
And then, us though firing of pulling us
along, she suddenly showed tlukes and
began to make for the bottom like
load Of pig lead. The rope, one end Of
which was attached to the harpoon in
the whales hack. ran ont of the boat so
fast that it looked like u thread Of blue
smoke.
Cut that rope II 1t FOULS cried the
mate. tossing me a Ratchet, and lose no
time about it! If you don't, God help
us! The beast is going to sound 100
fathons, sure!
i had just leaned forward to pick up
the implement when there was sud-
den jerk. n crashing, whirring sound. and
j knew that the rope had foulcd The
next minute felt myself drawn down
through the ocean like a shot from n gun.
i caught brief glimpse OF the longboat
flashing through the water, number of
struggling forms, and then began to
come up. 1t seemed ages before reach
ed thessurface and those blue skies never
seemed so welcome before. Only one OF
my comrades sncceedcd in getting out OF
the boat, and he was floating about on q
long plank which had been stored in the
bottom of tna boat for just such Il pur-
pose. ] swan up aud caught hold of the
other end of it. Luckily the water was
calm and the plank kept our heads well
out of water Not sign Of our ship or
small boats did wc$see. however. and the
thought came over me that we might just
as well have been pulled to the bottom by
the while us to die by inches. The hours
Wore on, however, and we began to grow
weak and it got to be Il question Of how
much longer we could hold out.
Just as we were about to despair OF
ever being rescued. my companion. Bill
Royce. gave n shout Of joy and pointed
out over the ocean toward big steam
frisate which was pointing in our direc-
ton. We We're quite sure she saw us as
we must have been plainly marked agninst
the angry colors of the sunset The yes
sci looked like a mnn-of-war. for her
spars were clean cut and rakish and we
caught the CLINT of polished brass work.
The smoke was pouring ont OF her fun
mel and in few minutes she was within
a quarter OF mile of us. remarked to.
Royce that we were very lucky. and re-.
ceiving no reply turned to look at him.
II have never seen such look In a
mans face before nor since. 1t wns ns
white as Il sheet, his eyes seemed to
bulge out Of his head and his teeth rat
tied together with castancts. He caught
my look aud in reply pointed off in the
direction opposite To that from which the
friratc was approaching. Sharks. he:
whispered. They have boon attracted by.
the whales blood. It's all up now. for.
sure
II saw bnt one shark. He was quite a
distance off and was making for us in a
leis,lrely way The men on the wnrship
saw it too and realized our dnngcr. A
single dull boom was heard. aud Il solid
shot struck about 80 feet to one side OF
the man eater. which pnid no attention
ito the compliment, but continued to make
for us with slightly increased speed.
Behind him. about 30 feet in the renr.
was another shark. Both were quite
near now. So was the warship.
we could hear the crew manning the
splash as tile small boat took to the wa
ter. Again :hc gun doomed from the
warship, but this time the shot went
clear over the sharks and STRUCK, the wa
ter quarter of n mile beyond Nearer
i and nearer came the first shark. and we
now saw that the small boat could not
reach us in time.
THE beast made straight for Royce.
who screamed with terror. Over on his
back turned the shark, with his cavern
Gus mouth open and his long. cruel teeth
ireeking with froth. The boat was still
4 20 yards off. Royce in sheer terror let
j 90 his hold on the plank and tried to
I swim for il. The next instant the shark
was upon him. closed my eyes, heard
1 a shrek from Royce, and when looked
Z the water WIS stained with blood. but
] Royce was gone. 1t was my turn now.
4 The second shark was almost upon me,
and caught Il glimpse Of his little swim
Il ish eyes as he turned over on his back
The yards Of the warship were throngcl
/ and nothing could be heard but the splash
OF the approaching boat. was para
lyzed could not have left the plank Il
save my soul. Nearer came the shark
4 aud again shut myeyes. could ever
hear the snui,ling OF the beast. and Their
came the clear, cool command: Steady
men. Aim. Fire. "A volley of mus
1 kerry awokc the stiffness, and then los,
consciousness. When | came TO, was
on the deck Of the United States shiT
The jackies in the rowboat Inc
shot the shark when it was within three
y feet of me.
Since then. gentlemen. have never
been In whaler, and bear an eyerlast