Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-04-16

s{syNA,-<s,-~{-A 1901. All OF ma
~ isss.s 2Ss@ rine New Bedford
sySsA thirty years ago
..s.sssi .sss ss'es t'''sssslsg which was fierce
-',s-ss>.S>~ ly skeptical of Dago
virtue, freely allowed that John was
the exception which proves the rule.
Therefore no one was surprised wnen
old Hank %imrod, master of the Java,
signed him as fourth mate. As this
officer acts as captains boatsteerer
when the cold man" lowers, and
heads the starboard boat when he
does not, it goes without saying that
he must be good timber through and
through.
1t was not common. on an american
whale ship, for Portuguese to berth
aft, but before the Java had crossed
the western ocean on her way to the
southern whaling grounds John was
accepted by Coffin, Holder and Bige-
low, the mates, as an all-around good
fellow, and as capable seaman as
ever shifted brine. His whaleman-
ship was an unknown quantity, for
none had sailed shipmates with him
before. But they took it for granted,
and grew fond of the grave, undemon.
strative man who never courted, but
always welcomed their rough fellow
ship.
Ors day, in the South Atlantic, a
clone" bull whale was raised from the
mainmast head. 1t was preaching a
long distance to wiudward, and it
took the bluff bowed Java three hours
to beat up to where the lonely mon
arch could be seen from the deck.
Bigelow, the third mate, was in the
slings at the mainroyal yard with his
glasses. He scanned the whale long
and closely, while it lay spouting
without thought of enemies. Sud
denly he sent his voice to the deck:
81 never seen a sperm bull like this
ERE, Cap'n Timrod. He's queer an
no mistake"
The cold man," pacing his quarter
like penned animal, paused in his
swift stride and looked inquiringly
aloft: "What do you make of him,
sir?"
"Im blowed if he's Protestant"
answered Bigelow with brief
chuckle. "He's marked with n cross
on his head"
Portuguese John, who stood by the
starboard boat near the master, gave
q sudden start as the whale was de-
scribed, and was about to speak, but
restrained himself, and Bigelow con-
tinued
'Seems like the cross was painted
on with white lead. The long streak
goes from the nose to the hump, an
the cross bar reaches clear athwart his
head"
(The body of the sperm whale is covered
with what may be described rs a black pig
ment. 1t is slightly thicker than n coat of
paint, and may be readily scratched of
bringing to view n dull white skin which
covers the blubber. 1t seems possible that
Sacred Ben may have carelessly scratched
his head on the rocks at the bottom of the
sea In the regions whore he is supposed to
chase the giant squid. In that way the re-
ligious symbol which so astonished Mr..
Bigelow may have been produced. -
]. @. W.
Captain Timrod happened to glance
at his fourth mate, and to his surprise
Johns swarthy face had turned that
livid yellow which takes the place of
emotional paleness in the Latin races.
"What is it, John?" he asked, in
surprise.
| ThesPortuguese's voice was husky,
and he shivered as he answered, point
ing in the direction OF the bull: tSac-
red Ben, sir! The Whale OF the
Cross!"
''Heyw exclaimed the cold man"
with an expression of deep interest.
"I've heard of him before. He's got
bad record"
Portuguese John moved nearer, and
laid his unsteady hand on the masters
arm. Captain, he said in strained
whisper, "that whale means death.
He kill my BROTH, three year ago, in
the Indian Ocean. And many more!
He stove three boats of the Mary, an
get away with four 'irons' and all the
/ lines. That time [ know for [ was
/ there. Ny broth, Anton, he steer
| Misser Brown, the mate; an all that
boat crew Sacred Ben kill. An many
more L hear OF him in othair ships.
He always kill, an always get away"
81 heard of the Mary losing her
boats. was in the Okhotsk that
year." answered Timrod. "Well,
what of it, John?"
Captain, for Christ his sake, do
not lower after the Whale of the
Cross!"
The sailor in Hank Trimrod quakod
because of the superstition begot by
the sea, but after "A moment the tough
Yankee spirit of the New England
whale-hunter surged up in his breast.
"Sacred Ben will try out like any
other whale, L reckonW he grimly
muttered.