The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-03-07
TOWED BY A WHALE
BY M QUAD
IcOpyr.Ihl, i00i. by c. D, Lswlsl


 register bearing date of Oct. 23. 1888,
 you would find recorded under the head of "Thc Loss of the Swan" an article
 composed of about forty lines of type.
 The brig swan was trading along the
 African coast and had run into the
 blight of Benvln to anchor for week. she was a Liverpool ship. commanded by Captain Srecter. and had been a trader for ten years. The Swan was known an along the coast from Liberia to tho country of tue Hottentots and had never met with an instance of trcachery when dealing with the na- tlycs. On thls trip was rated as an apprentice boy. and she carried eleven others tn her crew. There were some repairs to be made after we came to anchor about half a mile from the surf. and it was two days before n native came out to us in his canoe and Invited all hands to go ashore for feast and barter As that was the usual way no one had reason to be suspicious, but the captain did not neglect proper safe guards. He went tO the feast with six armed men for company. leaving four of us to mind the brig. She was armed with muskcts and cannon. and we were ordered to maintain a strict lookout and signal at once if any number of na' tlycs pulled out Co us. It was to be an an night carouse on the beach, and the three men with me soon declared that there was no possible danger and preached a cask of rum and proceeded Co enjoy themselves. They hadn't the sense Co stop when their legs began to tanglc up and. as a consequence. all were in a drunken sleep before mid night
 Fires had been lighted on the shore aud the voices could be plainly heard aboard as they shouted and sang. My situation was a lonely one. and was troubled about the drunken sailors, but nothing occurred to ssartle me until about o'clock in the morning. Then there was a sudden grand yell from the natives. followed by three or four mus kct shots and more yelling, and was satisfied that the party on shore had been attacked. l made every effort to arouse the sleepers, but all my work was thrown away. | had just come away from them in despair when l caught sight of a fleet of canoes pulling off the shore. IT had been able to fire one of the big guns. it would have had no effect and of course could not hope to beat them or with musket. l did what most any other boy would proba- bly do-clmbcd up into the malntop and hid myself away. Ten minutes later the natives to the number of a hundred bearded the brig, and although they found the three sailors still asleep they quickly dispatched them and threw them oycrb1ard If they looked for others. lt was below Instead of aloft.
 The Idea was to run the brig ashore and plundcr her The fellows knew that the anchor held her stationary. but they could neither work the wlnd- lass nor uushacklc the chain. After long aud noisy consultation they finally tailed on Co the cable to nc the anchor by main strength A sailor will say that lt couldn't be done. but looking down from my perch in the gray of the morning ! saw them gather in at least ,hrcc fathSus of chain. That meant that they bad lifted that anchor tweu- ty.oue feet from the bed of the sea. They had still three fathoms to over come. and were taking a long breath Co get it ready when the cable was pulled out Of their hands and drawn iaut and the brig began moving out of the bay. There was a panic at once. and she had not gone half mile when the last native was overheard into his canoe and pulling for the beach. If they were frightened half to death | was none the less so. and we had got well out to the mouth of the bIght be- fore l solved the mystery. The brig was lowed as if following tug. and ] was down on deck and peerlug over her bows when a whale suddenly rose Q few fath0ms In front Of her and fell back with a great splash. He was a big fellow. and had time to see that one Of the anchor dukes was caught in his mouth like a giant dshhook. He came up again and again. and he shook his mighty head and rolled over and over in his efforts to get rid Of the hook. but it was too firmly fastened. When the sea opened out and the leyiathan realized that he was tn scrape. De started or on straight line and increased his speed. | had been given a few tricks at the wheel, and l took lt and soon learned how Co make a straight course after him. Later on l found taat could lash it fast and serve the same purpose.
 At speed of at least fifteen miles m hour the whale ran from o'clock in the morning to in the afternoon with out a stop and without devlatlng foot from true course. Then he lay on ihe surface and r.sted for an hour, and the blood from hls mouth dyed the sea for yards around When he started again. lt was with a rush, but the ca ble held. and he ran until about : o'clock in the evening. Then he sud denly stopped. and before could make out what be was up to he came up un- der the brig with such force as to stave in a dozen bottom blanks and nearly turn her over. She began to llll at once. and with a rush he broke the ca bto ord ,ros off with tba anchor As