The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-05-05
NANTUcKETs FAMOUS wHA1ER.
Capt. Grant Spent So Years Aboard
Whaling Vessels.

Capt. Grant Spent So Years Aboard
Whaling Vessels.
"Capn Grant" the world famous
whaling master of Nantucket, early
this week ended life's voyage and drop
ped anchor in the Haven Of Rest"
bringing to a close the career of a man
with an uspotted character, who spent
nearly sixty years Of his life on the
sea, amassing several large
fortunes, yet dying almost pauper.
Capt. Charles Grant was the great
est whaleman the world has ever known
says the Nantucket correspondent
OF the Boston Herald, and at the time
Of his death was also the oldest whal-
ing master in the United States, being
nearly 92 years of age. He brought in
to port more oil than any other single
captain known in the history of the
whaling industry Of the world, and
made more money than any man that
ever speared a whale. Yet he died
poor man, and although heS derived a
snug sum from every voyage he did
not own the house he lived in.
He was born on Nantucket on June
IA, 1914, and began his career as a
whaleman when only II years old.
His first voyage was in the John Jay
of Nantucket in the capacity Of
steward. The old ship sailed on De-
cember 8, 1925, but it was broken
voyage, although lasting three years.
Capt. Alexander Drew the master, in
quarrel stabbed his second mate with
a carving knife while at the table and
was sent home in orins. TWAS anything
but bright beginning for young
Grant, and the ship took less than 1000
barrels of sperm oil on the voyage.
Although he spent fifty-six years of
his life aboard whalers, and besides,
helping to take nearly 10000 barrels
of sperm as an officer he brought as
master about $4,000 barrels more, be-
sides 10000 pounds Of whalebone and
eighteen pounds Of ambergris
Capt. Grant had many exciting ex-
periences with the leyiathans Of the
deep and his exploit while first officer
on the Mount Vernon in 1S4O is con-
sidered the most extraordinary on re-
cord. The details of the affair re-
manned vivid throughout his life, and it
was one of his favorite tales for the
summer visitors.
81 suppose 1 am bit boastful," he
would say. but then it was pretty
slick thing for young fellow of twenty
six to do. We were off the coast Of
Peru and had struck large sperm
whale just at shutdown. The big fell
low sounded, took out all the line
had, and by the time he came to the
surface it was dark The ship came
up alongside Ivy boat and the captain
wanted to know what intended to do.
Let me stay by this whale all night'
shouted.
Seeing I was persistent the captain
gave his consent, with the understand
ing that if he should set two lights on
the ship must cut the line and go
aboard. Not much. / wanted that
whale, and although the weather look
nasty and the lights we're set three
times l paid no attention to them.
about o'clock the fun commenced.
The whale got tired of keeping still
and suddenly started off on west
northwest course towing us behind
We had seventy fathoms of line out
and went whizzing through the water
faster than these motor boats ever
thought of going. The whale never
sounded once and kept up his pace all
night 1 set light on my boat, SO
that the ship could follow and there We
sat all night long.
81 never saw whale with so much
endurance. We surely travelled 100
miles during the night, and it was not
until 6 O'Clock the next morning that
his speed 1 could see that he was get
ting tired, and an hour later I succeed
ed in getting another iron into him
and killed him. When the ship caught
up with us, just before noon, we were
all pretty well tuckered out, l can tell
you. That whale made 105 barrels of
the finest oil you ever saw"
The captains statement always carri-
ed with it all sorts of vouchers, and the
truth fthis remarkable exploit is re-
corded on the pages of the whaling in
dustry, and in the famous "Cap'ns
Room" of Nantucket, properly known
as the Pacific Club