Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-08-10

respondent OF the new 1Ork evening
Sun. The old bark was in excellent
shape when she sailed last week, and
with a good crew aboard 1t is expect
ed that the cruise will be profitable,
Although she was built in 1854 the
Greyhound is stanch yet and fast
sailer. This time she is expected to
be out five years, making stops every
six months at the Azores and the
West Indies. The Greyhound's last
voyage lasted four years, lacking a
few days.
"She never was a plumpuddiner, "
said Captain Casino, one OF the old
est shippers in New Bedford, when he
saw the Greyhounds lines cast off.
Captain Casino has seen her sail on
many a long cruise. "PlGmpud-
diners" are whalers that only remain
out five or six months. 1t is expected
that the Greyhound will spend good
deal of time whaling Off the coast OF
PATAGONIA
Although the meetings Of the Spin
Yarn Club have been rather sparsely
attended Of late because o. the hot
weather, quite a number Of whalemen
gathered in Frank Browns harpoon
shop to-day to discuss different mat
tiers. Capt. Dowden was not there
because of the fact that he has had a
new balcony built on the second story
of his house in Mill street. These
fine days the captain sits out on his
new balcony to see what is going on
along Purchase street. AS a Conse-
quence he seldom gets down to Frank
Browns, but sometimes drops into
Leader Brlghton's place for a minute
to get the news.
Capt. Sylvanus Potter, who may
take out the bark A. B. Tucker this
summer, was one of the Spin Yarn
members present. He dropped in to
ask Frank Brown about some new
bomb lances that have just come in.
Incidentally he remarked that he
thought irons were cheaper down
Provincetown nowadays than at New
Bedford.
well, they ought to sell 'em pretty
cheap down on the Cape" said
Brown. They make EN- out Of zinc,
/ understand"
Capt. Potter lapsed into silence
after this and smoked his pipe. He
is not given to talking a great deals
Brown mentioned that he had sold
some wire-feathered lances to Nor.
wegian parties and had just received
a fresh stock of blubber-forks. Blub-
Der forks are now quoted at $1.10
apiece.
The whalemen were gratified over
the catch made by the schooner John
r. Mania, which has just arrived.
Whales were reported very plentiful
off the Brazils, and although the Man
ia was not out very long time her
work was profitable. 1t was said that
the best catches were made in the
Gulf Of Curiaco, sperm whales being
found in goodly quantities.
Capt. Joseph Edwards, worthy
Portuguese skipper, and Capt. George
Anthony, who was master of the old
Catalepa, Joined the group in
Browns shop while a description of
the Manta's cruising was being given.
The name Curiaco seemed to awaken
old memories in the Portuguese
shippers mind. He gaZed medita-
lively toward the blue Acushnet.
"Golfo Curiaco, Golfo Curiaco," he
repeated slowly. Il know that place
YER wal, var wal. 1 was only there
wance-many year ago-dat's a YER
bad place. How about? Am ever
tellin' you about the time l am ship.
wreck in Curiaco. That's the only
vessel l ever lose. The same time,
too, we pay for get shipwreck. I
never told you, don't II"
A general laugh went around. No
one in the party had heard of this
rather paradoxical proceeding--oS
paying to lose ones vessel. The CrG"
dence of Capt. Edwards, however,
had been tested before and the story
was probably authentic.
That's right, that's true" ASSERT,
ed the Portuguese commander. "In
tell you all about. Oh, it's good
many year ago when l am foremost
hand in schooner Cohannet, one Of,
the first cruise l have out Of New
Bedford"
Frank Brown interrupted to say
that he remembered when the Cohan"
net was lost but had never understood
about the unusual financial arrange
ment that preceded her laundering.
wal, it's like this, you see," con
tinued Capt. Edwards. Were right
whaling south of the line; we 60
after sperm whales further north and
don't get much. There was weeks
when the lookout never yells :DaI
blows" Sperm whalin' seems to be
no good and our captain, Capt. Erin.
ta%, he was bout crazy becoz he sayq
this will be losin' cruise. We didn't
have thirty casks of oil for six months
out. 1t was pretty bad. The men
is all on lay and they commence to
grumble at our bad luck. There was
no use to make complent, though we
couldn't find whales anyhow. The
old man says Wen have to go hump
backin'.
up north of the line we cruise, on
and off the coast of Brazil. One day
somebody asked Capt. Frintas IL he
has ever been whalin' in Golfo Curia-
co-thats fine place for whalin', the
mate says. Capt. Frintas say, 'Hola!
is that so, think will try him. Capt.
Frintas has big weeskers and looks
more like farmer than sea-farin' man.
Well, we put the wheel hard over
and laid a course for Curiaco. The
men was very good, however, then
they hear the mate say this is fine
place and we'll do we'll here.
''In three days we raise the head
land off the Gulf and we're going
through into the bay where there
comes a leetle gunboat, a smoky
clankin' vessel and wants to know
where we're goin'. Captain says
we're goin' whalin' In this gulf. It
was a Spanish fellow in command of
the gunboat. He says, No you amt,
unless you pay the tax of the govern