The sun., 1908-11-22
Observation-Disclosures
NEW BEDFORD'S ODD COLLEC.
TTON TO HAVE 4 NEW HOME.

Made the CIty's F0Ttune-Strang
Adventures On Many Geas Told I
in Old Log BO6ats Of the WbaIeI
New BRDEoap. Nov. 3i.-some tim
during the coming year the largest col
lection Of whaling literature In the worl
will be moved from the old and inadequat
public library building In this city int
the remodelled City Hall. which will per
M: ;or the first time an adequate displa.
OF the material brought together In tn
last half century.
Nothing concerning whales or whaling
has been alien to the desires Of the mel
who have drawn together this collection
from the far corners of the earth. IL
catholioity is seen In the promineno,
given to an eighteenth century woodcu
showing Jonah cast up on the shell strewr
beach OF Nineveh by q disguised leviathar
and the inclusion OF an accurate repor
OF the case Of James Maurice agains
Samuel Judd. tried in the Mayors Office
Of the city Of New York on the s0th and 3is
Of December. 1sls,' which hinged on tn,
answer to the question OF whether or moi
q whale is fish.
Such exhibits as these may be CON
sidered mere by-produots Of the main
business. that Of gathering matter re.
lating to the industry which laid the
foundation OF New Bedford's fortune
The amount Of literature bearing on this
topic Is amazing. 1t embraces volumes in
several languages, those Of Scandinavia
and Holland preponderating next to
English, with few in French, these
largely Of a scientific character.
But it is in the log books that the average
library patron will find interest. There
are more than 200 OF them. opening to the
curious an inexhaustible fund OF adven-
ture in every sea from pole to pole.
1t must be admitted though that the
log books are for the most part monoto-
nous reading. Even when the collectors
Of oil had time-and often they had far
more leisure than was to their taste-they
showed little inclination to cultivate lit
erary style or dramatic climax. $50
ends this day" was the stereotyped termi-
nation Of each entry. When at long inter-
walls the reader finds an alternative express
sion. as when Capt. Taber Of the Reliance
ended days record in ls45 with the salts
fed remark $50 runs fat luck" there Is a
feeling that here was man OF marked
There is plenty Of tragic adventure and
2 remarkably small leaven of humor ia
these whaling logs. Such humor as there
s contains an essence Of grimness, as in
the record Of a voyage wherein the skip
per's wife accompanied him.
Her health was such that she was not
expected to return alive. Accordingly
there was included in the ships fittings
A cask Of alcohol, apparently for the pres
ervation OF the woman's body until she
could be inferred at the home port. But
the sea air and sea fare agreed with the
wife 30 amazingly that she was restored
10 health, while the captain was taken i'll
and died on the voyage and the widow
brought home his body preserved in the
alcohol.
One of the most remarkable tales which
nay be culled from the log books is thai, of
he lest cruise OF the ship Ann Alexander
n 1850. She set sail from New Bedford
n June OF that year under command Of
Capt. Deblois, and by autumn had stored
lway a good start for her cargo.
One unlucky day O monstrous bull
whale was sighted and the mates boat
,ook up the pursuit. 1t drew near enough
% launch the harpoon. Upon being
wounded the whale turned and fled, as
ional order OF proceedings, but before
yoing far it changed it's mind and charged
he boat. 1t seized the little craft in it's
avs and crushed it.
The captains boat at once went to
he rescue of the men In the water and
hose OF the ships crew who had seen
he mishap from on board launched
- l.
lived all Of the mates crew had been
Thereupon the forces were
iivided between the captains and the
waist boat and the whalers returned
o the attack upon the monster.
The whale, 10 appeared, was no less
eady for a continuance OF the fight
han the men. This time it turned its
ttention to the captains boat, which
I crushed as it had the other.
All OF the whalers now sought refuge
n the waist boat, which was turned
oward the ship with fears that it might
lot arrive there should the whale spy
I and desire to continue the battle. The
ceilings Of the sailors nnAy be ima gined
vhen they perceived the whale rushing
oward them. But for some reason,
because it was blind with rage
'oat, which presently deposited Its thank
ul burden on the deck Of the ship.
But the whale continued in sight and
apt. Deblois, vexed at the loss he had
presently took advantage Of q
avorable opportunity to sink q harpoon
nto II from the ships deck. Thereupon
he maddened monster losing all sense
Il proportion, charged the ship itself,
striking 1t a blow with its head which
made II shiver from stem to stern.
In few minutes it was discovered that
he force OF the blow had opened the
hips seams and she began to settle so
apidly that there was not time to stock
he small boats with provisions before
,etting away. The chances that the sea-
nen would survive in an unprovisioned
indeed. but as luck would have il they
yere sighted before many hours by an
ther whaler and got back to New Bed
ord safe and sound.
Two years later they heard that a whale
ARRIVING the Ann Alexander's harpoons
nd with the bones Of it's head broken
ad been captured
Color and detail were apparently con-
idered bad form In log entries. Capt. |
Iiram Weeks of the Polar Star reports. |
or instance, that whale stove S boat
nd turned l. boat bottom up Back of
he returns turks tale which would |
make the average man entertaining COM
any until he had worn II out. but IL was |
art Of the days work
This day. saw 8 whales, caught L."
Saw two right whales. Lowered and
aught them both" This day saw a
lrge quantity Of finbaoks. Saw . right
,hales. Got one So ends this day
his Ia the usual form Of the records.
Even when something not in the daily
outline, perhaps an incident vitally |