Year: 1870

T.


June IS, 1870.


Editors ApDedJ-Thinking a few OF
your numerous readers would like to
hear from a Memphian on the other
side of the world, will give you a
short log of a voyage from the United
States. We have been wrecked twice
since our departure. l have given
you an account OF our first in a pre-
viOus letter. The second time we
were wrecked about 1000 miles off the
Southeast coast of Africa, on the 18th
of February, 1870. The gale began on
the 9Th, continuing and increasing in
its fury until it reached its climax, a
regular typhOOn. For three days and
nights all hands on board expected to
see their last. Your humble cores
pondent thought often of the late war,
and mentally calculated that he would
prefer passing through several wars
than another typhOon. AT three
O'Clock pm, on the 18th, we saw a
white squall, about twenty miles
ahead, and the Captain, with tears in
his eyes, gave orders to cut away the
rigging and let the masts go. First
went the fore-top gallant mast, soon
followed the main-top gallant mast
and miZzen mast. Amidst this fear
fui scene 1 could not help laughing at
the extreme coWardice displayed by
our Portugese,sailOrs At every lurch
and plunge of the ship, down they
went on their knees, counting their
rosary and making all kinds of prom
ises to be saved this time. They
would not have many seconds to at
tend their devOtiOns, before they were
washed around the ship by the heavy
seas, continually coming on board.
Truly the waves were running noun
tain-high. At one moment it seemed
as if we were going right to the heav-
ems on the crest of an immense billOw;
at the next it appeared as if the Ruler
of all storms had frOwned on us, and
down, down we went in the fearful
yawning abyss below, as if the portals
of hell were yawning TO receive us.
Our nearest port was Mauritins, 500
miles to the westward; however, we
managed TO repair our damages at sea,
and caught forty five barrels Of sperm
whale. We have taken seven since
we sailed, and lost one of them. 1t is
something indiscribable and terribly
grand TO lower your boats and ap-
prOaeh the Lseviathans, spouting away,
unconscious of danger, make fast to
one Of them, peak your oars, throw
plenty Of water on your tOw-line to
prevent its taking fire and getting foul,
away you 60 with fearful rapidity af-
ter the whale; it will tow you twenty
five or thirty miles before you can
lower him or give him bombshell.
Then comes the tug of labor,
in towing him to the ship,
cut into him and hoisting
the pieces on deck, start the fires and
try him out. Frequently whalers
will select an old cOw-whale that has
a calf, and make fast to the calf. You
can then make an easy capture of its
mother, as their affection for their
young is quite predominant. Often
while the young one has a harpoon
fast in it, its mother will take it un-
derneath its fin and run off with it.
Whaling is attended with great dan
ger. On one occasion we made fast TO
a large male; he turned the tables by
seizing the boat In his immense jaws
and crushing it with his teeth. For
tunAtely nobody was hurt. We in
tend 70 remain until we take 1000 bar
rels, and may cruise in every sea that
the sperm whale frequents, as we are
only after the spermaceti species.


Yours truly,