Year: 1875

A ship some time ago arrived at Bris-
tol, after q successful Pacific whaling
voyage. Time was when thousands of
vessels tracked the great sea monster, in
search Of oil, but the discoveries of the
mineral article has made the trade no
longer remunerative, or, at least, much
less ar object of pursuit. The ship re-
ferred to was the West Wind, command
ed by Captain Parker, who met with
most perilous adventure during his cruise
and which came very near costing him
his life. Under the most favorable cir
cumstances, the occupation of the whaler
is one of great danger and physical trial,
and very few ships ever return to port
without losing one or more hands by the
ordinary exigeney of the service.


1t seems that Captain Parker was out
from his ship with boats crew, chasing
a whale and having fastened his harpoon
to the creature, it dived rs usual, and ths
line coiled in the bows of the boat, began
to run out with lightning rapidity as the
monster sank to the extreme depth OF tho
ocean. At this critical juncture, Captain
Parker went to the forward part of tho
boat to be sure that there was no twist in
the rope to prevent its working clear
The line was running out with such speed
rs to cause smoke To rise from the wood
work of the boat, and the captain threw
water as is the custom, upon the spot. BY
some unlucky lurch of the boat, he was
canted from his position and he naturally
threw out his left hand to prevent his
falling but in doing so, unfortunately
placed it SO that the rope coiled round his
wrist and he was overheard and out OF
sight in an instant.


! He was perfectly conscious while he
was rushing downward, head foremost,
and with an incredible swiftness, and il
appeared to him that his arm would be
torn from the socket, SO great was the TO
sistance Of the water. During these aw-
ful moments, he was we'll aware Of his
perilous position and that his only chance
for life was to cut the line. But how was
he to do thisp He could not move his
right arm from his side, to which it was
so closely pressed by tho element through
which he was being drawn. The pressure
on his brain grew more and more and
more terrible and a roaring as Of thunder
sounded in his ears. lie opened his eyes
for single instant and it seemed as if
stream Of fire were passing through them.
And now comes tina: inevitable activity
OF the brain which characterzes all such
perilous situations, where ones whole lils
seems to pass in an instant of time. But
the Captain was II very practical man,
cool and courageous, and consequently
still self-possessed.


He began to struggle with all his mus
cular power to reach tho knife he wore in
his belt. He felt he was growing weaker
every instant and it was now or never
with him, though we should say paren.
thetically, what requires 50 long to de-
scribe occurred in time which was reck
oned by seconds rather than by minutes.
| Oh, il he could command his right hand
but for one stroke at that fatal line HIS
heart began to fail him now. lie did not
absolutely despair, but his brain reeled,
his nerves seemed to lose their tension,
light and darkness seemed to alternate
before his eye-balls, and his head felt as
though compressed in an iron vice.
Were those his last moments lilo thOt
in spite of the agonizing pain he endured
he would make one more brave effort.


The line proydentially slackened for a
second he rescued his knife and as quick
as thought itself, AS the rope became taut
again, the keen edge Of the blade was on
it and by a desperate effort of his arm tho
rope was severed he was freed, and then
commeneed bis upward passage, caused
by the natural buoyancy of the human
body. After this he only remem bered u
feeling Of suliocation, gurgling spasm,
and all was over until he awoke to an
agonizing pain of returning consciousness
in the arms OF his boats crew. Truly,
one Of the most remarkable escapes from
death on record.


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