From The New England Washinqtonian
{"newspaper_name": "The Columbian fountain.", "edition": "01", "page": "p2", "byline": ""}
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Mr.. EDITOR: The following urue, but
heart-rending scene to which was an eye
witness, occurred some three years since, on
the northwest coast of America, in lat. a.
bout 500 ~, while cruising for whales,
which, if you consider worth place in
your journal is at your disposal.


was at that time on board ship Java OF
New Bedford. One day in the month Of
July, we fell in with French whaIer, the
Fawn, of Havre. AS is usual on such occa-
sions, the Captain, who was an American,
was invited on board Of us. We were in
formed that the Fawn sailed from Havre in
1889, having been about three years out,
with only 1900 bbls. oil whereas the Java
was fourteen months from home, with
2lOO bbls. The captain Informed us that
he had counted seventy whales from his
deck in one day, and that he had taken but
one whale for the past fortnight. lie SAID
his men wouldn't work without grog, and
they couldn't work with it, But the worst
is yet to come.


The next day the Frenchman was still in
sight About noon whales appeared, we
saw him lower his boats and give chase; it
was about two hours before there was any
prospect Of their getting fast at all. At last
our captain, who was watching them
through his spy-glass from aloft, exclaimed
g They are fast" Our ship being about
three miles to wndward, it was not long
before we could observe them with our ma
ked eye from the deck. When within a
quarter Of a mile Of our ship the whale
brought to-; the rest of their boats not being
able to keep up with the whale, were tug
ging away far to leeward. Our captain re-
marked that the men in the ssfast boat" ap-
peared to be intoxicated. Our boats not
being in readiness we concluded to let
them kill their own whale. They could
not wish for better chance-the whale
scarcely moved-but the liquor had evil
IDENTIFY drowned the senses of the lanceman
as well as the rest Oft the crew, and he knew
not wheIe to throw his lance. AT last,
through carelessness, the boat was lain
alongside Of the huge monster, their oars
were unshipped, and no chance Tor escape
was left them: with one sweep of his
mighty fukes, six human beings were
launched into eternity In minute our
boat was manned, but ere we could reach
the spot, nought but broken fragments Of
the boat, among which foated two quart
demijon, could be seen. Upon picking up
the demijon it was found to be empty; hav-
ing evidently been drained by the crew of
the ill,fated boat.


When the other boats came up, you may
easily judge the feelings Of their ship-mates
and especially the unfortunate captain.
The next day, tho Fawn was seen under
all sail steering for the Sandwich Islands.
We arrived at Mohee with full cargo,
$500 bbls, about week after the Fawn
left that port for home. Nota drop of grog
was allowed on board the Java except what
was in the medicine chest


Yours, &c.


A TRuE WAsHlNGToNIAN