Читать книгу Life and Adventure in the South Pacific - John D. Jones - Страница 10

Table of Contents

The whale is now cut in; then comes the process of “trying out.” In the centre of the deck, somewhat forward, are the try-works for the purpose of trying out the oil. It is a square place, built up with bricks and iron, about four feet high and ten square. It has two large iron pots in the centre, each one containing between three and four barrels, with furnaces underneath. The liquid spermaceti from the case is first put into the pots, the fires are lighted, and the process of “trying out” commences. Here we would state that, in a whaling voyage, the first fire in a try-works has to be fed for a time with wood. After that no wood is used, except as the means of quick ignition to the staple fuel. In a word, after being tried out, the crisp, shriveled blubber, now called scraps, still contains considerable of its unctuous properties. These scraps feed the flames. Like a plethoric burning martyr, or a self-consuming misanthrope, once ignited, the whale supplies his own fuel and burns by his own body. Would that he consumed his own smoke! for his smoke is horrible to inhale, and inhale it you must; and not only that, but you must live in it for the time. It has an indescribable odor about it, such as one might imagine would arise from a Hindoo funeral pile.

The blanket-pieces are cut into small pieces, varying from twelve to twenty inches in length, and about as wide as the thickness of the blubber, called “horse pieces.” They are then pitched on deck, and forward to the mincing machine, where they are cut into very thin slices, and are then ready for the pots.

TRYING OUT.

As soon as the oil is extracted from the blubber, the scraps are skimmed off, and the oil bailed out of the pots into a large copper cooler, which stands by the side of the try-works. When it is sufficiently cool that it will not burn the casks, it is poured into them, and allowed to remain on deck for two or three days. It is then “coopered,” that is, the hoops on the casks are all driven tight, to prevent them from leaking, it having been rendered necessary by the hot oil shrinking the casks. At length, when the last pint is casked and coopered, and all is sufficiently cool, then the great hatchways are unsealed, the bowels of the ship are thrown open, and down go the casks to their rest in the hold. This done, the hatches are replaced and hermetically sealed, like a closet walled up.

And now comes the process of cleaning up. From the ashes of the scraps is made a powerful lye, which is used in removing the grease from the bulwarks and decks of the ship. Hands go diligently along, and with buckets of lye and water, and rags, restore all to its full tidiness. The soot is brushed from the lower rigging; all the numerous implements which have been in use are likewise faithfully cleansed and put away. The great hatch is scrubbed and placed upon the try-works; every cask is out of sight; all tackles are coiled in unseen nooks; and when, by the combined and almost simultaneous industry of the ship’s company, the whole of this duty is concluded, then the crew themselves proceed to their own ablutions, shift themselves from top to toe, and issue forth to the cleaned and white decks, fresh and all aglow, as bridegrooms new leaped from out the daintiest Holland.

We now continued our way for Cape Horn, having beautiful clear weather with fine southeast trade-winds.

On Tuesday, January 8th, 1850, we were off the River De la Plata. This region is notorious for its heavy gales and “pamperos,” a species of hurricane. We had, for three days, been having a severe gale. On this evening (the third day) the wind died away; the heavens were shrouded with heavy black clouds; every thing so quiet, and yet so gloomy, seemed but the forerunner of a storm of the wildest description. Sail was taken in, and all put in readiness, awaiting its approach. Presently the heavens were illuminated with the glare of lightning, followed by the hoarse and deep thunder that appeared to come from the very bottom of the great deep. It increased until the whole heavens were one broad sheet of flame, and the reflection upon the surface of the water gave it the resemblance of a sea of fire; and the constant thunder, seeming to shake the earth to the very centre, added to the sublime grandeur of the awe-inspiring scene. On every hand, and in whatever direction the eye turned, the same continual blaze of lightning, accompanied by the heavy and continuous thunder, presented itself to the beholder. It was certainly the most awful and yet sublime scene we had ever witnessed.

“The storm howled madly on the sea,

The clouds their thunder-anthems sang;

And billows rolling fearfully,

In concert with the whirlwinds rang.”

All hands were gazing upon the grand spectacle, when, suddenly, a clap immediately over our heads—a sudden flash—a jar, followed by impenetrable darkness. All hands were dumb; no one dared to speak. The ship had been struck, but none could ask where, fearful of being told we were lost. The mate, however, soon came along, and gave proper directions to examine the ship. He then went to the main-top, and found the powder, which had been placed there for safety, all right. Another descended to the hold, but discovered no fire. It appears the lightning struck our main-royal truck, and descended to the deck, which being wet, it passed off with but little damage. The next morning, on unfurling the main-royal sail, we found thirteen holes burned in it, about the size of a musket ball. The lightning went through the “bunt,” as it was rolled on the yard, thus accounting for the large number of holes.

As soon as it was generally known we had escaped with so little injury, all experienced a feeling of gratitude for our truly remarkable escape. As we before remarked, the powder, which was contained in two “breakers,” or long, narrow barrels, each containing four kegs, was placed in the main and mizzen tops, one breaker on each side of the mast. The lightning had descended immediately between the two breakers in the main-top. Had it ignited the powder contained in one of the kegs, in all probability our voyage at sea, and perhaps for life, would have been soon ended. We felt truly thankful that we had so miraculously escaped. Some two or three of the men were knocked down, and others stunned, but nothing serious. The night slowly wore away; the constant glare of the fierce lightning, and the never-ceasing roar of the thunder, continuing until day dawned.

We all felt relieved when daybreak once more came over the sea. The gale, which had increased during the night, now abated; the clouds broke away, even the one with the “silver lining,” and “old Sol” once more showed his cheering face, and sent his gladsome rays rejoicing over the face of the great deep.