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WHALING DIARY DESCRIBES SHIPWRECK AND GOOD FISHING

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 600.00 USD
WHALING DIARY DESCRIBES SHIPWRECK AND GOOD FISHING
"First Mate was knocked out of the Boat by the Whale and drownd the Boat was literally stove to pieces…"

A fine whaling ship diary describing a shipwreck, rescue, and fine whaling thereafter. The 32pp. 12mo., diary commences just off the Peruvian coast on Nov. 27, 1838 with the last entry recorded on Mar. 1, 1839. In part: "...a severe gale of wind drove us ashore...we are now lying upon the rocks a compplete Wreck...not able to get to the ship [the Columbia] on acount of the severity of the weather...able to get one boat with 6 men on Board...most of us have lost our all...another boat left for Talcahuano [Chile] with the remainder of the crew...[we are] sending on shore such provisions as could be got at in the hold and all our sails, with which we have rigged spacious Tents upon the Beach...the lower hold completely full of water and other floating material, Oil in particular...the ship Edward Quesnel came very near sharing the same fate...left this place...after remaining about 15 days...shipped on board the John Wells of Newark bound for home...saw a small school of Sperm Whale, lowered the boats but they soon left us...cd boiling and stowing down 114 bbls...no Right whales...whales are seen blowing in all directions, but the weather continued squally...Waist boat made fast but was soon badly stoven and cut loose...killed their whale in thiry minutes which sunk to Larboard...several Fin Back Whales, afternoon lowered the boat twice for Right Whales...Larboard Boat made fast, killed and towed to the ship their Whale...One person lost his life by this Whale, Mr. Coffin, first Mate was knocked out of the Boat by the Whale and drownd the Boat was literally stove to pieces and the crew were all upset...". More excellent content on nearly every page. A few pages may have been lost, yet still reads complete.

Estimate: $400 - 600.

Download Our Current PDF Auction Catalog

Part I: Lots 1-979 - September 27th, 2012

Part II: Lots 980-1845 - September 28th, 2012