A bad day at whaling, Heres Capt Edmund Gardners account of an encounter. On 21st of 2 Mo 1816, it was a beautiful day, with smooth sea when we saw many whales, went in pursuit of them, my boatsteerers had missed throwing their harpoons five times, when they ought not to have missed. I went into the head of my boat, rowed to my Mate telling him to go into the head of his, then went after others that had not been disturbed, twas still weather, were paddling after them, when I got near to one lay down my paddle, took harpoon in hand threw into the whale, took my other harpoon in hand, but have no recollection of what I did with it. I recollect of seeing the Whales teeth but further I know nothing, till getting up from the bottom of the boat. Found I was much hurt and wounded, when I came to my senses after being stunned, called one of the boats company to cut off the line and take me to the ship. I was bleeding copiously when taken on board, my shoes were quite full of blood. When on board, found one tooth had entered my head breaking in my skull, another had pierced my hand, another had entered the upper part of my right arm, the fourth had entered my right shoulder, from the shoulder to the elbow of the right arm was badly fractured, My shoulder was broken down an inch or more (where it now is), my jaw and five teeth were broken, tongue cut through, my left hand was pierced with a tooth and much broken and very painful. Twas favorable I retained my senses, my hand was very painful, many of the bones were broken in the hand.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 22:55:29 +0000
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