A TYPICAL WHALEMAN. 241 



took his wife and children with him. The vessel was 

 struck by a hurricane in the Mozambique channel, her 

 masts were torn out, the mizzen mast tearing out the sky- 

 light so that the water rushed into the cabin. The ves- 

 sel lay on her beam ends, and the captain's wife and little 

 children clung to the weather side. An officer fell on 

 his knees and prayed for the safety of his wife who was 

 at home. Since his wife was safe and sound ashore, Mrs. 

 Eobbins suggested it would be more to the purpose to pray 

 for those about him who were in extremity. When the 

 storm abated, jury masts were rigged and the crippled 

 ship drifted into Mauritius. All the whaleboats were lost 

 and none could be procured nearer than New Bedford. 

 So the ship waited nine months for the boats. A child 

 was born to Captain Eobbins on this voyage. So the 

 story runs. Once his ship was struck by a meteor. At 

 another time he was for months in a leaking ship. One 

 day a bomb gun exploded and tore the mate's hand. Put 

 to the shifts, Captain Eobbins amputated it and subse- 

 quently was complimented by a professional surgeon upon 

 doing a skillful job. 



We but touch upon the continued hazards, here and 

 there, to remind this generation of the men who made 

 a history which thrills the world. 



And what manner of man was Captain Eobbins, whom 

 we bring to mind as a type of the New Bedford whaleman ? 

 That he was a courageous, valorous man, a man of hardy 

 daring, we need not say, but withal, he was a gentle, 

 kindly, conscientious Godfearing man, excelling in char- 

 acter. It is the combination of these qualities which 

 makes it our especial pride to cherish the example of these 

 veterans of the sea. 



Z. W. P. 



