260 THE TEEEIBLE, 



named accident is on record, in whicli the sufferer escaped 

 with life, to tell the harrowing tale of his own sensations. 



An American whaling captain in the Pacific was fast 

 to a sperm whale, which " sounded," or descended nearly 

 perpendicularly. The line in swiftly running out became 

 suddenly entangled ; the captain was seen to stoop in 

 order to clear it, and in a moment disappeared over the 

 bow. The boat-steerer seized an axe, and instantly cut 

 the line, in hope that, by the slackening, the unfortunate 

 man might become freed. 



Several minutes had elapsed, and hope had wellnigh 

 become extinguished, when an object was seen to rise to 

 the surface a little way off. It was the body of the captain, 

 ' which in a few seconds was lifted into the boat. Though 

 senseless and motionless, life seemed to be not extinct, 

 and the usual remedies being applied, he revived, and 

 became, to use his own phrase, " as good as new," when 

 he gave an account of his singular escape. 



It appears that in attempting to throw the line clear 

 from the chock, a turn caught his left wrist, and he was 

 dragged overboard by the descending whale. He was 

 perfectly conscious as he was rushing down with immense 

 rapidity, and it seemed to him as if his arm would be 

 torn from its socket, from the resistance of his body to 

 the water. Well aware of his peril, he knew that his only 

 chance was to cut the line, but with his utmost efforts he 

 could not raise his right hand from his side, to which it 

 was pressed by the force with which he was dragged 

 through the water. 



