EXTRAORDINARY ENCOUNTER WITH A WHALE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1526, 9 April 1886, Page 4

EXTRAORDINARY ENCOUNTER WITH A WHALE.

The Liverpool ship County of Clare, on her tat voyage to Pernambuco, was instrumental in saving from a shocking death a boat's crew of six men bwonging to the whaling vessel Mary E. Simmons. The men in question had an extraordinary encounter with a whale, and when picked up bad been several days without food or water. It appears that the Mary £. Simmons was cruising for whales in the vicinity of Pernambuco. The boat's crew speared a large cow whale, which started off at a terrific pace, dragging the small boat at lightning speed through the water. Ten miles were quickly run in this manner, when the whale suddenly disappeared, coming up instantly beneath the small boat, which was partially capsized. The fiah went off, and the crew set about baling out the boat. Just afterwards night came on, and - the boat got separated from the Mary E. Simmons The boat drifted about all night, and next day a vessel was sighted, bat she apparently did not observe the helpless men. Night succeeded day until the third day arrived, when two vessels were seen, but to the great despair of the poor fellows both craft proceeded on their course. By this time the men were in a terrible state for want of food and water. One of the men became delirious on the previous«day and attempted to drown himself He subsequently became raving mad, and for his and their own safety the crew had to lash him down to the boat. On the third day the Liverpool ship County of Clare hove in sight, and to the great delight of the men bore down to them. The ship-wrecked people were in a half dead condition when hoisted aboard, but under the kind treatment of Captain M'Neil and his crew they recovered. They were all landed at Pernambuco by the rescuing vessel.