VFM 2098 **[Page 1]** Lahaina Mowee Sandwich Islands April 2nd 1849 Dear Mother Brothers and Sisters Once more a favorable opportunity is presented that I may have the pleasure of addressing you through the means of paper and ink It is true I have not much news to write, But I will make my scroll as interesting to you as I can. In the first place I will speak of my health which has been vary good and so is at present. I need not speak of my wishes concerning yours for you most undoubtedly know what they would be. I heard vary melancholy news a bout or little better ^than a month^ since. Which has caused ^me^ to be vary unhappy ever since. It is the death of Mrs Baker My Lucy's mother, she I consider'd one of my near friends In February ^we^ tuched at the society Islands, And lay in port with the Ship Southport. It was Capt Manawarring that broat me the news of Mrs Bakers death. I have tried to think that he was mistakeing, But he assured me that he was correct. --- I was much disapointed at receiving no letters, But on hearing of Mrs. Baker's death I was not atall supprised about the letters. For Capt. Manawarring told me that she died on the morning that he sailed. Little did I think on the morning that I parted with friends dear under her roof, That it was the last time that I should ever see her. Oh how uncertain is life ------ --- **[Page 2 - Left Column]** I left several letters at the Western Islands to be convey'd to the U-S, One I directed to Mother, one to Lucy one to Charles and one to Benjamin. We had a vary short `[crossed out: passage]` from home to the Islands, But since then we have met with vary unfavorable wind and weather, We have had head winds calms and several of the most violent gales of wind that I ever witnessed. We took on the 5th of November ^Off the Cape of Good Hope^ one of the most terriffic gales of wind or huricanes ^accompanied with thunder & lightning^ that I have ever experianced In which the Old Barque proved her self to be a first rate sea boat, Every mast stood quivering and reeling as though `[she hung by?]` a single thread ready to go by the Board at every moment, And her whole frame trembled and groaned fore & aft, from stem to stern and to her vary center. It seemed that her top must devel her bottom and she must founder. The gale lasted 44 hours. We have met with so much unfavorble weather that we are rather be lated, Consequently we have not had much time to cruis for whales But for what time we have cruised we have been vary successfull we have taken three right whales, which has made us 50 Bbls of Oil. That being much better than most ships has done that sailed last summer, We have heard of `[but?]` two that `[has taken?]` the amount of 50 bbls, The Southport like the majority had taken nothing. The whaling in the south seas is about used up. Whales diminishes and the weather grows wors yearly. **[Page 2 - Right Column]** If we find the whaling good in the Seas of Japan & Ockotsk, We I think stand a vary good chance to make a one season voyage, I ^am^ allmost sick of these long voyages, And I think that if I live to return that this will be my last voyage a whaling, The voyages have got to be so vary long that they are vary tedious. This ocean seems allready an age although it is not but a few propornaly, I suppose it would be interesting to you to hear how I get on with my official duties &c, Well as I ^stated^ `[crossed out: have]` stated before, we have taken three whales, We have struck only four three of which I struck my self and captured two Capt Benjamin has also struck ^one^ and captured one Mr Benjamin none as yet, I find although I have advanced much faster than common in the whaling business that I can proform my duties as a mate of a ship and no brag at that, ^show this letter to no one but my most intimate friends, if you do then^ For the public will see that I am boasting of my seaman ship & Whaling propensities, I see that I think I will go a whaling nomore, I will not promis certain I will ^wait^ till I git home and see how matters are &c. Henry Stewarts is well and sends his respects to you all, He often speaks about his visits to Greenvill and would like to be there again and take another cruis up to the church and down to the paper mill He proves to be as good a boatstearer as I expected This far the best boatstearer in the ship --- **[Page 3]** Tender my kind regards to all of my inquering friends your son & Brother Bill N B We shall remin here only one day so that I have got not much time to write I shall write to Lucy of coarse so you mus excuse the bad penmanship of these letters &c so fare well god bless & protect you Bill W --- **[Page 4 - marked "Page 5th"]** The whale Settled a few fathoms under water where he remmained for a few moments and then started with grate fury direct toward the ice running under me bringing Mr Benjamin's boat with grate violance in contact with mine unshiping my steeringoar and ^sweeping^ all of ^the^ oars off one side of my boat. I colected my oars as soon as posable and with a peace of towline refasned my steering oar. But by this time the whale has taken Mr Benjamins line and disapeard in the ice I pulled a short distance into the ice but saw no more of the whale. On my return I saw another near the ice But deeming ^it^ use less to fasten to him with only one line, as Mr Benjamin lost his so I wated untill the Capt arrived. I told him what had happend and that there was another whale near by and would be up presantly. That I had wated for him considering it of no use striking one of those whales with one line, By the by these whales behave altogether diferent from any other spetia of whales, They resemble the right whale more than any other but are diferent from them. When they are first struck they sound vary deep generly to the bottom, And can to all apparance remain there as long `[crossed out: as]` as they like with out coming to surface to blow. I have known them to remain under water an hour and a half. Concequently they can not be taken by one boat where there is grate depth of water, And not atall off soundings. I ^have^ seen some of them take nearly all three of our lines there length being 600 fathoms `[crossed out: in length]` When one boat gets fast the others go to him as quick as posable the first that gets there hinds off his line --- **[Page 5]** to the line that is fast to the whale and the rest `[crossed out: to him]` The whale generly gose to the bottom remains down some time but when he again comes to the surface he is vary quiet for a short time then the loose boats go on to him and with the line `[slacken line?]`, They are a singular whale and are found only in the polar seas, After the Capt had arrived a whale made his appearance about a half mile off, I pulled for him but he went down before I got there, Capt Benjamin remained where ^he^ was, about this time that my whale went down and came up within a ships length of `[crossed out: the capt]` him, He wated for me and then went on to him, I pulled away for him as fast as I could but being some way from him and having to shun the ice for there was plenty where we then was, Before I could reach him the whale had taken ^his^ line, I went into the ice with the hope that the whale would come up near me, And to eather have a chance to kill him or ^to^ catch the line that was fast to him which I could have done as there was a buoy drug fast to the line, `[crossed out: I was baulked]` I went some way into the ice but saw no more of that whale, I worked my way into the ice about two miles where I came to a ridge or solid boddy of ice that was impenitrable, But standing on the risings of the boat I could see over this ridge And there I saw ten or twelve large Polar whales all lying motion less like logs upon the water, Oh think of my anxiety and agtation there with in my sight and before me lay a plenty --- **[Page 6]** of large whales but out of my reach, -- Yes this was a beautiful scene, The ice was of a clear white, The day ^too^ was vary clear. The suns bright rays shone so bright and clear upon the ice as to caus a reflection that dazeled the sight, Here & there the scene was lively with the huge ^Monsters^ of the deep who's calfs lightly ^sporting^ about on the ice was to be seen grate numbers seals making there solum and dismal moans, Northward 150 miles distent was to be seen the Russian mountains with there snow & ice tops glittering in the suns bright rays, With there lofty peaks ^snowy^ peering to the vary sky, And many volcanoes pouring forth volumes of fire and smoke While the roars of the beasts and the ice as it crouded together by the heavs of the sea, Causing a continued rumbing sound immitating that of distent thunder, This scene to the eye was grand & sublime ^But to the^ ear awful dismal in the extreame. I stood and gazed around pure ly and perfetly carried away with this scene, Absorbed in my own thought, For some time I was not consious of my position. My thoughts had wondered But whither had they strayed --- To my most honared & dear friends, yes, Oh could they I thought but witness this beautiful scene The beauteous works of the Almighty supreme, Many people might have veiwed this scene and saw nothing remarkable in it no ever gave it a second thought. Perhaps not one in ten that would have been struck with --- **[Page 7]** its singular beauties a like Henry Stewart and myself, ^He^ seemed to be as sensitive of this scene as myself, He was ^the first^ to brake the silents by exclameing is not this grand & beautiful. This remark aroused me to my situation. I looked around me once more and upon my boats crew, They altho a bold set of young men seemed to tremble with fear, And to look up to me as `[crossed out: those]` though they depended intirely upon my self possesion and judgement as there leader & `[crossed out: my]` guide, Beset with danger on evry side the ice as it roaled to & fro seemed each moment to threten the distruction of the boat, Those was the proudest moments of my life. After satisfiing my curiosity I picked my way out of the ice and returned to the ship, The remainder of the day was spent in coiling new lines and refiting boats &c. The next morning at sun rise found me at the mast head where I remained about half an hour dureing that time I saw at least fifty Polar whales and a good distance from the ice. We lowerd away but did not have a chance to strik untill near noon. About noon struck a large Polar whale and at two oclock had him a long side of the ship and commenced cutting finished cutting at 10, `[crossed out: Next morning,]` Next morning we lowerd away for a whale at half past two oclock you may think it rather early rising but in those --- **[Page 8]** high north `[crossed out: latetudes,]` ^the sun rises^ at 3, o clock & sets at 9 concequently there is day light to ^be^ seen the whol 24 hours at this time of the year. Befor the twilight is gon in the west it can, be seen in the East. And when the sky is ^clear^ one can see to read coars print at any time of night, that is on deck, As I was a saying we wer clear of the ship before 3. o clock But a dreadfull accedent happend with us that day by which we lost one of our best men from the forecastle, About an hour after we lowerd the whale came up near the Capt he went on and fastned to him the whale struck at the same time braking several of his oars but hurting no one, And then went down, I being nearer to him than the 2nd mate pulled to him and bent my line to his, The 2nd mate pulled off a short distance from us in the direction that we supposed the ^whale^ wou^ld^ come up and there lay on his oars, He had ^not^ wated but a few moments when the ^whale^ came up directly under his boat and striking vary violently at the same time. We heard the crash and saw a grate quantaty of white water and several `[crossed out: peces]` broken oars flying in the air And then all was still again. I came to the conclusion that ^the^ boat was not stove that the crash we heard was the braking oars, But the next moment Mr Benjamin's --- **[Page 9]** boatsteerer called to us and sead we have a dead man in our boat. The Capt asked me what it was best to do if I thought it best to cut off from the whale or not. I told him that I thought he had better take Mr Benjamin's boat and go on board with `[crossed out: the]` ^him^ for he could take care of him just as well as `[crossed out: though]` ^tho^ we all went there, And that I would take care of the whale. The whale was now up again, I pulled away for him and met Mr Benjamin on the way. As we past each other I saw at a glance that `[crossed out: the]` ^the^ poor fellow with out a doupt was dead. He was a schocking sight to behold, He was placed in a sitting position with his back againest the gunwal of the boat with ^his face^ towards me as I past. The blood was streaming from his eyes noze & mouth and his brain from his ears. He was struck about the head his forehead was stove in his skul broken The poor fellow never knew what hurt him, I went on to the whale and with my first lance had the success to set him a spouting blood. and he soon turned up, I took him alongside of the ship at 8 o clock. When I got on board the corps was layed out and was burried at 8 o clock next morning. He was a fine young man and the best man that I ever saw on board of a ship. His death was lemented by the whole ships company. -------- --- **[Page 10]** From June 17th to July 18th we took five Polar & one right whales, The six whales made about `[crossed out: 1000]` ^1100^ barrils of oil. Had this whaling continued two weeks longer the ship would have been full. but it was not our good fortune to fill our ship so early. For about the 5th or 6th of July the ice disappeard and the whales with it. All the month of July had vary bad weather thick fogs rain snow and gales of wind. We cruised acros the sea from shore to shore from Kamtskatka to the coast of Russia and as far southward as independant Tartary And saw no more whales untill the first of September And the `[crossed out: 5th]` ^first^ morning we lowerd for sperm whales. A short time after we lowerd I struck the largest whale that I ever saw. Oh he was a tremendrous whale, `[crossed out: he]` ^we^ killd him and took a long side about 10 oclock that night. He was not vary fat but made 275 bbls of oil had he been fat he would have made a considerable over 300. On the 13th of July fell in with the ship `[crossed out: Columbus]` ^Columbus^ of Mystick And gammed with Mr Andrews we was together the most part of a night and had a first rate time and received the letters with much joy I had allmost given up ever seeing any one that had letters or knew what letters wer. Mr Andrews was well they had at time --- **[Page 11]** 700 bbls `[crossed out: &]` But I heard of her the last of the season with 1100 bbls, `[crossed out: I had]` Heard of the Hellespont at the same time with 600 bbls, I had like to have forgotten to tell you of an excersion we had on the coast of Russia. some time in August we wer cruising a long that ^coast^ vary near the land And supposing that the whales must be clost in shore as we could not find them off shore One phasant morning capt, Benjamin requested that I should take two boats and pull in shore (the ship being about twelve miles from the land) To ascertain weather there was any whales there or not, Well in I went saw three whales a going vary quick to the southward I gave chase but could not come up with them and so at night pulled back to the ship next morning went in shore with three boats but saw no whales. The sea being vary smoth we went on shore about noon landed in one of the pleasantest vallies that I ever saw, It seemed vary refreshing everything `[crossed out: so]` looked green and growing thrifty. The `[crossed out: val]` vally was bounded with vary high and ragged mountains, We saw no people but saw several Bears some wer black and others a sort of yelow or brown culor. Returned on board at night and boar away from the land. --- **[Page 12]** Lahaina Mowee Sandwich Islands, November 1st 1849. Dear Mother Broathers & Sisters An other opportunity is presented that I may address you by letter, And praying that this letter may find you all enjoying the best of helth and prosperity I take my pen to address you, As for my own helth I have never enjoyed better. ^I^ have not lost a single watch on deck since I sailed from home. --- You must make this letter answer for all of you as I have not much time to write nether have I much news that would be interesting to you, I can think of nothing that would be vary interresting, So in order to write sumthing of a letter I ^will^ give you a breif account of our cruis in the Ochotsk Sea, When we sailed from home it was our expectation to take oil enough to send us home in one season. But I ^am^ sorry to have to inform ^you^ that our antisipations have not been realized, Altho we have the sattisfaction of knowing that we have improved evry moment for what time we have had to take oil. The whaling was vary good indeed for what time it lasted, But its duration was vary short, For the two last seasons, there has been so many ships cruising in that sea that the whaling has become vary bad, This season there has been from sixty five to seventy ships cruising from the middle of May to the twenty fifth of September, in the Ochotsk And the general average of there oil is from six to eight hundred barrels, And out of this ^number^ of ships we have heard of only one that has taken as much oil as the Shepherdess We have now about fifteen hundred barrels, --- **[Page 13 - Left Column]** On the 2th of April /49 we sailed from the Sandwich Islands, bound for the sea of Ochotsk. On the 18th of May off Kamtskatka, we took a right whale, On the 1st of June we entered through Busole strait into the Sachalin or Ochotsk Sea, Busole strait is a passage through the Corial Islands, The Coriale Isls, are a chaine of islands extending from the southearn extremity of Kamtskatka to the eastern extremity of Japan, Seperating the sea of Sachalin or Ochotsk from the North Pacific ocean. After passing this strait we steered a Northward coars. bound to that fourtion of the sea lying in or near the 59th degree of North Lat & the 151st degree East Long, where we expected to find plenty of whales, On the morning of the 9th of June about sun rise in Lat 57.10 Long 149.50. The man from the mast head hailed the Deck with a report of there She blows. Where away I saw far off, I see 3. Three points off the weather bow and away in the horizen. I went be low for a spy glass to take to the mast head to ascertain more clearly what sort of a whale they had raised, The moment that I arrived on deck the mast heads hailed again, that she blows was full of spouts a head from four points off the lee bow to four points off the weather bow, My heart sickend for the truth flashed acros my mind that in sted of Whales it was ice that they had raised. The next moment I was at the mast head, I think of my sorrow and disappointment. In the vary spot where we expected to find plenty of whales and to fill our ship. The spot for which we had spent six months of time and taken **[Page 13 - Right Column]** so much pains to arrive at, Through storms and cold to those Northern regions through Busole strait - The coriale Isles Where but a few years ago Navigators thought it more than mans lives and ships wer worth to under take. There I say insted of finding what we came after to see as far Northward as the sight with the help of the glass could extend nothing but one sollid boddy or desert of feild ice, For my own part I was allmost discouraged for no one knew how long this ice was to remain in our way, Capt Benjamin had not yet turned out, I went be low and told him what I had discovered he appeared to be more discouraged than myself This morning we fell in with two ships the Navy and Hannibal of New Bedford it was the opinion of there captains that the ice could not remain much after the 20th of June, We coasted along the ice all day saw several fin back whales, In the after noon spoke the ship Charles Phelps of Stonington Ct, She was a boiling had taken a Polar Whale the day before, We lay near the ice all night, Next day took a gail of wind, Considering it unsafe to remain so near the ice and seeing no prospect of taking whales so long as the ice remained there. We bore away to the S, W, with the intension of cruising along the coast of Kamtskatka After cruising two or three days near the land Cruised for a few days along the shore but saw no whales, One pleasant day lowerd a way two boats and went on shore out of curiosity, we effected a landing in a bay after noon saw several of the indians. They appeared civell and friendly, But we could not converse much with them as neither could speak the others language, --- **[Page 14]** After spending a few hours on shore we returned on board of the ship and bore away for the place whare we had left the ice. On the 17th we again raised the ice a head. In the after noon as we wer a coasting a long I was at the mast head I saw a whale blowing about a mile from and another vary near the ice, I saw that there spout was alltogether diferant from any whale that I had ever seen, I told Capt Benjamin that I thought they wer Polar whales he was of the same opinion, The whales wer by this time about two miles apart, We lowerd away the boats the capt pulling for the whale farthest from the ice the 2nd mate and myself pulled for the one near the ice, Aggreed `[crossed out: that]` be fore we seperated that if eather of us was fortunate enough to strike the whale that the fast boat was to set a signal that the others ^might^ know and go to his assistance, We then seperated the capt chargeing us that if we did git fast and the whale should run into the ice, to cut from him, As being towed into the ice the boats would be stove to peces and the crew lost, I pulled to the ice or where I saw the whale and hove up the 2nd ^mate^ done the same, After being in that position for near a half an hour the ^whale^ made his appearance he was about a half a mile from me and vary near Mr Benjamin, We both pulled for him I saw that with half a dozen good streaks with the oars that he would be on to the whale, I got out my signal to signalize the Capt, at that moment the boatsteerer stood up for to `[crossed out: the whale]` and burried two irons deep in his back, --- **[Page 15 - marked "Page 15th"]** On the 26th of September we left the Sea of Ochotsk bound back to the Sandwich Islands The 26th was a pleasant day with a fine stearing gale, As we passed out through Busole strait the coriale Isls appeared beautiful the most of them are volcanic some of them have two and three volcanoes the fire and smoke as it bursted forth made strange and beautiful appearance. We had a vary unpleasant passage from the sea to the sandwich Isls had four vary heavy gales of wind. We like wise burried one of our men on the passage. He was taken sick about the time we left the sea and died on the 3rd of October, We arrived here on the 30th of October, You must excuse the bad spelling and penmanship of this letter, for I am vary much ingaged and have to write as fast as I can. Let none but my most intimat friends see this letter as I am rather ashamed of its penmanship. give my respects to all enquiring friends, And tender my kind Mr & Mrs Leonards and Mrs Andrews, And to Mr Maples tell him that when I do ever come around that way again that I shall be shure to pick that cart rope, that I promised him, And so fare well, Yours &c Wm W, B, --- **[Page 16]** N B this is the third letter that I have written to you sence I left home. I have like wise written three to my Lucy. N B The folowing I wish for Charles or Andrew to have published in the Norwich papers, Killed by a Polar whale on the 18th of June 1849 in Lat 57.10 North Long 151.00 East Ochotsk sea Charles W Holmes alias Charles Richards aged 21 years or there abouts `[crossed out: a native of]` `[crossed out: New York]` A seaman on board of Barque Shepherdess of Mystic, Ct And a native of New York. New York papers pleas coppy, `[crossed out: Died Oct 3rd /49]` `[crossed out: Died on board Barque Shepherdess]` `[crossed out: of Mystic Ct at Sea Lat 47.45 North Long 166.00 East]` X Thomas Wood Seaman aged 17 years or there about a native of Middletown Ct. *(Written vertically in the right margin:)* Sea Ochotsk Sea / KATSCHATKA ***