Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 17.djvu/397



DOCUMENTARY 389

told me that David Wright was around the Horn in the Atavia of Scrap I.

As to the business of whaling I should like it well could we find them plenty enough the voyages are generally healthy our crew has been highly favored, although we have lost one man by accident by the name of Daniel C. Reeve of Chatham, son of Enoch Reeve. The circumstance as follows : On the 14th of July we had whale on board and were boiling in the morning just before daylight as he was turning some raw oil into the try pots he made a misstep and fell backwards into the deck pot which then contained about three or four barrels of oil hot enough to melt lead. He was instantly taken out and everything applied that the ship afforded for his benefit. His body was almost one solid blister. He soon became delirious and on the 19th came slyly on deck just after dusk and jumped overboard, the ship going six knots an hour, but we saw him and reached him closely. The sudden change seemed to have a bad effect upon him and made him worse and on the 22d of July he died, aged about 25 years. So we daily have evi- dence of the mortality of man.

I have heard the melancholy news of Aunt Hannah's death and likewise Mrs. Burdett and others.

What news I have received I had by John's and Chauncey's letters. I was much disappointed that I had none from you. I received but little information by Lay and Ingham. They said nothing but that you were well. I shall anxiously look for letters by every late sail ship, but if you are disposed not to write me at all please to be so good as to come and tell me and so not expect any more waste paper for shoe patterns from me.

This ocean, the Pacific, which you have heard so much praise for its mildness and gentle manners I have seen often scoul'd by sweeping tempests, yet the middle part of the season was pleasant, but the last was bad. Many ships suffered consider- ably, the Indispensable, an English ship, had two main top- sails blown away, just under our lee, in a gale, and had her