Ploughboy  Source  Whalesite

These 24 hours commenced with light winds Southerly and Easterly trades. Some light squalls of rain. Middle part more pleasant heading to the NNE. At 9 Am the cry of "there she blows" was the pleasant sound from the masthead, which proved to be 2 large school of Sperm Whales, one school to the leward, and one to the windward. Mr. Folger and Mr. Antoine went to the windward. I helped Brown our boatsteerer get the line tub into our boat. We lowered our boats, Mr. Wood & Mr. Sinclair going to the leward, we went most on to them once or twice, it became a little squally, could not see Ship or Whales, it cleared off in a few moments, the whales were well to the leward, quite a strong breeze, we were gaining on them fast, they went down, just before we got to them, but soon came up again, there were 10 of them in the School. they were heading towards the boat, so we had to paddle to the windward, soon got behind them. Mr. Sinclair was to the Leward of us waiting for us to go on, when we got close on to them, Mr. Wood whispered to Brown, "which is the largest?" Charley said the middle one. With a will we went right in among them and smack on to him, Brown put 2 irons into him right under his hump, and they made the water fly with the lashing of their flukes, and our poor boat rolling and tumbling about in the foam, the time was short andthey were gone, it is a wonder they did not strike the boat. The whales soon came up again. We went up and Mr. Wood lanced him several times. The boat Steerer said "we have got an ugly customer." Mr. Sinclair came up and made fast. The whale kept going around in a circle spouting thin blood. We were in the centre watching for a chance to go on. He came up to our boat several times and tried to take it in his jaws, but did not succeed. We went Smack up on his back, and lanced him several times, the whale spouting thick blood, we were watching our chance to go on to him again, when he milled round. Just before he got to us, he settled in the water. Mr. Wood sang out "stern hard, stern hard." We were sterning against a heavy sea, and did not make much headway, when all at once I felt the boat going over, and heard a crashing sound. I pulled the tub oar. I fell over backwards and came up underneath the boat. I was entangled in the line. I cleared myself and dropped down and swam from under the boat. Oh what a sight I beheld, I was not more than 5 feet from his jaws, he had the bow of the boat in his jaws crushing it, and Mr. Wood laying inside of his jaws. I was so frightened. I took an oar, just as Brown called out, "Henry look out for that whales jaws," I swam away as fast as I could with my oar. The whale then milled round and came towards me. I looked around as I was swimming, and saw poor Brown close to his flukes struggling to get out of his way. The whale threw him up on his flukes, and must have killed him, for he was lashing the water with his flukes. Mr. Sinclair was pulling to take me in his boat, one of the boats crew laid over the gunwale and reached the oar out to me to Catch hold. Mr. Sinclair sang out, "Henry catch hold of that oar and hang on. I cant wait." I caught hold, the boat dragging me, the whale smashed Mr. Sinclair's steering oar. I was but a few feet from his head when they pulled me in the boat, it took two or three men to pull me in the boat I was too weak to help myself. Mr. Folger and Mr. Antoine had given up the whales to the windward and came down to our help. Poor Mr. Wood, we picked him up, he was clinging to a piece of the boat, his arms thrown over it. He was groaning terrible. He could not have lasted many moments more. We got him to the ship as quick as we could, he could not move when we got him alongside, he was terribly crushed,

a large piece was torn from his side, his head was very badly bruised, besides his back and legs. Am afraid he cannot live, his sufferings are terrible. Mr. Folger and Mr. Antoine finished the whale. We were all saved, but poor Brown he has gone to meet his maker, got the whale alongside at Sunset, made him fast, and commenced to get out tackles &c. to cut him in.

Lat 4° 52' South.

This day commenced with fine weather,commenced cutting in whale. It is a great sight to see men cut in one of these monsters of the deep. At 6 pm got him all cut in head, & all his jackets. It does not seem possible thaqt 28 men can handle 6 to 8 tons of blubber at once. The blubber is pealede of of his body from 12 to 20 inches thick. Keep the whale rolling and the blubber peals off by the help of spades. Large tackle blocks are made fast at mast head. A hawser isrove through one and made fast to the blubber, toggled, and the other end through the blocks at mast head to the windlass. Then heave away, until we have as large a piece as we can handle. Then block & toggle, heave taught, and cut the piece off, let it swing inborad, and lowered into the holdwhere it is cut up into horse piees and then minced. I shall be able to tell more about it when I get home.Only think of seeing a fish 80 or 90 feet long 30 or 40 feet through, and a jaw that would take 20 or 30 men in easy, these are whales we are after. Commenced boiling. We we are heading to the S. W. Mr. Woods wounds are very dangerous, am afraid he will not last many hours. Light trade winds S. & E.

Commenced this day with strong trades winds S & E Course S.W. We are bound to the Society Islands Otaheite to take Mr. Wood. His wounds are about the same as yesterday, am afraid he will never get over it. We are very busy trying out blubber, think he will make 80 or 90 bbls. Sleep 5 1/2 hours out of 24. Thousand of sharks around the ship. It would notdo totumble overboard. The sharks came upto the whale when we were curring him in, andbite large pieces of blubber out of him, and we boys would spade or lance them, and see them kick.

This day commenced with fine weather. Busy trying out. I forgot to mention that there were plenty of Sperm Whales seen the next day after we captured this last. If it had not been for this accident, we would have caught several whales. We calculate to get all cleaned up by tomorrow morning some time. We miss poor Brown from our little family. His flute & violin are laid away. We are still in the SE trades with strong winds. Course SW under all canvas. Making for Otaqheite as fast as we can. Course SW.

Lat 7° 50' S Long 108 ° 53' west.
So ends

Commenced this day with strong SE winds trades. Course SW. finished boiling out the blubber about 10 am. I shll be able to tell the whole story when I get home if I live better than I can write. Brown and I used to be very intimate. Every night we would sit down together and talok on different subjects, & sing hymns. I believe he was a religious by his talk. He told me the night before he was killed, that there was going to be a great change take place. Our whale will make over 88 bbls. of oil. Mr. Taber sick

Lat 9° 34' South Long 111° 24' west
So ends this day

Commenced the day with fine weather. Strong breezes from the S & E. Course SW. Making for the Society Islands. Our whale made us between 80 & 90 bbls. We have 9 1/2 bbls Blackfish. Mr. Wood is a little more comfortable, though he looks very bad. Not anything seen of any conseqquence. Latter part of the day moderate winds. Abraham G. Teber is no better.

Lat 11° 20' S Long 114° 99' W.
So ends these 24 hours

Fine weather. Our course SW by W & W SW. Winds from the S & E. trades. Saw Sperm Whales but they were a great ways off about dusk, and going to the windward at a rapid rate. It was no use to lower for them. If this accident had not happened we might have got 500 bbls oil off ???. Mr. Taber a little better. Bowel complaints is the trouble.

Lat 11° 42' South Long 116° 28' West.

Commenced this day with fine weather. Light winds. Under crowded sail. Studding sails &c. Still in the SE trades. Course W by S 1/2 S. Mr. Wood I am afraid will never get well. Most all think his wounds will mortify, going to Otaheite as fast as we can to get a doctor. He is as comfortable as can be expected, but almost entirely helpless three men employed to take care of him.

Lat 11° 58' South Long 118° 4 west.
So ends,

Fine weather light S.E. trades. Course W by S 1/2 S and W by S. Mr. Wood is getting along more comfortable, am glad for we cant part with him. All sail set. We have been busy coopering & stowing down oil.

So ends
Lat 12° 00' South

This day commenced with light S.E. trades. Course W by S 1/2 S and W by S. After getting Mr. Wood to Otaheite, we are going to get a mate and boatsteerer, and several Kanakas, and go to sea on a cruise. Then go back and get Mr. Wood if able to come on board. At 5 pm finished stowing down the oil.

Lat 12° 21' S. Long 120° 58' west Long
So ends these 24 hours.

This day commenced with fine weather. SE trades. Course W 34 S. Crowding all sail for Otaheite. Saw cowfish, blackfish, porpoises, dolphins &c & Mr Wood a great deal better

So ends these 24 hours
Lat 12° 32' South Longitude 123° 42' West

Commenced this day with light SE trades. A little squally. Course W 3/4 S. Not anything seen to day of any consequence except dolphin & such like. Otaheite lays in about 17 1/2 Lat and in about 149° Longitude West. Latter part of the day pleasant weather with all sail set.

Lat 12° 30' South. 126° 14' West
So ends.

Commenced this day with fine weather. Course W 3/4 S. Winds southard & eastward. Trade winds. Saw porpoises. Not anything Ive seen to day of any consequence.We calculate to pass through the Georgian islands.

So ends these 24 hours.
Lat 12° 29' South 128° 29' West

Commenced this day with fine weather.Our course W 3/4 S. Winds from the Southard & Eastward. Not anything seen to day of any consequence. Saw Porpoises.Threw the blubber overboard.

So ends these 24 hours.
Lat 12° 25' South 131° 00' West

Commenced this day with fine weather. Our course W by S. Winds from the S & E, trade winds. Not anything seen to day of any consequence. About 1/4 of 2 a sail was raised. It cheers all our hearts to see a sail, after such a disaster as we have had. She is heading down towards us. Mr. Wood was on deck today for the first time, since he has been sick. He walked a little. We were glad to see him up again.

So ends these 24 hours.
Lat 12° 34' South Longitude 133° 29' West

Commenced this day with fine weather our course W by S. Still in the SE trade winds. Saw Porpoises. Not anything else seen of any consequence. Mr. Wood was twice on deck today.

Lat 12° 35' South. Long 135 ° 11 west
So ends.

Commenced this day with fine weather. Our course W 3/4 S. In SE trades. Crowding all sail. We calculate to see Otaheite next Sunday. Not anything else seen of any consequence.

Lat 12° 30' South Long 137° 13' West

Thisday commenced with fine weather. Our course W 3/4 S & W by S. Winds from the southard & eastward. Mr. Wood a little worse. Saw porpoises &c.

So ends these 24 hours.
Lat. 12° 29' South Longitude 138° 56' West.

Commenced this day with fine weather. Our course W by S. Winds from the southard & eastward. Saw porpoises, sharks &c. Dead calm. We were between 2 of the Georgian Islands yesterday & today. Dead calm all night.

So ends these 24 hours.
Lat 12° 34' South Longitude 140° 12' West.

Commenced this day with fine weather. Our course W by S. Dead calm. Saw a bill fish &c &c. We are in the middle of the group of the Georgian Islands but they are low lands and not in sight.

So ends these 24 hours.
Lat 12° 35' South Longitude 140&adeg; 46' West.

Commenced this day with fine weather but bad winds. What sailors call variable winds that are first one way, and then another. Winds to the Southard & Westward, and to the Northard & Eastward. Winds from the North and Westward. Not anything of any consequence in sight. Heading WSW. This PM light squalls of rain.

Lat 13° 11' South Longitude 141° 58' West
So ends this day.

Commenced this day with heavy squalls from the NW and WNW and West which lasted all day. Under reduced sail. Course full & by. Winds much of the time in our favor. Heading her course W by S. Tacked ship several times today. Saw nothing but squalls. Islands allaround us but not in sight. We unbent he maintopsail and repaired the points, and then bent the sail again.

So ends this day.
Lat 12° 57' South Longitude 142° 38' West.

This day commenced with squally weather. Our course full & by. Heading to the Southard & Westward. Double reefed the topsails, and took in the jib. The Marquesas Islands are about 140 miles and the Georgian islands about 75. Winds NW & NNW. Heading WSW & W by S.

So ends these 24 hours.
Lat 12° 38' S Longitude 142° -8' West.

Commenced the day with fine weather. Dead calm part of the day and a fine breeze part of the day form the Southard & Westward. At 4 pm light squalls of rain. Middle part ore pleasant. Steering West. Latter part same. Light squalls.

So endsthese 24 hours. We are between the Georgian & Marquesas islands.
Lat 12° 23' South Longitude 143° 17 West.

Commenced this day with fine weather. Rather squally at different times. Course SW by W. At 4 pm Calm. Middlepart good breeaze and some rain. There are someislands not more than 50 miles from us. We are making8 or 9 knots. We are in the group of the Society Islands to-night. Calcdulate to see them tomorrow.

Lat 14° 18' South Long 148° 3' West
So ends.

This day commenced with Strong breezes from the Eastward with light squalls of rain. Steering SW 3/4 W & SW by W. We are under single reefed topsails. Good strong breeze. All sail set at 6 am. About 5 pm the island of Cruzzenstern hove in sight. We went close into the land. It is one of the Chain Islands. We laid off of it during the night.

So ends these 24 hours.
Lat 14° 18' South 148° -3' West

Commenced the day with squally weather at different times. Blows almost a gale.Shortened sail, furled the courses and double reefed the topsails. Heading NE. At 3 am wore ship and headed tothe Southward. We made Cruzzenstern again. It is a very low island surrouded by coral reefs. A large lagoon in the centre of the island so they say. The island is covered with cocoanut trees, bananas & oranges. The air smells beautiful. Natives come here to get pearls. Saw the island ofLazenriff bearing South. The weather is quite squally, with much rain.

So ends these 24 hours.
Lat15° -8'South

This day commenced with very strong winds. Under double reefed topsails. At daylight an island hove in sight called Cocoanut island. It is covered with cocoanuts. The island of Lazeriff still in sight. Tetharoa also in sight to the eastward of us. We sp;oke the barque America New Bedford, 14 months out 90 bbls. The ship Erie full of oil bound home was lost on Cocoanut island. At 9.30 the island Hameo hove insight. The gem of the Pacific. We are now beating upto Otaheita. Under close reef fore & mizzen topsails and double reefed main topsail. Very strong winds and heavy seas.

So ends these 24 hours.
Lat 17° 12' South.

This 24 hours begins with strong breezes and very rugged sea. Saw the island of Tahita & Emeo. At 3 pm wore ship to N^d. Under close reef & Mizzen Topsails. Double reefed Main, jib & main Spencer. At 11 AM, lowered a boat, and pulled into the harbor with Mr. Wood.

So ends. Laying off & on

This 24 hours begins with light breezes and a smooth sea. At 7 PM returned on board having left Mr. Wood on Shore at Tahita. Middle part strong winds and rugged. Heading tothe N.E. & N.E. by E. Middle part the same. Latter part much the same.

So ends under single reef topsails and courses.
Lat 17°05' South. Longitude 148° 40'West.

The writer of the within "Log" was a Seaman on the American Ship "Plough Boy", his father Henry Phelon being Master. The "Extract" is an exact copy of the "log" kept by the writer, and recounts his first experience with the Sperm Whale. See March 4th 1849.

Personally appeared before me Henry Phelon, and made oath that the foregoing true copy of the log of the ship "Plough Boy" written by him during the voyage.

Samuel C. Wright
Justice of the Peace

Phelon, Henry A., 1831- [Ploughboy (Ship) of New Bedford, Mass., mastered by Henry Phelon, Jr., keeper Henry A. Phelon, on voyage 16 June 1848 - 18 November 1849] New Bedford Whaling Museum

Ploughboy  Source  Whalesite