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"South Sea whalers boiling blubber/boats preparing to get a whale alongside."
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The Pusey Hall and the Ploughboy, 1831.I might proceed with several more examples, one way or another known to me, of the great power and malice at times of the sperm whale. In more than one instance, he has been known, not only to chase the assailing boats back to their ships, but to pursue the ship itself, and long withstand all the lances hurled at him from its decks. The English ship Pusie Hall can tell a story on that head; . . . . The Pusey Hall is one of few actual whale ships mentioned in the text of Moby Dick. While Melville does not allow the reader to know what the "story on that head" refers to in the context of the English ship, the story is found in Captain Robert Newby's log-book of the Pusey Hall for June 18, 1830 to September 2, 1833 and is told below. But first, we will look at two instances when the Ploughboy and the Pusey Hall met in the Pacific. The entries from Ship Plough Boys Journal, Lewis Monto, 1830-1834, are shown in comparison. contents
The Exchange at Kealakekua Bay,
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Lewis Monto's Ploughboy
Journal, 1830-34. Karakakoa Bay*
April-May, 1831 Wednesday 27th — Wind breezes and thick and cloudy wind East course West 1/2 South bent the Jib at 4 PM saw Hawii right ahead at 6 PM hauled in the Studding Sails Main Royal Fore and Mizen Topgallant Sails double reefed the Fore topsail hauled up South South West at day light kept off for the South Point put up the Chains and bent the Larboard one Thursday 28th Karakakoa Bay — Light winds and variable put out the ?Sheet Anchor and bent the best Bower at 6 PM A Breeze from the Southward at 7 PM took in Fore and Mizen Top Gallant Sail and Main Royal standing off shore Middle part strong gales took in Flying Jib Main Top Gallant Sail and double reefed the topsails furled the Mainsail and Jib and hauled up the Foresail and hoisted up the boats Latter part more moderate at 6 AM the Pilot came on board at 8 AM came to Anchor blank space washed off the decks and the bends So Ends Friday 29th — Finished washing the bends all hands employed making nettings for potatoes Latter part trading for Potatoes So Ends Saturday 30th May — Trading for vegatables Starboard Watch on Shore got through with trading Latter part Larboard watch on shore Starboard Watch blacked the Bends Larboard side and broke out for water Sunday 1st — Trading for Fruit and vegatables Latter part Starboard watch on shore So Ends Monday 2nd — Fore part strong squalls of wind and rain Latter part Starboard Watch on shore Tuesday 3th — Larboard Watch on shore came off at Sun down and got under way for Oahu Latter part calm and rainy Watch below South point of Owyhee bearing North East By East distance 15 leagues wind South West course West North West |
Capt. Robert Newby's log of
the Pusey Hall, 1830-33. Kealakekua Bay*.
Thursday 28th of April 1831... At 8 AM the Plough Boy Anchored in the Bay 6 months out 150 Barrels of Sp Oil... Saturday 30th of April 1831...at 9PM exchanged A Cutlass for A lensing knife & White Oak but with Capt Chase Ship Ploughboy; at 2 AM Weighed & Sailed from Karakakoa Bay for Woahoo |
* Kealakekua Bay, on the Kona coast of the island of Hawaii.
When the Ploughboy and the Pusey Hall next met it was just past the end of the island chain extending northwest from the Hawaiian islands — about 150 nautical miles from Midway Island and 1,350 nautical miles from Honolulu. It was a most fortuitous meeting — especially for James H. Briggs, second mate of the Ploughboy whose leg was amputated by the Doctor aboard the Pusey Hall!
Briggs, from a family of Nantucket whale ship captains, was born in 1809 and died in 1862. After the amputation of his leg he was discharged in Honolulu. While in Honolulu he discovered his brother, Captain William Coffin Briggs had died aboard his ship, the Phebe of Nantucket.
While James H. Briggs' whaling career was over — with his wooden leg — he served as Postmaster in Nantucket and represented the county in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
The great fortune afforded Briggs by the Ploughboy's encounter with the Pusey Hall in October 1831, was due to the requirement that British ships carry a surgeon onboard; American ships in the whale fishery had no surgeons and depended on the captain's skill in dispensing medicine and with the apparatus provided in the ship's medical kit for amputations, etc.
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Lewis Monto's Ploughboy
Journal, 1830-34. Bound Towards The Sandwich Islands
October 1831 Thursday 6th — Fore part A Sail off the weather bow; at 1 PM saw Whales; lowered three boats; Larboard & Waist struck and got loose again; at 4 PM Waist boat struck; the Whale hove his jaw all into the boat; stove the boat and broke Mr Briggs Legg; left the Whale spouting blood; lost him & the boat; sett the legg; made the signal fore the other Ship which came down; she proved to be the Pusy Hall of London; Doctor blank space came onboard and dressed it Latter saw Whales; lowered two boats and could not get on; So Ends; Latt 29:42 Friday 7th — Fore part more moderate at 4 PM Doctor * came onboard Middle part sett him onboard his Ship Latter part Mr Jay went on board and got the Doctor who having examined the Leg pronounced it to be in A state of mortification; it being the request of Mr Briggs to have it taken off which we all acquiesed in; we got ready Saturday 8th — Fore part fine weather; wind East; heading North North East; took off his right Legg above the knee between the hours of 12 and 1 AM Latter part fine weather Sunday 9th — Fore part fine weather; wind East; heading South South East Middle part wind South East; steering East North East; at 6 AM went onbard and got the Doctor Latter part dressed the Stump Monday 10th — Fore part wind East South East; heading North East; Capt Newbury on board to Tea Latter part the same; mending Main topsail Tuesday 11th — Fore part fresh winds from the Eat By South; heading North East By East; under single reefed topsails; Mending Sails; Pusy Hall in company Latter part the Doctor came onboard and dressed Mr. Briggs Leg Wednesday 12th — Fore part mending sail; strong wind from the South; heading East By South; at 5 PM left the Pusy Hall; squalls aft rain; double reefed Main topsail Middle part close reefed all three topsails; at day light more moderate; at 9 AM tacked to the Westward; saw nothing of her |
Capt. Robert Newby's log of
the Pusey Hall, 1830-33. Thursday 6th of October 1831 — The first Part Strong Winds & Squally with Rain standing to the SEBE under Mod Sail at Oh"30m PM saw A Large [whale]; at 1h"Om lowered. Mr Griffiths Fastend; his Iron drawed; at 1"0 the Boat returned; at 2"30 Lowered again; at 5"30 the Boats returned not being abel to get near the Whales; at 6"05 spoke the Ploughboy Capt Chase: found that the second Mate had got his leg very badly broke lost the Whale & Boat; a 7"h Om — went on board of the Ploughboy & took the Docktor; at 10"h 30m Returned; the Docktor having sett the 2"d Mates leg & done every thing that layed in his Power for him; wore Ship & stood to the ESE under Modderate Sail; Mid & Latter Parts Do Winds SW; at 7"h Om AM saw several large Whales on our lee bow; kept off towars them & saw nothing more of them; at 10"h 45 m wore Ship & stood to the Northward; the Wach variously Emp; Charles Peterson still recovering; George Ree something worse Lat'd Obs 29" 30' N Friday 7th of October 1831 — The first Part fresh Breezes & Squally; standing to the Northward under Moderate Sail; at; 3"h Om PM Capt Chase came on board for the Docktor; at 4"h 30m Capt Chase took the Docktor on board of the Ploughboy; at 7"h Om the Docktorreturned & found is 2nd Mate very bad; Mid & Latter Parts Moderate Winds & Clowy; at 3"h 30m AM set the Jib and Main Sail; at 7"h 30m the Mate of the Ploughboy came on board for the Docktor; saw nothing worth Notice; the Wach Emp in repairing the Fore Top Sail; at Noon made more Sail; Charles Peterson still upon the recovery; George Ree much the Same. Long by Chro at 8"h 36m AM 173" 40' E Lat' Obs 30" 35'N Saturday 8th of October 1831 — The first Part Moderate Winds & Clowdy W; standing to the Northward; at 0"30PM unbent the Main Top Gal Sail to put New Clews to it; at 6"h Om the Docktor returned from the Ploughboy having been oblidged to take the 2nd Mates Leg off. Mid & Latter Parts steady breezes & fine; at Daylight saw A Large Whale on our Weather bow; made More Sail; at 7"30 AM saw the Whale on our Weather Quarter; ... Stood towards it but saw nothing more of the Whale; at 11"h 30m the Capt of the Ploughboy came on board; the Wach Emp in repairing the Main Top Gal Sail; Charles Peterson still recovering; George Rees much the same Lat'd Obs 30" 12'N Sunday 9th of October 1831 — The first Part steady Breezes & fine; standing to the SW; all drawing; sail set; at 6"h Om PM finished repairing the Main Top Gal Sail; at 8"h Om Capt Chase went on board Im; flying Jib Mid & Latter Parts Do; Winds SW; at 9"h Om Wore Ship & stood to the NE; at 7"0 AM the Docktor went on board of the Ploughboy to dress the Second Mates leg; bent & set the Main Top Gal Sail; saw Nothing worth notice; Charles Peterson & George Rees much the same Long by Chro at 8"h 40m AM 174" 42 E Lat'd Obs 31" 21N Monday 10th of October 1831 — The first Part steady Breezes & fine W; standing to the NNE, all drawing sail set; at 4"h; Om PM I went on board of the Ploughboy; at 8"30 I returned with the Docktor. Mid & Latter Parts Do Winds SW; saw nothing worth notice; Charles Peterson & George Rees A little better; the Wach Emp in Repairing the Fore Top Sail &c &c Lat'd Obs 32d" 22'N Tuesday 11th of October 1831 — The first Part steady Breezes & Clowdy; W; standing to the NE; all drawing Sail set; the Ploughboy on our lee Beam; Mid Partsfreshing Breezes & fine; took in Sail accordingly; at 9"h Om AM the Docktor was sent for on board the Ploughboy Latter Part fresh Breezes & Gloomey; at 10"h Om AM Main Sail the Wach Emp in repairing the Fore Top Sail &c &c; Charles Peterson & George Rees much the same. Lat'd Obs 33"0 4' N Wednesday 12th of October 1831 — The first Part strong Winds & Gloomey; standing to the EBN under Moderate Sail; in Company with the Ploughboy; at 4"30PM the Capt of the Ploughboy brought the Docktor on board; at 7"h Om Double Reefed the Fore Top Sail Mid & Latter Parts Do; Winds & Squally with rain; at 8"h 0m Doubel Reefed the Main Top Sail; at Daylight set the Main Sail; steering SE; the Ploughboy out of Sight; at 8h" 30m AM unbent the Fore Sail & bent another; at l0"30 shoock the 2nd Reeef out of the Main Top Sail; the Wach Emp in Repairing the Fore Top Sail; the Sick much the Same Lat'd Obs |
*The doctor on the Pusey Hall was Lewis Hugh Vaughan, "Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, London."
The Pusey Hall was cruising for whales about 1,000 nautical miles west of the Galapagos Islands. Here, in late January 1833, encountered a very determined fighting whale.
Their troubles started in the morning of calendar January 20 (nautical calendar latter part of January 20) when a total of four boats were stove, one man was lost, and an officer was seriously injured by the whale's jaw. Having repaired one of the boats they chased the same whale again with the captain commanding the boat; this boat was also stove.
One men had been picked up and taken to the ship, they attempted to chase the whale with the ship. Not only was this fruitless, the whale then turned on the ship and struck it mid-ship.
In the days following the boats were repaired. The stove spare boat was repaired and put out on the Larboard Bow; the Starboard Quarter & Bow Boats were being repaird. Later they repairing the Larboard Quarter boat Chain Boat.
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Editor's Notes.
1st boat stove
2nd boat stove
3rd boat stove
4th boat stove
James Irehearn lost
"Robert Wright had received a very severe blow from the whales jaw"
5th boat stove
"chased the whale with the Ship the second time; got several lances at her"
"whale got clear of the Ships Bows ... run directly for the Ship & struck her in Midships"
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Capt. Robert Newby's log of
the Pusey Hall, 1830-33. Monday 19th of January — The first Part steady Breezes & fine; standing to the SW; at 4"h Om saw A Ship running to leward for us; backed the Main Yard; At 5"h 1.5m PM was spoke by the Ship Rouseau of New Bedford; At Sundown shortened Sail; Mid & Latter Parts fresh Breezes & hazy — W; At 9"h Om light the Works & begaun to try out; At 1"h 0 wore to the NE; at Daylight made moderate Sail; at 0"h Om TK to the SSW; At Noon kept off to the NW; Emp in trying out; the Coopers Coopering of Cask &c. &c. Long Per Chro at 10"h lm AM 106"56W Lat'd Obs 2"48S Tuesday 20th of January — The first Part fresh Breezes & Hazy W; steering SW; At 0"h 30m PM finished trying out; At 5:30 saw Whales to leward; at 5h"55m lowered but did not fasten; At 7"h Om the Boats returned; Shortened Sail & stood to the NNE Mid Part Do; Winds at W; at 1"h Om AM wore to the SSW; At Daylight made Sail; At 9h 20m saw Whales on the Bow; Kept after them; Mr. Peterson fastened & in lancing the Whale got stove; I pulled up & fastened; Mr. James fastened & in fasting got Stove & knocked out of the Boat & the Whale caught him in his Jaw; I picked him up & sent him on board; afterwards I got Stove; cut from the Whale as soon as Mr. Gordon got the Stove Boats on board he came down to my assistance; I then got in his Boat & went after the Whale; I had no sooner got A lance at the Whale when she made for the Boat & took her in her Mouth & stove her very Badly by which means we where oblidged to leave the Boat soon afterwards; James Irehearn went down & was seen no more; the crew on board got the spare Boat out which came to our assistance; As soon as the Crew was in the Boat we found that Robert Wright had received A very severe Blow from the Whales Jaw; Latter Part light Winds & Hazy; the Ship Working towards the boats. Lat Obs 3"11 S Wednesday 21st of January — The first Part light Winds & Hazy W; At 1"h 20m PM finished taking the stove Boats on Board; At 2"h 30m P lowered in the Spare Boat after the same Whale & got stove; the Carpt in the mean time stoped the Greatest Part of the leak in the Larboard Quarter Boat; Mr. Gordon came to pick us up; the Whale laying A little distance from the Boat; the greater Part of the Crew swimming; at 3"h Om got the stove Boat along side & chased the Whale with the Ship the second time; the Ship got along of the Whale; we got several lances at her & going along side the third; As soon as the whale got clear of the Ships Bows he run directly for the Ship & struck her in Midships & afterwards went astern; shorted Sail and hove to with the Head Yards aback; Mid & Latter Parts Moderate Winds & Squally; At Daylight Wore to the NE & made moderate Sail; At 9"h 38m AM; To the Southward; the Crew variously Emp; the Carpt Cooper & one of the Fore Mast Men Emp in repairing the spare Boat; the Coopers Mate repairing of Cask; Mr James & the rest A little better; Lat'd Obs 3" 20 S |
Herman Melville apparently used Frederick D. Bennett's classic work on sperm whaling in the first half of the 19th century for his comment about the "Pusie Hall's" story. The author of Moby Dick even used the incorrect spelling used by Bennett.
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In the year 1835, the ship Pusie Hall encountered a fighting whale, which after injuring and driving off her four boats, pursued them to the ship, and withstood for some time the lances hurled at it, by the crew, from the bows of the vessel, before it could be induced to retire: in this affair a youth in one of the boats was destroyed by a blow from the whale, and one of the officers was severely lacerated by coming in contact with the animal's jaw." — Frederick Debell Bennett. Narrative of a whaling voyage round the globe, from the year 1833 to 1836. Comprising sketches of Polynesia, California, the Indian Archipelago, etc. with an account of
southern whales, the sperm whale fishery, and the natural history of the climates visited. London, Richard Bentley, 1840. v. 2, p.218. |
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