while the scene is the identical one occupied by my former narration, and the concatenation of event the same, yet as the matter has been more fully searched out, and differently presented, having quite a new dress given it, so as to have good solid pretensions to originality-except where quotation marks are placed-I may

boldly lay claim for this little volume that it is no supplement to any thing of the kind ever produced by myself or any one else, but is an entirely disjoined and separate issue-not by this, pledging myself to any thing for the future, that would militate against it having a supplement or successor when the time may come, as already hinted. JOSEPH P. FAULKNER. Bath, Steuben Co., N. Y., 1877.

INTRODUCTION.

Though I consider it unadvisable to enter upon any minute detail of my early life-as if apart from the extraordinary experience I have undertaken to relate, the subject could possibly be recognized as of any general interest-I incline to think a brief sketch of my life previous to my becoming a whaler, just enough to gratify the natural piquant curiosity of a kindly interested reader, would be not only no irrelevance, but in fact would be filling a blank that otherwise many would perceive. Hence so as to have such in place, orderly set forth, instead of being marked somewhat out of it, as an appendix to the work, I rather anticipate the imagined want by here preffixing a brief account of myself.

I was born in the town of Bath, Steuben county, New York, a little more than thirty years ago-my memory not reaching so far as to be able to fix the date with nicety. After the usual course of boyhood in that charming little place, in which several narrow escapes from drowning, and some

hair-breadth escapes from sound thrashings, were pleasantly diversified with several of the latter named subjective exercises from which no way of escape turned up, and from which I imbibed my first crude notions of "whaling," I made up my mind consonant with my natural guardian, that in the precincts of the school I had learned about as much as was ever likely to do me good, as well as a good deal that might with advantage be unlearned. So about the age of fifteen years I was set to learn a trade, by being duly installed as printer's devil in an office established in my native place. For the period of three years I steadily followed this business, and gradualy acquired such facility in the art of a "typo” as entitled me to be considered quite an adept, notwithstanding at times knocking quantities of labor into "pi" in unworkmanlike style.

My wages had risen steadily until from a boy's they made approximation to those of a man, and in person I had grown along with them till attaining my present gigantic stature of five feet four inches in my boots. I was fast settling down into a manhood of steady habits, of industry and of temperance. Every promise of good citizenship budded and bade fair to blossom in my career, when my first grand misfortune befel, bringing with it a sequel of blight to these in their modest

civic aspect, tho' giving them an opportunity for effloresence, seldom it is to be hoped, again occurring in our country's history, when they at once flowered in other forms than those promised.

Our office occupied the third story of a building, and its rear had a back door to it which was unsupplied with verandah or stairway. We used it chiefly for hauling in, by pully, stuff required more ponderous or bulky than could conveniently be brought up in any other way. It was likewise generally kept open for purposes of air-draft in the summer time or when the weather was genial. It was wide open as I stood one day in the summer, right by it, stooping over the curb-stone at work with my back turned toward it. Suddenly I raised myself from a bending posture meaning to assume an erect one. From, I suppose, a slight rush of blood to the head, which is often incurred by one so employed or situated, or from sheer carelessness, forgetting for the instant where I was standing, I somehow, then and there made my exit from the building, and by very rapid locomotion. Before being fully aware of the magnitude of the feat I was performing-due notice of which beforehand would doubtless have drawn a crowd similar to some of the famous Sam Patch's or the still more renowned Blondin's-I had passed a distance of over thirty feet through unsubstantial air, and

arrived on terra firma with a fractured leg and arm-both right ones-besides external bruises, and internal contusions which luckily proved of slighter consequence.

By careful nursing and good surgical aid, after the lapse of a few months I was able to be again up and about; but had not resumed my place at the "case" when the military fever occasioned by the rebellion came to a crisis in my neighborhood. Almost all my old chums were enlisting. Seized with the ailment, as it then showed itself like a contagious disease among the patriots, I too resolved to don the suit of blue and to go for a soldier. And as soon as sufficiently whole I volunteered, passed the surgical examination necessary and became enrolled as "food for powder," and one of my country's "stays in day and hour of danger" in the 107th Regiment N. Y. S. V. This was on the 15th day of August 1862. I had afterward, I found, occasion to remember the date, although at the time it did not appear to me as particularly deserving of my attention, or as having any great claim upon recollection.

Our regiment was quickly raised and at once took the field; and we saw a good deal of service before quitting it, being present and having an hand in many hard battles and tough minor engagements, besides doing some tall marching through