Phenix Gazette

During the homeward voyage of the brig Forrest, Captain Neal, lately arrived at this port from Buenos Ayres, while off the Brazil Banks, a curious incident happened. On the night of the 6th of October about 10 o'clock, a light breeze playing, the brig sailed amongst a school of 60 or 70 spermaceti whales—the largest and most powerful of this species of animals. The gambolling, curvetting, blowing, and lashing of these creatures of the deep, caused no small uneasiness to those on board, insomuch, that all hands were ordered to the pumps. Fortunately no material injury was occasioned. One huge fellow, came plump against the channels with such force, as to leave eight or ten inches of his hide sticking on one of the bolts. Another gave such a blow to the broadside of the vessel, near the stern, that the helmsman was in imminent danger of annihilation. Had the vessel been going with velocity, the consequences would have been serious.

Freeman's Journal.