Harpooner
Eliphalet Lobb
Was a crackerjack
At a scrimshaw job.
Wonderful smart,
So all hands said,
Were the bits of things
Eliphalet made —
Babies’ rattles,
Thimbles and reels,
Shuttles for tatting
And pastry wheels:
But the damndest thing
That ever he done
Was the South Sea whaler
The Midnight Sun —
Crow’s nest, tryworks
And all complete,
Carved out o’ whalebone
Neat as neat;
Boats and lances
And line tubs — well
Pretty near everything
Only the smell!
* * * * *
old-time spouter
and harpooner,
they’ve gone on their way
this many a year,
with the look-out’s hail
from the high crow’s nest
Nantucket sleigh rides
And all the rest;
Gamming and grousing
Work and fun,
In the South Sea whaler
The Midnight Sun.
The same that you see here,
White as snow,
Carved out of whalebone
Long ago,
By Harpooner
Eliphalet Lobb —
A crackerjack
At a scrimshaw job.
Notes
Taken from Punch: June 14 1933
Thanks to Barry Mathers
Glossary
Harpooneer . . . . A strong sailor who could throw the harpoon accurately. A skilled trade
Scrimshaw . . . . The art of carving and engraving of whalebone artefacts and the finished product. Many whalermen would while away their time on long trips in this way and produce both utilitarian and decorative pieces.
Tryworks . . . . A device for rendering whale blubber into whale oil on board ship.
Nantucket sleigh rides . . . . The very harrowing and dangerous time while the harpooned whale sped away towing the small whaleboat behind was called the "Nantucket Sleigh Ride
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