Lot 287

[WHALING]. HODGSON, James. Autograph letter signed ("James Hodgson"), as First Officer of Ship Arabella, to Charles Milton Salmon (1824-1904). Ship Arabella, S. Lat 38.20 Long. 26.00 W, 17 December 1847.

Sale 1095 - American Historical Ephemera & Photography, Featuring Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Broadsides, Ephemeral Americana & Historical Documents

Day 1 Lots 1-403

Nov 3, 2022 10:00AM ET

Day 2 Lots 404-634

Nov 4, 2022 10:00AM ET

Live / Cincinnati

Estimate

$300 - $500

Sold for $2,813

Sold prices are inclusive of Buyer’s Premium

Lot Description

3 pages, old creases, brown spotting at perimeter, encased in a double-sided hinged frame, not examined out of frame.

The first mate of the whaling ship Arabella writes with news of the untimely death of the ship's second mate, Jonathan Norton Salmon: "Sir, it becomes my very painful and afflicting duty to announce the death of your Brother, who was killed on the eight day of December by a Whale." He continues with details of the Salmon's death when in battle with the leviathan: "We had taken three Whales and on the day which your brother was taken from us, we had struck another and the whale parted the line and went off. Mr. Salmon then struck one in his boat and in the act of lancing him when the Whale stove the boat, he sent Mr. Salmon some distance from the boat, he however regained the boat and was in the act of getting into her when the Whale struck him and instantly killed him. I was but a short distance from him at the time."

Hodgson spends much of the rest of the letter assuring the deceased's brother that he was much beloved by the crew: "In the death of Mr. Salmon we have lost a fine officer and a pleasant companion his loss was mourned by all the ships company both officers and seamen." Noting, however, that "we could not obtain his body it sunk below the surface of the Waters and we never saw it." Adding, "it is the first one of the kind that I ever witnessed and God grant it may be the last, to his

The Providence Public Library holds the Arabella's logbook from 1849 to 1851. On Sunday 13 July 1851, the Arabella began taking on water after striking ice while in thick fog. The crew was rescued by the ship Washington and the logbook closed "So this ends the good Ship Arabella."

[With:] Modern Jonah - But Didn't Escape. Honesdale, PA: N.p., [ca 1904]. 2 1/4 x 7 5/8 in. newspaper clipping affixed to verso of letter. Includes an account from Jonathan's younger brother James B. Salmon who was also aboard the Arabella, but survived. Includes a variant account of Jonathan's death, though with more colorful elaboration.

Property from the Inventory of James C. Frasca

Condition Report

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