Letter of George L. Bowman,
of West Falmouth,
regarding his first experiences at sea

[NOTE:  The last survivor of the Falmouth men who on one cruise or another sailed in the bark Awashonks on whose decks occurred the bloody battle with South Sea natives was, according to his own statement, George L. Bowman who was born in West Falmouth, but after retiring from the sea made his home in New Bedford. In 1920, at the age of 83 years, Mr. Bowman wrote a little account of his early voyages which we reproduce here. It gives a vivid little picture of the incidents of a whaleman's life at sea. George Bowman vent on his first voyage when only seventeen.]

"On Friday, Sept. 30, 1853, the Ship Hobomok, Capt. Peter Childs, North Falmouth, master, sailed with a compliment of 29 men, Officers and crew twelve of us belonged in the County of Barnstable ten of us in the Township of Falmouth one Ed Herendeen Woods Holl. The Mait Marstons Mills, the rest of us right around home. and I am the only living one of that company that is alive today as far as we know. We had one Falmouth Town boy. I think he lived on the shore road. I suppose you call it shore street or some other pretty name. His name was John Green. Son of Bethier Green. I think his Father was dead. I think a great deal of that Boy in his helping save my life when I came on top of the water unconscious. having lost my senses. after being under water so long.

Now to come back to our sailing. The Capt. had his Wife and one Child Lucretia* by name. I think if aliv she lives in North Falmouth. We went to the Arctic the first season. no whaling to speak of that season. We caught about 350 bbls. a number of Ships that season did not get a whale. The second season we went to the Japan Sea & Ochosk Sea. this season We took 2100 bbls and 18000 pounds of bone. This season is when I came so near losing my life. We were in the Japan sea. We struck a Whale and he stove us so that the boat rolled over and We were all in the water. in the course of a minute I found the line was around I think booth feet. I felt of the line and it felt very taught. I took my knife out of my pocket and opened it. then I lost my senses. oh I thought I was dieing. then I thought of the Ship coming home and all the Boys. but George. oh how hard it would be to my Dear Father and Mother. when in my death struggles I made God a promise. if he would save me. Fred Nye of North Falmouth dove down and cleared the line from of my feet. I was in stray line. onely the heft of the line and my own weight was carying me down. when I came to the top of the water. John Green left the stoven boat and got hold of me and they halled me to the boat. When I came to my senses we was on our way back to the Ship. and I was in another boat of course. and I was vomiting salt water. When they hailed me on board of the Ship and lade me on the deck or the booby hatch. I heard the Capt say Steward, bring me some hot rum. 1 said I do not want any rum. the (Capt) said none of your temperance lectures here. He knew I never used any rum when they use to pas it around when cutting a Whale, as that was ruleable in those days. We was gon 34 months and brought home about 2800 bbls. of oil. We arrived home Saturday Aug. 2nd, 1856 and the next day being Sunday I went across the road and picked a cup of huckleberries and so I remember those berries begin to get ripe about the first of August.

I have not yet told you why I am writing this letter. 1 want to ask about Minnie Lawrence. Capt Samuel Lawrences Daughter. on my next voyage I shall come to the question.

My second voyage I sailed in the Ship Sharon. after being from home in her I left the Sharon.. and I am the only one of the Crew that sailed from home as far as we know that is living today. I left the Sharon in Honolulu and Shipt in the Ship Addison Capt Samuel Lawrence. Mrs. Lawrence and Daughter were on board. We arrived home the next June.

I will just say I went three more voyages whaling, the next in the Bark Awashonks formerly of Falmouth. I am the only one living that sailed in her as one of the crew. The Capt. and his Wife & Boy with him. The Capt. died on the voyage. the next voyage Fourth voyage was in the Ship Gov. Troup Capt. Ashley. There is Three of us living that sailed from home on that voyage. Capt. Ashley had his Wife and little Boy with him. I do not count them as they were not of the crew. Now my Fifth and last voyage in the Albion. there is three of us living the last I knew. if William Anthony, the Standard Anthony is alive."

* -- Mr. Bowman, it will be noted, speaks of Captain Peter Childs having his wife and little daughter Lucretia with him on board the Hobomok, while on the Sharon Captain Samuel Lawrence was accompanied by his wife and daughter Minnie. It was quite common on the whaling voyages that might last for three or even four years, for the captain to take his wife with him and a number of Falmouth women made such voyages.