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SWALLOWED BY A WHALE

A Living Jonah Tells His Tale

Strater hired a hall for the first show and had to turn away hundreds For two hours, Caleb told his thrilling story, standing with harpoon in hand in front of adiorama

With Caleb’s whaling earnings, Strater had hired an artist who had painted reasonably accurate pictures on a long strip of canvas several feet high The backlit canvas was slowly unrolled to reveal pictures of Caleb in the whaleboat, the attack by the whale, and a fanciful depiction of his legs sticking out froes of exotic, palm-studded locales, and their inhabitants as well

The show played to enthralled audiences, especially in churches and halls in cities and towns along the eastern seaboard Strater sold story booklets, adding pictures of half-nude dancing native girls to spice up the narrative After a few years, Strater and Caleb retired fro captains

Strater bought a -cake house in the village of Fairhaven across the harbor fro city Froo He rarely went out in daylight

When he did leave his mansion, he covered his head and shaded his face with a hood

He becaenerous benefactor who used his fortune to build schools and libraries for the community In return, the townspeople protected the privacy of their horown Jonah

Caleb guided Strater into a large cha chair in the center The diora in the chair could pivot and see the “Living Jonah” story fro to end

“Well, what do you think?” Caleb asked his friend

Strater shook his head “It alain”

“Let’s talk about it over a glass of wine,” Caleb said

“I’e to you from Nathan Dobbs”

“The captain’s oldest son?”

“That’s right His father is dying and would like to see you”