9 a.m. an English steamer passing with passengers, probably bound for Southampton. Exchanged signals with them and asked to be reported. Presume our friends will hear from us in about thirty days. Another vessel coming up to us fast, a French clipper from Marseilles, bound to Rio Janeiro, only twenty eight days out, he must have had fair winds all the way. Her name is the Franciscopolis. Made this twenty four hours 133 miles. Had another flying fish for my breakfast.
Archive for the ‘Round the Horn’ Category
No pig killing today. We have had so much pork all week we are going to have a change this week. The weather continues very fine, a light squall once in a while, but none of those terrific gales that we expected, thank God. There is no dependence in the winds here, sometimes for a few hours we go eight or nine knots, then dies away almost calm, go one or two for a little while, then a shift of wind perhaps right ahead. It is quite a treat to have such fine weather anyway. Distance 124 miles. Therm. 56.
Second Sunday at sea. Had a flying fish for my breakfast about the size of my three fingers, any way it was enough and very sweet. Weather very fine and hot, made 180 miles. Read some good books, tired my eyes and then retired at 9 p.m.
We had a taste of winter last night, wind, rain and hail, the hail stones as large as a pea. I could scarce keep myself warm in bed. Therm. this morning 46. Distance 96 miles with 25 miles current against us. Had a moderate gale this morn. but now clearing up.
11:30 am I am now being rocked about as tho I was in a cradle. I suppose we are now about three hund miles from Cape Horn. I hope we shall have better luck on the other side or we shall make over one hundred and fifty days passage. We have already sailed eight thousand and sixteen miles since we left N.Y. Up to noon sailed 96 miles.
Another hot day and calm. Capt. so out of patience he has just laid down on the sofa to try and get a nap so he may be out of sight of it. I do wish it would breeze up so we could get into cooler weather. The currents here are quite a help to us, otherwise we should make very little headway. The head seas causes the ship to pitch terribly sometimes, I can scarce keep my feet. Made to noon 106 miles.
Another fine day. Done some work on the machine. Made 153 miles. This even almost calm, watching for a breeze. What a treat to be so long clear of fogs.
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A fine Scotch Bark in sight called the Etta. Exchanged signals with them, find she is thirty six days from Glasgow bound to Valparaiso. She is a little too much fro us with this head sea.
7 p.m. Sea gone down considerable. It is scarcely dark yet. Quite an improvement in the length of the days. In a few more we hope to be in cooler weather. We are now about the same distance from Cape Horn as N.Y. from Liverpool. It is much cooler this even. Another sheep killed today, as usual in splendid condition. The pigs too in excellent condition, their skins so white and nice. Distance 126 miles.
Been calm all night, made very little progress the last twenty four hours, only 58 miles. Got a little breeze now with a prospect of its increasing. Done a pretty good day’s work so went on deck this even to get a little of the fresh breeze. Splendid weather and a beautiful sunset. It is dark here now at half past five.
Capt. don’t feel very amiable on account of the weather. Ship scarcely moving through the water, fears we are going to have a long passage. Everything goes ahead of this kind of weather. Distance to noon 100 miles. Read considerable and then retired at 9 p.m. Such lovely moonlight nights it seems a pity to go to bed, but I scarce get any sleep after four o’clock. They commence every morn at five to wash the decks. Coffee at 6 – up to dress at a quarter past.