Arthur David LINKLATER

His ’Journal’

Apprenticed aboard British Princess

10.xii.1895 - 13.iii.1900

Tuesday, 23rd Friging around in hold. Chipping scuppers ect. and other odd jobs.
Wednesday, 24th 4 ships sailed today for London, ‘The Primrose Hill’, ‘The Forth’, ‘Shandon’ and ‘Patreark’. These are the last.
Thursday, 25th Friging around in hold.
Friday, 26th Same. Chartered for Frisco.
Saturday, 27th On board all day. Asked to get ashore but did not succeed.
Sunday, 28th Scottie and myself got ashore, and went up to Craiglea and in the afternoon went to Mr. Stele's where we spent a very enjoyable evening. Came back by last boat.
MARCH 1897
Tuesday, 2nd Chipping fore yard. Terrible job getting under it.
Wednesday, 3rd 2nd mate and myself also 3 of the others went up the bay for sand. Had a grand bathe after we filled the boat regardless of sharks.
Saturday, 6th Knocked off early, but could not get ashore. Had a terrible Southerly burster tonight. We almost drifted in to a steamer. Blew the chocks from under the life boats.
Monday, 7th Hove ship further into centre of bay.
Wednesday, 10th Left bay for dry dock about 10.30. Got into Morts dry dock at quarter to 12. Pontoon gates it floats in and fills with water and sinks. Very busy hauling up the props. By the time the water had run out she was scraped. They took off rudder.
Thursday, llth Gave us 2 coats of patent paint. Went out again at quarter to 12. Droped anchor in Neutral bay again.
Friday, 12th Chipping lower mast.
Saturday, 13th 3.30 tug ‘Goolwa’ came to take us alongside. Made fast to Pyrmont. 5.30 Scottie and myself went to Mrs. Craigs.
Sunday, 14th Off ship all day, at Craigs and Steels.
Monday, 15th Very busy, discharging wheat aft, loading coal from Southern Belle at the main. Steels and Craigs came aboard today.
Tuesday, 16th Finished coal 350 tons finished after hatch. Started fore. Soottie went to Craigs.
Wednesday, 17th Finished fore. Mr. Craig and Steel came aboard and said good bye. Tne steamer ‘Alice’ came alongside and we left Pyrmont at 7.30. Passed Dornain at 8 p.m. Fine evening. Kind of swell outside. We had to take lookouts all night.
Thursday, 18th Arrived in Newcastle at 6.30 a.m. Sixty odd ships here of all nations. Very curious head land called the ‘Nobis’ with light house, and signal station. Droped 90 fathoms of cable, [- ? -] up 45 then droped another 45.
Friday, 19th Went ashore in a dilapitated state for a few minutes to post some letters.
Saturday, 20th Three of us, me included, had to clean brass work after time for punishment.
Sunday, 21st Had great feast. Scoffed Plum duff. Could not keep it any longer. Also made some pastery with cargo flour.
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