| Saturday, 18th | Fine day. Quite a change in weather. Tared decks this morning, then we started to ship water, and now it is like a skating pond as it won't dry. | ||
| ⚪ | Sunday, 19th | Damp, miserable day. Heavy squalls. Ship pretty well continually covered with sprays. Right abreast of dear old Frisco. I wish we only could go in. 600 miles off land. | |
| Monday, 20th | Beautiful clear weather again. Got up the cable this morning. Saw two three masted schooners. One came right up astern, and calmly walked past us, and disappeared from sight. She seemed to be heading for Alaska. Also a large three master ship, away on horizon. Bound the same way as ourselves. She must either be going to Portland or the Sound. A thorough Caolifornian evening. Preparing for port. Everyone is of course light hearted coming near land after almost a hundred days solitude. | ||
| Tuesday, 21st | Still the N.E. wind. We expect a change soon now. Great preparations going on on deck for port, such as last coats of paint, etc. | ||
| Wednesday, 22nd Lat 40°7’N Long 137°47’W |
End of N.E. wind. Wind shifted round to S.W. Fair wind straight in if it lasts. First time the yards have been shifted for about 2,000 miles. First indications of approaching land. The water has changed colour very much. | ||
| Thursday, 23rd | Blowing a strong North Wester. Furled topgallants and royals. Going fairly well. | ||
| Friday, 24th | Still blowing hard. This morning I was almost an hour loosing the fore topgallantsail, as it was continual squalls. Overhauling old blocks. Getting up fish tackle. | ||
| Saturday, 25th | Strong wind. Too strong to be comfortable. Cracking on to royals very well. No sights. Heavy sea getting up. Later: All of a sudden glass fell and proper gale sprung up. Clewed up Royals, Topgallants, main sail (what was left of it) and other light sails. I had a terrible trying to make the galf topsail fast, it taking me over an hour. All the time wet to the skin, and terribly cold. Also lost the famous “Tam-o-shanter”. One hat left now out of the crowd. Very heavy sea running, and the ship is rolling and plunging, almost to make it impossible to stand. This evening we had to furl the upper topsails. Later: Midnight: Hardly a breath of wind, although of course still the heavy sea running. Curious almost an hour ago you might have imagined that the mast were sure to get blown overboard. Now everything is flapping. | ||
| Sunday, 26th | Miserable day, not the slightest chance of getting a bit of rest. First of all had to go aloft and repair the mainsail, then put the anchors over the side, and then it commenced to blow, and we made topgallants fast, which then succeeded in finishing the day. Very heavy sea running, and the ship is rolling fearfully. Tonight at eleven we saw one of the revolving lights on shore, and as it was exceedingly squally we stood off. Standing by topsail halyards all the night. | ||
| ⚪ | Monday, 27th | 5.50 a. m. I have just come from the wheel. The pilot is aboard. It is a treat to hear a strange voice. The little pilot boat rode the [- ? -] waves much better than ourselves. We are rolling terribly, and never have we done so much heavy rolling unless off the Horn. To beat all, the pilot came from the cutter in a small little rowing boat. How it didn't get swamped, I don't know. It was completely buried out of sight several times. And our ship almost swamped it, by rolling on top of her.[continues on next page] | |
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