The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-09-19
AT SEA IN AN OLD BARREL.

The San Francisco Post of a late
date reports the following: More
than year ago Alexander Goode-
nough, a machinist by trade, in the
employ of the Seattle coal compan v,
at Puget Sound, discovered among a
pile Of driftwood curious looking
craft which had been washed ashore.
1t was built with slaves hoped to-
gether and at the ends securely fas-
tened and caulked to solid cylindri-
cal pieces of wood about a foot in
diameter. 1t is twenty feet long
and three and half feet in diameter.
Its hatchway was it's only entrance,
and measured about two and a half
by one and half feet.
Mr.. Goodenough knew nothing
about sailing, but he had a kindly
feeling for the old craft. Indeed, he
himself was quite as odd in appear
ance as the craft, being as long, lank
and lean, He commenced expert
menting with her, fitted some sails
of bedticking, adjusted a rudder, and
sailed about in the waters of Puget
Sound, until one day the idea struck
him that he could make voyage to
San Francisco in her. After consid-
cradle more experimenting, he was
ready to start. He had taken on
board about seven hundred pounds
Iof ballast, twenty-one gallons of wa
ter, and plenty of provisions.
On the 4th of June, he started
from Cape Flattery alone, knowing
nothing of navigation, but determine
ed in that frail craft to take an ocean
voyage Of over eight hundred miles.
Had he failed, every one would have
called him fool, for his pains.
Some do as it is, but ''let those
laugh that win" Captain Goode-
nough has won. The breezes which
waited him to the port of San Fran
cisco have also borne him into the
port of notoriety, and perhaps that
Iof wealth-Who knows? Many a
man has become famous whose ener-
gy, perseverance and bravery did
not entitle him to fame in the least,
in comparison with that of Captain
Goodenough.
This doughty voyager was at sea
seventeen days, On his way down
he stopped at Rogue river, Oregon,
five or six days, anchored at the
| lighthouse near Mendocino, and from
thence came direct to San Francisco.
He once narrowly escaped being
wrecked on the roc Ks, and once found
himself among school Of whales.
His berth was aft the hatch, and was
so small that he had to creep in feet
foremost, and could not turn around.
He could navigate his craft while
lying in his berth by the aid of a
compass and a lamp. He was out
in some very rough weather, and
says he would not fear to weather
the toughest storm, for his craft
could not upset, and when he want
ed to sleep he would take down his
sails, crawl into his nest, and feel
perfectly secure.
He thinks he could make the trip
across the ocean; indeed he know s
that the danger from the breakers
which the coast voyage presents
would be thus avoided. But for the
present he is replenishing his fnan-
cial larder. His boat is at Wood
wards, and both boat and captain
are the sensation of the hour. The
captain believes in his boat. It is
his creed. He thinks the present
style of clumsy tubs should be dis
carded in favor of the cigar-shaped
water-craft. Success 70 Captain
Goodenough and to all men who
strike out into the new and untried
fields of experiment. It is they who
make the world move.
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