Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-18
An Ocean Voyage inn Strange Graft.
From tho Son Eranaisco Call Iuna N 4

tFrom the San Francisco Call, June a.
The readers Of the Call may remember that a
few days ago we mentioned that man named
GoOdenOugh had started alone from Rogue
river, in curious cigar-shaped boat, with the
intention Of sailing to San francisco. The
chances of his ever making this port seemed
very slight; but yesterday afternoon he moored
his craft at Long bridge, and last night Call
reporter went to his residence and had talk
with HIM.
Before going into Mr.. Goodenough's adven-
lures, it may, perhaps be as well TO describe the
boat in which he made the voyage. In general
contour it resembles a colossal cigar or an elOn-
gated cask, brought to a point at each end. 1t
is strongly built of wood resembling white
cedar; the planking averaging one inch and a
half in thickness. The material seems 10 have
been slit and worked up with an axe; there are
no indications of the use of saw. The tim
berS are held together by twenty-one stout iron
hoops, which encircle the hull Of the craft at
regular intervals in barrel fashion. The ends of
the boat taper as we have said, to point, and
these ends are each closed with plug extend
ing, perhaps, two feet into the hull
The boat, as it lies at Long bridge, is in the
same condition as it was when it drifted upon
the coast of Washington territory, except that
n new mast has been set up and sails, oars and
necessary rigging furnished. 1t measures %
feet in length, 81 feet beam, and with crew of
one man-all it will hold-it draws twenty
except at one place, amidship, where is an OBJ
long hole, about five feet in length. In this the
navigator can sit and work the craft and if he
feels inclined, sleep. A small store of proyi-
sions can also he slowed away in this place. II
he choose, the navigator can, by closing a
hatch, shut himself completely in, proof against
wind and waves, and steer by tiller ropes. The
RIG consists of a leg-of-mutton sail, and an extra
square sail for use in light winds.
But the StrangeSt thing about it is the origin,
or rather the advent of this cigar boat upon the
Pacific coast. About eighteen months ago it
was discovered upon the shore of Cape Flattery,
Washington territory, where it had been wash
about it 10 give a cew to its maker, its starting
place, or the purpose for which it had been con
structed. The opinion of the people who viewed
it, on its arrival, was that it drifted down from
Alaska, or from some other northern coast.
The navigator, Alexander Goodenough, is a
machnist by trade, and belongs to this city
where he has family residing at No. 3 Thomp-
son avenue. He is native of Buffalo, New
York, and came TO California about eighteen
years ago. He went to Washington territory in
the employ of the Seattle coal company last Au.
gust. While making arrangements to pay a
visit TO his family, it occurred TO him that he
might fit up the cigar boat and come, and he
acted on the idea.
Having tested her in Puget sound, and found
her staunch and seaworthy, a good sailer and
stiff under canvas he set sail from Seattle on
the 9th inSt with twenty-one gallons of water
and sufficient store of provisions. He took
with him boat compass, a pair of oars dashed
on the top of his boat, a lamp, an army over.
coat, blanket, a muSket and lew other arti-
Giles of less importance. The weather was light
until be reached Rogue river, where he replcn.
ished his stock of provisions. The first day out
he had his first experience Ofrough weather attn
breeze and heavy sea testing the capabilities OF
his craft and increasing bis confidence in it
though he was obliged to be careful in running
before the wind, in order to avoid being laid in
the trough of the sea. He slept whenever he
felt tired on 1.-THE voyage, without reference TO
night or day. When he felt like taking a snooze
he would heave to by taking in all sail hut a
small piece of mansail lash the hatch over
leaving small aperture lor air.
Alter leaving Rogue river he had struggle
with The breezes fifty miles south of the harbor
and then bearing out TO sea had no trouble
and experienced no danger until last Thursday
when he met Il stiff hree3e aud had TO use all his
skill. He was for four days out of sight OF
land, between Rogue river and this port He
passed many vessels, but spoke only one schoon-
en- The talk as they passed one another was
as follows: Fisherman, ahoy; have YOU any
fish," "No amt after any fish" "What are
you doing out here, then~ "Sailing for
pleasure" "What kind of - box do you call
that you are IMP BY this time the two crafts
had widened the distance so much that an
answer would have been wasted, so Goodenough
spared his breath.
The cigar boat kept company with schooner
from early yesterday morning till theaharboI
was reached, and came in trumphantly under
lull sail. Goodenough estimates his voyage al
his praise OF the seaworthiness and speed of his
boat