Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-10-06
TbeYetmont 4benit.
BRATTLEBoRo:
FRIDAY EVENING, OCT. G, 1876.


The Transatlantic DOry Voyage.
The London Daily News gives the fol-
lowing particulars Of the unparalleled feat
of the Glouscester (Mass.) fisherman:-
The boat Centennial, with her daring
commander, arrived at Liverpool, August
81, after a voyage across the Atlantic. She
was sailed by man named Alfred john
sen, Dane, and left Gloucester, Mass,
on June Is. johnson Is In good health,
but suffers from want of sleep, and his
legs are stiff aud weak, owing to the con-
finement of the voyage. He is a smart, in
telligeHt man of about thirty. On arriv-
ing at New Brighton he was cheered by
the passengers on ferry-boat He did not
land at the landing-stage, where a number
of people had assembled to meet him, but
sailed up the river, and was ultimately
met by the proprietor OF the Rock Ferry
Hotol, with whom he arranged to exhibit
his boat in the grounds. The Centennial
was accordingly taken up, and will be
shown to the public to-day. The Centen-
NAL Is a boat of the kind known in Amer
lea as a dory. She istwenty feet long, par
TALLY flatbottomed, and has switchboard.
tight compartments, and was supplied with
provisions for ninety days. She was built
expressly for the trip, and is of pine, ex-
ira timbered with oak. She carried one
mast and can set mansail, two jibs and
square sail. johnson left Glouscester on
the 18th of June, the people cheering him
heartily as he sailed away. The weather
was fine at first, but II afterwards changed
to fogs and head winds, which lasted until
the 22d, when he put into Shake Harbor,
his compass being affected by his iron bal
last. He started again on the 25tb, and had
a fine passage and fair winds until the 9TH
of July, W hen in latitude ALSO north, long
itude 81 west, heavy gale from the south
west sprang up, during which the boat
shipped a heavy sea, which started the
combing of the hatchway, and the water
got in and spoiled some OF the provisions.
At this time he spoke bark bound from
Mexico to Liverpool and the captain invit-
ed johnson to go on board, saying he would
drop him off Cape Clear, and not mention
anything about 1t; but johnson declined.
The gale passed away, and ho had fine
weather until the 10th OF July, when a
strong breeze came from the southwest,
and he made a good run until the ID of
August, ON which day, being then about
800 miles from Cape Clear, he spoke the
brig Maggie Gander, from New York 10
Swansea. After running for a couple of
hours with the brig, which shortened sail
to keep company, johnson hove his boat to
in order to ride out the gale, which had
In
for this purpose. About helf an hour after
being hove TO, the boat got broadside on to
heavy sea. and capsized, but johnson got
on the bottom and remained there about
twenty minutes, when another sea struck
her and he succeeded in righting her. This
was about o'clock in the afternoon. Just
afler getting into the boat again he saw a
shark alongside, and its fins struck against
the bottom of the boat. He fastened a
knife 10 an oar and cut at the shark, which
then went away. The boat was half full OF
water, but he pumped it out and weathered
the gale, which lasted till next day. Ev-
erything was wetted, and he lost his kero-
sene stove and his square-sail by the up
set. The weather continued rainy and fog
gy for four days, during which time he
could not dry anything.
On Monday, August 7, about 100 miles
off Cape Clear, be spoke the brig Alfredon,
from Liverpool for Baltimore, and got some
bread and water, his own bread having
been damaged by the salt water. Next
day he got soundings to the south of Cape
Clear, but 1t was foggy and he could not
see land. On the 9th he spoke the ship
Prince Lombardo, which gave him the
bearing of Wexford Head as tifly-three
miles east by north. On the 10th he sight
ed Milford, but the wind became contrary,
and he put into Abercastle. He sailed
again on the 18th, and reached Holyhead
last Friday, and Liverpool yesterday morn
ing. johnson estimates that his average
run during the voyage was seventy miles a
day. He was provided with medicines be-
fore starting. When asked if he would
care to repeat the voyage, johnson replied
that he Thought he had had about enough
OF it,"