The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-06-06
CRAPO'S QUEER CRAFT.
A Man md Wife to Cross tile Ocean In a
small Vessel.

A Man md Wife to Cross tile Ocean In n
small Vessel.
MIR. Thomas Crapo, of this city, writes
New Bedford (Mass.) correspondent,
will, in company with his wife, attempt
to make the passage Of the Atlantic
ocean to London, starting from this port,
in a curious little boat especially built
for the voyage.
Mr.. Crapo is genuine type Of the
true American sailor, hardy, plucky and
daring, is thirty years of age, about five
feet six inches in height, and weighing
some $50 pounds, of light complexion,
with brown hair and eyes, and of that
quiet, sanguine temperament which, hay
ing once determined upon the execution
of q plan, overcomes every obstacle and
pauses not until the desired end is ac-
complished.
In his wife he has a most excellent
companion, rs she is of the same cheer
full and courageous disposition. She is
daughter of Frederick Stiff, the cele-
brated ieweler and musical instrument
manufacturer of London, whose fashion
able ornaments and music boxes have a
world wide fame, and is one Of fourteen
children, having six sisters; born in
Glasgow, of Scottish descent, she was
educated in the best Partisan schools,
spending some fifteen years in France,
and speaks fuently French and Swedish
besides her native tongue.
Mr.. Clapo has passed some twenty
years upon the deep, commencing as
cabin boy. During his seafaring life he
has crossed the Atlantic twenty times,
while his wife, who accompanied him for
several years on shipboard, has made the
passage three times.
He will take about 1900 pounds of
provisions, consisting almost entirely of
canned goods, and condensed solid and
fluid preparations, which will be stored
principally in the forward part of the
craft, which is to serve as the kitchen,
equipped with q neat little kerosene
stove. In the afterapart will be the
cabin and sleeping accommodations. He
will take six kegs, each containing twenty
gallons of water. AS fast as emptied
these kegs will be filled with salt water,
being the only ballast used, the boxes,
cans of food, etc., being slowed SO as to
trim the craft. A small medicine case is
included in the personal baggage.
Mr.. Grape will provision for n fifty
days voyage, but is confident of being
able to make the run in less time, forty
days being his extreme limit. His route
will be between forty-two degs. and
forty-fve degs. north latitude and as
near direct course as possible. He will
sail at night with both himself and
wife on the lookout; during the day
they will take alternate watches, each
taking about six hours sleep, which is
all that either is accustomed to take, on
land or sea.
His only instruments will be O COM
pass and quadrant, sailing by dead reck-
oning. In case of a storm, he will furl
the calls and lie to under drag, closing
the forward hatchway but leaving half
the aft, which is hinged like door, open
for light and air.
The boat in which this voyage is to be
made is built of cedar, and is much the
shape of a common whale-boat, except
that she is much shorter, and deeper and
broader in proportion to her length.
Her dimensions are but thirteen feet
length of keel, six feet beam and thirty
four inches deep. She is entirely cov-
ored with q double-sheathed deck, with
the exception of two hatchways, each
two feet square, which can be closely
covered. She has center board; car
ries one anchor and rudder, and will
be propelled by two mutton-leg sails,
one on each of two masts, situated near
either end.
Both himself and wife are confident of
the success of this daring attempt, and
Mr.. Crapo declares it to be an utter i'm
possibility for the boat to sink even
when full of water. The cost of the
boat, exclusive Of rigging, is Sl25; the
outlay for the voyage, including $50
worth of provisions, will be about Sl0O.
Two small boats have already crossed
the Atlantic, one metallic life-boat and
the other wooden boat, but no woman
has ever been on such voyage, and no
boat constructed like the "New Bed
ford ever made the trip.