The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-14
CRArO'S oUEER CRAFT.


small ,essri
Mr.. Thomas Grape, oi this city. writes
a New Bcturd Mass. correspondent,
will, IN company with hl, Wife. attempt
60 make the passage of tAo Atlantic
ocean - London, starting frum thisport,
n curious little boat especially built
Tor the voyage
Mr. Cmpu rs o gtuuiuo type az the
true American sailor. hardy, plucAy and
daring. Is thirty Years ul age. about five
feet slN inches iu height, and weighing
some 100 pounds, of hight complexion,
with brown hair and eyes, and ui thut
quiet, saugunc temperament which, huN-
ing once determined upon the execution
OF plan, uyrrcomrs every obstacle and
pauscs u1; until ia, desired end IS uc-
cumpll>hci
In his wife hc as most excellent
companion, as she IS oi the same cheer
iul aui courageous disposition. She rs
"a daughter yt Frederick Stn. the cyle-
brat,I JcW,lyr and musical instrument
manufacturer oi LONDON. whose fashion
able ornamrut, ANA music boxes have "a
world wldc fame. uui is one of fourteen
children, having slN sisters, born IA
Glasgow, ui Scottish descent, she was
educated IN the best rvisiau schools,
spending some fifteen years IN France.
and speaks ilIcutly French ana Swedish
besides her native tongue.
Mr. Gapo has passed some twenty
years upon the deep, commencing as
cabin boy During hIs scAiarIug l!c hc
has crossed the Atlantic twenty times.
while his wllr, Who accompanied h.m for
several years uu -hlpbuari, has made the
passage three times.
He wall take about !. 800 pounds Of
provisions. consisting aim 81 entirely Of
canned gouis. and condensed solid and
huld preparations, which Will be stored
principally IN the forward part of the
craft, which ], q serve Us the kitchen,
equipped with neat little kerosene
stove. In the after part viii bo the
cabin and sleeping Recommendations. He
Will take SIX kegs, each containing twenty
gallons uf water As fast as umptlrd
these kegs Will be filed with salt water.
being the only ballast used, the boxes,
cans of food. etc. beng slowed 50 Us 90
trim the craft. 4 small medicine case Is
included in the personal baggage
Mr. Grape Will provision for fifty
DAYS VOYAGE, but Is confident ui being
able 10 make the run In less time, forty
DAYS being his extreme limit His route
will be between iorty-two dess. ami
torty.tlve dcEs. north latitude and as
near direct course ~ possible. He VIII
SAL AZ 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
ali that either Is accustomed 20 take, ou
land cr sea.
His only instruments will be com
pass and quadrant, sailing 10y dead rcck-
ou,ug. IN ease of storm. hc wi. iurl
the sails and lie % under drag. closing
the forward hatchVay but leaving half
the aft. which is hinged Ike a door, open
for light AMI air
The boat Ia which this voyage is % br
made is built II cedar. and Is much the
shape Of q common vhale-b8at. except
that she Is much shorter. and deeper and
broader in proportion 10 her length.
Her dimensions are hu. thirteen feet
length Of keel. six feet beam and thirty
four inches deep. She Is entirely COW
orcd with . double-sheuthcl deck. with
the exception of two ha.chvays, each
two feet square, which con b, closely
covered She has center board. car
ries one anchor and rudicr, and will
be propelled 10y two mUitou-leg sails.
one on each OF two mas,a, situated near
either end
Both himself and wife are confident #
the success of this daring attempt, and
Mr. t'rng,., .}...lr r..- ~ ., o.. rr rrfstr Er4.
possibility inr the boat % sink even
when full oi water. The cos. uf the
boat, exclusive Of rigging, is Sl2j; the
outlay for the voyage. including $50
worth Of provisions. wI,l hc about 500
Two small boats have already crossed
the Atlantic, one a metallic life-boat and
the other a wooden boat, bat no woman
has ever been ou such voyage. AMI no
boat constructed like tie " New Bed
ford ever made the trip.