The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-06-09
TO SEA IN A BOWL.
A Man and His Wife Crossing the Ocean
in a Boat Thirteen Feet Long.

A Man and His Wife Crossing the Ocean
in Boat Thirteen Feet Long.
Mr. Thomas Grape, writes New Bed
ford Mass correspondent, will, in COM
pany with his wife, attempt to make
the passage of the Atlantic ocean to Lon
don, and started from this port on the
18th ult., in a curious little boat especi-
ally built for the voyage.
Mr. Grape 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,
having once determined upon the exc
cuiion of a plan, overcomes every
obstacle and pauses not until the desired
end is accomplished.
In his wife he has a most excellent
companion, as she is of the same cheer
full and courageous disposition She is
a daughter of Frederick Stiff, the cele-
brated jeweler and musical instrument
manufacturer of London, whose fashion
able ornaments and music boxes have a
worldwide 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.. Grape has passed some twenty
years upon the deep, commencing as
cabin boy. During his sea-fearing life
he has crossed the Atlantic twenty times,
while his wife, who accompanied him for
several Yeas on shipboard, has made the
passage three times.
He took about 1900 pounds of pro-
visions, consisting almost entirely of
canned goods, and condensed solid and
1uid preparations which were stored
principally in the forward part of the
craft, which Is to serve as the kitchen,
equipped with a neat little kerosene
stove, In the after part are the cabin
and sleeping accommodations. He also
! took 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 took provision for a fifty
days voyage, but is confident of being
able to make the run in less time, forty
days being his extreme limit. His route
Is between fOrty-two degs. and forty-fve
! degs, north latitude and as near a direct
course as possible. He will sail all night
with both himself and wife on the look
out; during the day they take alternate
watches, each taking about six hours
sleep, which is all that either is accus-
toned to take, on land or sea.
His only instruments are a compass
and quadrant, sailing by dead reckoning.
In case of a storm he will furl the sails
and lie-to under drag, closing the for
ward hatchway but leaving half the aft,
which is hinged like a door, open for
light and air.
The boat in which this voyage is be-
ing made is built of cedar, and is much
the shape of common whalc-boat, ex-
cept 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 cover
ed with adouble-sheathed deck, with the
exception of two hatchways, each two
feet square, which can be closely COW
cred. She has enter board; carries
one anchor and rudder, and will be pro-
| PEELED 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.. Grape declares it to be an utter
impossibility for the boat to sink even
when full of water The cost of the
boat, exclusive of rigging, is 1925; the
outlay for the voyage, including $50
worth of provisions, was about 800.
Two small boats have already crossed
the Atlantic, one metallic life-boat and
the other a wooden boat, but no woman
has ever been on such voyage, and no
boat constructed like the "New Bed
ford" ever made the tri p.