The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-08-06
Ghe 8alletin,
SEVEN WEEKS IN A SMALL
BOAT.
The Voyage OF Captain Grape ana HIS
Wife Across the Atlantic.

The Voyage OF Captain Grape ana HIS
Wife Across the Atlantic.
A correspondent Of the London Duly
Neaos ut PenzanCe, speaking OF the arrival
at rilat place OF Captain Grape and his
wife, who left New Bedford on May y in
/ a small boats, says: The voyage was
commenced on May Is. when the vessel
lett New Beliord, but by stress OF wealth.
er she had TO put into Chatham, Mass,
where she stayed until the I'd OF June,
when the sails were again hoisted and
the little pygmy lett Oh her pcrilous voy-
age with lair wind. All went well for
three days, the wind being southwest
and the sea calm, The wind then chang
ed 10 southeast. and IL came on foggy tor
four days, and continued ioggy up
TO the time when they reached
the Grand Banks, seventeen
days out. Here a most fortunate thing
happened for the naygators. The drOgus
which they had brought with them was
found TO be OF little use, because 1t wa
too light. While of the banks they saw
q key floating, which luckily they were
able 10 secure. Captain Grape knocked
oil the iron hoops. and with some can
vas made a new drOgue which answered
admirably. When il Is considered that
at one part Of the voyage they were
obliged 10 lie 10 for nearly three days in
great gale OF wind. IL Will need no
effort 10 imagine what fortunate ac-
quision the new drOgue was. After leay.
log the banks, where they lay TO In a
gale Tor fifteen hours, the weather i'm
proved, and they sailed on till
the 2lst Of June. when another gale
WAS encountered. While lying
to, the New Bedford spoke the
steamer Batavia, from winch assistance
was offered, and the Jlier was made to
take them on board, which was pluckiIy
declined. Alter this incident they en-
countercd a succession oil gales, the on
ly wonder being that they survived 10
tell the story, During the voyage,
which occupied tOrty-nlne days, the rud-
der broke, but happily there was a spare
oar on board, which was used untll the
the first could be- repaired. The seas
were running mountains nigh, and dur
ing that time, even when lying down
TO rest, they had 10 lie on wet clothes.
On one occasion the captain was Tor
seventy hours steering without relief.
the weather being so irlghtiul, and on
another he was eighteen hours cOnsec.
utively attending to the drogue. Cap
tain Grape sand he could not have stood
another fifteen d. Us; indeed. he had not
slept tor seventy hours when he landed.
His average sleep while coming across
was under tour hours day. Among
the many extraordinary things con
nected with the voyage is that IL had TO
be run BY dead reckoning, as the New
Bedford was not equal TO chronometer.
Only on two occasions could they |
get their longitude. When speaking
the two vessels Captain Grape had in
tended TO make Tor Falmouth, but the
wind was against it. Captain and Mrs.
Crapo seemed wonderfully well after the
hardshlps they had undergone, though
the Captain has a bad hand, and when he
came on shore his other hand was firmly |
after seventy hours steering. |
The house they stopped at was invaded
by persons eager 10 shake hands with so |
brave couple. The boat was also visit
ed by numbers. Captain Grape thinks OF
going on to Falmouth, and afterward TO
London and the Paris Exhibition"