Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-06-01
Alefan0rlu 6az&ttt
FRIDAY, JUNE l, 1871.
captain CrapO'S Embarkation.

snpfain CrapO'S EM5arKati0n.
Captain Thomas Grape, OF New Bedford, i,
now on lis way to Eurppc he having sailed
Monday in his boat, The smallest which has
ever attempted TO cross the Atlantic on such
toohardy expedition. Mrs. Crapo, his plucky
wife, accompanied hin. \ large crowd were
| at the wharf to see The pair start on their lon,
and porllous journey, and The air was rent wlt!;
| cheers as the tiny craft gllcd out Of the har.
Dor. 1t vas sight seldom seen in That syt!:H:;
Of the country, and old tars looked on with
amazemcnt at the determination OF Capt. Grape
! to attempt such q hazardous undertaking. Thn
previous day religious services were held near
| the boat attended By large number OF the
| friends Of Mr.. and Mrs. Crapo. Fcrvcnt pray
| er5 were offered that lie who holds the Winds
10 the hol!CW of his hands w0ull! guide the boat
and that Captain CrapO ard his wife would be
permitted 10 return to their fatally iu safety.
The dimensions Of the boat aa furnished by
the Custom House official, is ~ follows -
Length ca deck - jJ feet; oyer all, 2D letl
breadth, G.l; brcaitil over ribbons, "a feet;
greatest depth, :: il feet; average depth within
the length Of The kc"!, . feet; greatest inside
breadth, & feet; tonnage aGmca>uIcmcnt, &C.
but the old government measurement woulG
make her tOEoage nearly three IONS. Her two
sharp ends, however, having keel OuIy is feet
long, with a sheer U ! inches, reduces her cl!
bical capacity. As cilioa papers in tha usual
form could not be turnlshcl to her the CoiioH
tor Of the porto gave Captain Crap0 al iulur
NAL document certifying to her d!meGsl0ns her
"crew," &c. The boata ioremast is IS feet
above the deck aud mainmast Il feet. The
only sails bent were two "icg ot-mutton sails,
having no gatfs but narrowing to 4 point az
the top. When hoisted the tcresail measures
IL feet and the mainsail l. feet, while ct The
loot they measure . trc!. Captain Crapo ha-
provided himself with extra sails 10 be used il
case Of emergency, anil lie has also Squatcsail
and staysail Which he pr5roSe7 10 brlog into
use when the wind Is lighr. lie also carries
charts, COMPASS and quadrant, and ne will
keep his longitude by dead reckoning, verifying
it by speaking any vessels ho meets.
liz proposes 10 take the route used by ocean
steamers, taking a direct course from Chatham
Light until clear OF Newfoundland aud thea
hauling norhcrly Tor latitude 45 deg, and
longitude so deg, IrGm which point lie will
make q course as dirtct as wind and weather
will permit for the chops Of The English Chan
nel, and eXptc.5 TO be reported Falmouth IN
about forty days. ihenca he proposes to pro
ceed to London, and before tho end of the sea.
SOD to Havrr.
Mariners generally give the olIp!co that 'bc
boat is an able one, and will 10 all probability
make the voyage 10 safely, bnt they state that
her owner must show good scamanshlp and ne
ever on the alert for the numerous changes oi
wind and weather which he vii! encounter. One
of the drawbacks, aid which il y serious one,
is that there is no neans 0f lighting the cabin
from without except through the hatchwayS,
and consequently there are no means OF vgnilla.
40 4 bn butI M
dogs. The intrepid captain, however, Is at
the opinion that 10 very rough weather the after
part of the fore hatch can b3 raised little, while
the boat is laid TO, with her head kept to the
wind by q drag and that he can st IN tho hatch
way alt and steer hs cralt
The boat draws thirteen inches or water, and
should the sea break over her, there beng 20
buwarks to retain it, it will run of as quickly
as it came Captain CIapo will have canvass
boot 10 lasten around bis body when necessary.
After taking leave OF the numerous craft which
accompanied the boat out Of the barbor, Mrs.
Crapo. who is the mate and crew as Wei, ,donncd
masculine suit in place Of the usual female
attire, the former being batter adapted TO her
work.
If any change Of ballast is found necessary
Captain Crapo will call at Woods Hole or a!
Vineyard Haven or Chatham. AT hEst l9o
gaoos Of water was thought sufficient ballast,
but after the boat was launched it was deemed
advisable by Captain Grape and other nautical
men TO substitute 500 pounds OF IRON IN piAo3
Of one OF tho water kegs. The boat is painted
white with green bottom. 1t vas lntcndet
to have had trial trip, the principal object o!
which being to properly adjust the ballast, bu:
Captain Crapo found it impossible TO do so.
No littlc apprehension IS lr: Tor tho -alcly
1 of the boat, notwithstanding the confluence cE
! pressed 10 her captain, and her arrival III Eu-
rome will lie waited with almost paIniuI interest,
not only by il:s numerous friends Is IN New Bed
ford, but by many who have heard oi hIs rash
ness in other parts ot the country. The mcm'
bers Of the variogs churches there vii! make the
matter the subject Of special prayer, and The
| 'crcw' can feel that thcIr safety Is invoked by
all the good men and womcn OF that seaport.
That those prayers may be answered IS the
rervent wish Of everybody in the place.
! York Herald O.,
| S.-VINEYARD HAVEN, May "5.~SSli
hoat New Bedford, Crapo for London, from
| New Bedford arrived here this afternoon The
boas had shifted cargo, and the water vas nearly
out O. some Of the casks, owing 10 improper
coopetage. The bedding and provisions we're
somewhat wcltcd 10 consequence. Captain
Crapo IVES minus pump, but vas freely iurn
ished with one by j. j.. luce, ceI. esteIday
morning at s 0 clock start was made lor Chat
ham, where repairs and such improvements az
have suggested tlemseve since leaving home
will be made. Size arrived at Chatham Oh
Tuesday afternoon.
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