The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-21
FIFTY DAYS OF DANGER.

CAPTAIN cRAPO AND WIFE RETURN SAFELY TO
AMERIcA-THE SMALLEST BOAT THAT EVER
CROSSED THE ATLANTIC
The steamship Canada, OF the National line. arrived
at her dock, pier No. 81 North RIVER yesterday utter
long voyage from London, having left that port
January Among her passengers were Captain
Thomas Grape and his wife. who made the memorable
voyage last summer across the broad Atlantic from
New Bedford, Mass, IN whaIeboat schooner-raged.
with leg-ol-mutton saiIs Captain Grape appears to
be OF about thirty five years OF age. of sturdy
build and wears brown beard His face Is weather
beaten, but firm mouth denotes the resolution which
enabled him to carry execution his daring plan.
In hts speech the quick witled Yankee Is plainly
traced. aud every WORD has some shrewd. practical
meaning His wife is, perhaps. his junior by year
or two, healthy, cheerful hepmeet and talks Of her
successful voyage With pardonable PRIDE. Tho
twain found In the freight agents Office the
steamship DOCK surrounded by a group OF admirers,
who listening to each detail OF tho lity days.
voyage with broathiess interest.
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
Tho reporter taken by Captain Grape 10 the
smoking the deck OF the Canada, and there
tho yarn spun OF the trip Of the New Bedford.
"Why did run such a risky Well. III tell you
Ny first idea Yankee one-that is to beat every
thing that had been done before. Useless was III
AS long Engishmen and their cousins are on earth
you'll hear OF thor trying their 'spunk against each
other. Had experienceP Listen to me, young man.
sailed seven years n tho service of Messrs. Rumble
L. Ranisdail OF Harrington, Me-, and although l am
not captain In the American marine-l never got
beyond nfst mattel should like to see the man that
knows about ships than do Besides, I'm
captain now--captaln OF the New Beforehand I'm
prOuaer u that, what we done her tDan II
was commander the quarter deck Of one oi Uncle
SANS men-oi.war" Here the Captain paused, and
~ nf hto
s'W got the idea OF crossing the ocean in
the boat that succeeded in the attempt
went right to work 10 design the cratt-remember,
had trips the Atlantic and spent
u good many Y oars whaling-und when / commenced
eartn wanted such craft Tor. Ny scaiaring trends
never doubted her qualities. People said l was
fool, but didn't care No SIR knew The risk and
the exposure and all that, but went right until
the boat was launched"
ZONE KEPT BorHERISG Me-"
The Captain here became thoughtful, seemed 10
takc gooa deal OF comfort Watching tho clouds OF
smoke that were wreaihing above his head.
"w1y he rep..ed. Zone sS,u~ seps Su.Ssr,nv ma
for The time Of my departure drew nigh my vile
declared sho never would consent TO gong without
her. G00a stock, SIR she's Scotch woman, a native
Of Glasgow. Her father " Swode and mother
was born III Newcas,le-on-Tync l married her at
Marseilles, in November, 1872, board Of the N.Y.
ronus Captain Higgins
swell, nnaily agreed TO take her. When got
ready TO start meeting was held In New BEDFORD my
native town. 10 WISH US COD speed on our journey.
Rev. MIR. Butler presided and trends assembled.
Cattle, compass enssn, water Kegs NC, wers gwen
rugged, with two mass, carrying leg-olmutton sails
draws only ono foot Of water; Keel Is thur.
teen eet; her total length barely twenty feet her
tonnage / 62-100 she is thrly-four inches deep
We carried The American ensign and our burgee
THE VOYAGE
"We sailed from New Bedford ~ hait past twelve
May %, amid Inc cheers OF the crowd on Roucu,s
harG ana ali the vessels at anchor hred salues IN
our hooor. We made real start, however from
chatham at two O'Clock the after noon vi j une q
AS my vessel was too small To have a marine docu.
tn hrrI pnl N Ialta a -
Allen, Collector oICustoms AT New Bedford, ia which,
describing my boat he said:I therefore desire
10 known 10 ali whom II may that Cap
tain Grape we'll known here, aud purpose Is on
trey legitimate, and he good wishes OF tins
community !nat his voyage may De successfully &c.
.Oncc lairy out of sight OF land we had enough to
and think about Our chief diet Vas canned
meats, lsh and frut Our bread Father 'haruish
you may believe. Our provisions were calculated TO
last OUT tho voyage, oven II more than ordinarily do
lay ed; but Tho passage was bad-mure hKo a
stormy, winter one-tnat II We had got from pass
Ing vessels fresh meat bread, vegetables anu WAFER
we should nave persisted On several OCCASIONS we
fou nd ourselves Ia u shual OF whales who spouteu
good deal, and these frightened my vile. Sometimes
two days at stretch VIZ experienced rough
weather had to lay To, attaI he'd 10 what call
drag buoy. AT sucn times could get little rest
when the winds were favorable had ut the
helm the whole time. Onco kept ut post seventy
hours without resi-. My vile scarcely got good ughl's
rest during the whole voyage.
con June 10 We spoke the English barkA nca Ia u
heavy sea, latitude ~ deg. A. min Longitude SO ueg
10 mIn On the Dist spoke tho steamer BATAVIA
bound from Liverpool 10 Boston. There WAS heavy
gale blowing. ana my log notes that tended tue
drag line eighteen hours at stretch. On 23d u
oris offered " Tow Us INTO port, did not
IL IN that light, although tho running
mountains hgh. At eleven on the morning OF tho
z5tn my wife anu boarded lDe Amphitrite u bark
bound lrolr Bremen to New York, anu hero " O were
received Win great knuness, ana on leaving Cap
tam gave provisions couple bottles OF vino
Tbe officers OF good many otucr vessels We net 90,
this date aidJuly were also KIM. On latter
date were aiougsldc tho English steamer Denmark,
from New YORK to London and were given provisions
ana bottles OF Drandy. GA Inc lou, during a
gale, tue German bark Astronom spoke us, and tue
captain asked II wo wanted assistance. Shortly after
our ruddcr twistod oil, but rugged u new ne.
On The 2lst sighted Sicily me next day sighted
Wolf Rock light, oil Lan-s End ana al haifpast i've
7. NJ. OF that day W. passed the light, anchoring at
eleven OIL Ncwland, Penzance. At IN dnight turned
In Tor sleep, having been on duty Tor seventy hours,
ana the next morning Sunday the 'nissus' ana |
went ashore. Aud that sir, Is u true history OF the
trip oil the New Bedford"