Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-04-05
BILL OF YARE-(APPoISIED OFFICERS MISSY
Chrisfmas ls77-oE Cape Horn.

Oyster stew (made from canned oysters.
Ham and Bacon, Corned Beef.
Potatoes, Onions, String Beans Canned, Toma-
toes (canned), Green Corn, canned. Parsnips
(canned), Sardines, canned.
Puddings, Pie,, Cake, Jelly Canned, Crackers
Tea and Coffee.
Of course the crew are not able to buy
these canned provisions. and have TO eat the
salt provisions furnished by the government.
and already the doctors have had to issue to
every man some medicine to counteract the
effects of SO much salt food.
January lst. l87s.-Last night the New
Year was ushered in with frightful racke.
At IL O'Clock eight bells were struck tlrice,
once for the Old Year and once for the New.
blast was blown on every available fog
horn and trumpet in the ship. Every sleep
er WAS aroused and every one was wishing
each Happy New Year"
We have had excellent winds during the
past week and have sailed nearly 1900 miles
since Christmas. If we keep ON like this our
voyage will be ended much sooner than we
expected.
January llth. This morning we sighted "A
large ship, and ut noon she was quite close to
us. As usual, We signalled to her She
answered us. and impaired If zoe ,ciShed 10 er-
anime her papers. We replied in the negative,
and she continued on her course. As this
question is one whicn is seldom asked ex-
cept in time of war. it has caused considera-
Bile conjecture among us. Is the United
States at war with any other nation | hope
not.
Wouldn't it be joke it. lust as we were
almost home, another vessel of war should
gobble us up and take us prisoners of war to
Spain, or some otner outlandish country. II
could very easily be- done, because we are
almost totally defenceless. We have no
powder or ammunition on board, and only
two or three muskets and revolvers
January 18th We have now been over
eighty days at sea- and We now, worse than
ever, feel the discomforts of long sea vov-
age. For some time past our provisions
have been getting short. but that We do not
mind SO much But now our water is failing
US, and to-day we commence on n reduced
allowance of that Indispensable article. We
are allowed only barely enough TO satisfy our
thirst For washing purposes, etc. we have
to use the salt sea water This il rather
hard
We are within about 1000 miles of the
equator and the weather il very hot again
1t seems only day or two since l was going
about in overcoat and iiannels, and now the
thinnest clothes are oppressive. We have
had. since leaving San Francisco, four
changes of climate, from extreme heat to
cold and the pleasant prospect is still before
us of being frozen stiff (motaphorically
spenking) when we arrive at Washington
next month.
January 10Th. il has been raining
as it only cd,. rnin in the Tropics, and every
body has been catching water in buckets
pans. tarpaulins. and everything that would
answer for that purpose Some of the water
tanks have been filed. and 30 We are relieved.
in a measure from the scarcity Of water.
We have seen many flying fish during the
past day or two and several have killed
themselves by flying against the side of the
ship. We have also sighted many vessels.
most of them in the Brazilian coasting trnde
We boarded one of Them, the other day, to see
if we could find out any news, but all the
news that her captain the was Portuguesel
could tell us was, 'fhat the Russians aud
Turks were still fighting" Just think of it
We know nothing of what has happened in