Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-31
Misrellaneous.
A DARING MARINER.

Several attempts have already been
made by adventurous mariners to enrol
their names on the record of fame by cross
ing the broad Atlantic in little "egg shells
of boats in which inexperienced persons
would hardly dare trust themselves on
Charles River. The Andrews boys, who
crossed last summer in the dorv Nautilus,
are probably the most celebrated. having
accomplished the undertaking in the small
est craft that ever started on such vOy-
age. The history of their trip is too well
known to need repetition. Their little
boat has been an object of attraction to
thousands in Paris, and, though many con-
demned their undertaking as foolhardy
and reckless, all admired their courage. 1t
was thought that no one would attempt to
outdo this adventurous undertaking, but
the spirit of emulation has shown itself.
During the past two weeks there has been
in process of construction at City Point
boat, with which it is expected to eclipse
all other attempts of this nature, and to
put the Nautilus completely in the shade.
for, whereas all others have confined
themselves to crossing the Atlantic the
present aspirant for maritime honors pro-
poses to cross the Atlantic, double the
Cape of Good Hope and then cross the In
dian Ocean to Australia. When it is con-
sdered that it takes a ship about one hum
dred and twenty days to make this trip,
and that it is almost half the the distance
around the world slight idea of the
magnitude of the undertaking may be
formed. The man who intends to do this
is Mr.. Herbert Burrill, at present of Mil
ton. He is rather under the average
height, a quiet, unobtrusive man. evident
IDENTITY very confident that he will accom-
plish his object. He proposes to start
about Christmas time, if he can get good
"off-shore' breeze, and, with good run,
strike into the Gulf stream. After he gets
clear of this coast, he considers he is
safe
Upon careful consideration, Mr.. Burrill
selected Messrs Hutchings x Pryor of the
Point, to model and build his boat, and the
craft they have nearly completed proves
that his selection was good one, for, if a
boat of her dimensions will suit his pur-
pose, he has got it. Both Mr.. Hutching
and Mr.. Pryor have had great deal Of
experience in building boats, not exactly
of this description, but very nearly so.
This boat is but 10 feet over all, 5 feet
beam on top, and little wider on the
water line, her sides having considerable
''tumble i'm Her depth of hold is l-2
feet She is to have an iron keel of about
$50 pounds weight. She is pink sterned,
both bow and stern being sharp. Her
floor is sharp and straight, except far aft,
where there is slight hollow. She is to
have a spare rudder in case of accident.
Her frame is of selected New Hampshire
oak, her planking cypress, and her fasten-
ing is galvanized iron. All that skill and
experience could suggest to the builders
has been done to make her suitable for the
task she is to perform. Her deck is
crowned so that the waves that strike it
will wash over it easily. She has a small
standing room aft, with just room enough
for the steersman. This is to be well
caulked, and to have large scupper holes
for the exit of water She has a cuddy
forward of the standing room, which is
perfectly water-tight so that, when the
slide is closed, no matter how much the
sea may wash her, she cannot fill, and
when it blows she may go over on her
beam ends, and her iron keel will
bring her back again. One of the best
features of the boat is her rig, which is of
peculiar and original construction. Her
mast is to be feet from the stem,
and it is to be 10 feet above the deck.
She is to have n stay run from the
mainmast to the stem, on which is
set a foresail for all weathers. She is
to have housing bowsprit of feet
6 inches in length, with stay running
from the end of it to the masthead, on
which a jib or light weather will be set.
As before stated, her mast is 10 feet in
length above the deck, but besides this she
has a pole which is used somewhat the
same as a housing topmast. On the boom
there is a similar arrangement. The OBJ
jlect of the poles is to increase her storm
mainsail which is ''leg o. mutton shaped.
with ten feet luff and l-2 foot but in light
weather, by the use of these spars, she
can spread mainsail with feet hoist, and
10 1-2 feet boom. In case of fair breeze,
and not too much of it, she has a jigger-
sail. which is set Just aft of the standing
room; this sail will have Il spirit, with s
feet hoist and feet boom. With all this
sail set and the wind abeam, she will be
apt to do some lively travelling In regard
to the outfit Mr.. Burrill will probably
carry a sextant, quadrant and compass to
guide him on his long journey. His food
will be principally canned goods, and his
water be intends to carry in casks, not dar-
ing to trust it in tank. Great as the dam
ger NAV seem, it is not the heavy sea and
wind that are the most to be feared by this
daring adventurer-iti is the loneliness, the
impossibility of taking proper exercise.
the long hours of steering in cramped
position These are the greatest sutferings
in be dreaded, and. whatever honor may
come from the successful accomplishment
of this feat, there are few persons in the
world who would be willing to undertake
it.-Boston Herald Dec. ION.