Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-09-22
NO. 22s.
YMORNIN sTYENn 221
mistellaneous.
CAPT. GOLDSNITA'S ATTEMPT 70 CROSS
the ATLANTIC.


THE ATLANTIC.
The fate of the little boat Uncle Sam, with
Captain Goldsmith and wife as crew, which
started from Boston some months since for
journey around the world, has already been
chronicled, but the details of the hazardous
and well nigh fatal voyage of Capt. Goldsmith
have never been made public. Below Is the
log of the boat after leaving Newfoundland:
August IL, ls79.--Left st. Johns, New
fonndland with fair wind from the west,
and as we were getting outside the fishing
schooner Oceania of Marblehead saluted us,
and the skipper and mate accepted an invita-
tion from the Marbleheaders and part0ok OF
good dinner. Returned to the "Uncle Sam"
made sail and stood of east by south with
light breeze from the westward, which blew
stronger toward evening.
August l2-The wind went down toward
morning. At 4 a. m. turned in; got up at
a. M, finding fair weather with little wind.
A six-not breeze sprung up from the south
west at p. m., which brought with it . thick
fog
| August l3.-Wind N. w.. with occasional
calms. Turned in at 1 a. m. and got up at
a. m. saw q brigantine to the southwark. At
6 a. m. got becalmed and turned in for sleep,
after taking in Mainsail, and letting her lay-to
unuer llD. SIept tlIi p H., anu awOAc !"
| find little more wind stirring.
SERIOUS ILLNESS OF THE NATE.
My wife has been very sick ever since we
left st. Johns, N. +. I thought at first it was
nothing but sea-sickness; for that reason
did not mention it in my log before, but ind
it more serious. She is very feverish, with
bad headache and cramps in her bowels, that
makes her draw herself up SO it is pity to
look at her.
August l4.--Wind from the s. The sun got
up in all its splendor, but soon was obscured
by a thick fog, with wind increasing. AT
p. m. took in reef. Mrs. G. is still very sick.
am afraid it is Inflammation of thu bowels,
of which she has had an attack before. This
| is hard place to be sick, and and a hard place
for me. have to sail the boat and to doctor
her, with nothing to doctor her with. have
been giving her some medicine for the pain in
her bowels, but she can't keep it down. At
p. m. came near being run down by brig
antne. just happened to see her dead ahead
of me. She didn't blow her fog horn, nor did
l, for mine was out of order.
August l5.-Still foggy, with the wind from
the southwest. After three hours rest feel
first-rate, but not SO my wife, who is no better;
she can't stand this much longer. At 8 p. m.
got becalmed and turned in.
August l6.-Turned out at midnight, with
southwest wind blowing At 6 q. m. it veered
round to the northwest nth tremendous force;
put reef in my square sail and ran before 1t
until the sea ran so high there was great dam
ger of trimming her under her and turning
her end first, but I was ready with my knife
to cut the halliards at any moment. This did
not last long, as the wind increased until 1t
blew a gale. had to take down my sail and
hcave her to, with my two drags out to my
fathoms of line, when she lay like duck
Barometer twenty nine and still falling. l
thought it was good time to rest. so went
to lay down by the side Of my sick wife, who
is no better. About Sp. m. l was awakened
by the water coming in where we were sleep
ing to the depth Of twelve inches. 1t brought
me up in hurry, and in getting up struck
my nose against a deck-beam, which stunned
me for moment. When got out found
the Uncle Sam laying in the trough Of the
sea. had no time to find out the cause
The wind was blowing gale, with the sea
| like mountains, and breaking badly. l got .
bottle of oil that was handy and poured some
over the weather-side. Then went at work
| to get the water ont of the boat for if another
sea like that should strike us it would be the
end of us and the Uncle SAM While was
getting the water out tried to cheer my wife
| by calling to her, but her only response was
| deep sigh. At this time she was sitting up
and, as the boat rolled, the water Mt times
would go clear over her head. After getting
the water out tied a line about me and went
forward, where found that my drag line had
| parted and had lost my two drags and two
oars which had lashed to the drags to keep
them afoat, and to each oar hsd attached
bag of oakum saturated with oil for the pur-
pose of smothering the sea. ! then close
reefed my mainsail and hove to under that;
poured some more oil overheard and then
went to see how things looked inside. l
found still good deal of water in her.
tried to light the lamp but found the water had
got in it and that it was impossible to light 1t.
| went forward and got a lantern, which
succeeded in lighting after burning half
bunch of matches. got the rest Of the wa
ter out. and then found that my bread and
provisions were all spoiled. the lockers being
full of water. My can provisions were all
good, however. l asked my wife how she
felt. she said she was ready to die and didn't
care what became of her. l then went and
| took the tiller as the boat was not laying to
good under sail, and, having used all my oil
by throwing it overheard while putting things
to right, the night being pitch dark, had
| good chance for reflection. 1t is impossible
to describe my feelings. With every inch Of
clothing we had on wringing wet and not .
dry stitch to put on; with not dry place in
which to lie down; with the dry provisions
all ruined, drags and oars lost, (Which de-
pended upon in a stormy barometer at rs, with
no prospect of the storm abating, there was,
indeed, food for reflection. This Is what
call watery solitude.
August Ill have beer sitting at the tilier
all night, for it wouldn't do to go to sleep, as
the boat wouldn't lay to under sail without
some one at the tiller. 1t is blowing still
harder today, with terrific sea. My wife Is
still the same. have been trying to warm
her feet by taking off my stockings and put.
ting them on her, but everything is wet and
nasty, :,
August lS.-Still the gale is raging. with
the sea breaking over me badly. feel tired
and sleepy. have had no sleep for forty.
eight hours. have lost two clests from my
mainsheet, and have had nothing to eat but
some canned mutton-the juice Of which !
gave my sick wife. ~.
August l9.-The gale has ceased, but the
wind is still blowing from the northwest, win
, a heavy sea. have been trying to dry our
clothing by hosting them on the mast. but Il
would take a week to dry them all. ! have
, rnvr h,a, seventy-twO hours without sleep.