The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-03-06
IN AN OPEN BOAT.


IN IAN OPEN BOAT.
The Little Trip which n Boston Man and
His Wife Propose Taking Next sunamsr.
Boston Giobe.I
There never was q human being who
accomplished difficult and hitherto
unprecedented feat requiring nerve,
magic, muscle or endurance; that had
not many imitators, and eventually a
superior, who excelled in some particu.
lar. So it is with, those foolhardy
adventurers who cross the Atlantic in
an open boat. First, Grape and his
wife, of New Bedford, went across in a
dory safely; then the Andrews brothers,
of South Boston, year or two later,
went across in still smaller boat, and
made snug little sum by exhibitions
at Havre and other cities. Last Christ
mas man named Burrin advertised to
start on similar reckless expedition,
butreconsidered his determination, and,
it is said, will start in the spring.
Encouraged by the success of these
adventures, new aspirant has deter
mined to outde all others, and will
undertake in June to sail around the
world in boat only eighteen and half
feet long. He will be skipper of the
craft, and will have for mate and crew
his wife. The name e'of this last aspir-
ant for fame is Lewis Il. Goldsmith, who
is short thick-set Dane, about forty
years of age, possessed of thorough
knowledge of the sea, having followed it
from youth until within a few years.
Born in Denmark in 1889, Goldsmith
shipped before the mast as soon as he
was big enough to pull a rope, and trav-
ersed the ocean for twenty.one years,
when circumstances brought him to
Boston at the time of the rebellion. He
enlisted in the navy in 1861, and saw
active service on the rivers of North
Carolina and Virginia until his time
expired in 1864, when he came North,
and very shortly after enlisted in Com
pany G, First Rhode Island Cavalry |;
but his military career was short, as the
war closed six months after his enlist
ment. Returning to the pursuits of a
peaceful life, Goldsmith secured work
at his trade, that of an iron molder
married lady of Warren, r. l., and
settled in this city. In 1877 Goldsmith 8
wife died, but the following year he
made a second matrimonial venture
with Boston lady, who is to accom-
pany him on his perilous voyage.
The rout Goldsmith proposes to take
will be to great extent governed by
circumstances, of course; but, as
mapped out, the first trip will be across
the Atlantic from Boston to Copen-
hagen. touching at Ireland or England,
or both, on the way. Arriving at Dem
mark, Goldsmith's next move will be q
trip north, visiting the principal cities
of Norway and Sweden; thence he pro-
poses to cross the North Sea to Leith,
Scotland. His stay at Scottish ports
viii be governed largely by the time con-
sumed in reaching Leith by the round
about rout laid out, as he proposes to
reach the Mediterranean by March l,
1880, where he will anchor in the port
of Alexandria. Sailing hence through
the Suez Canal, he will stop at Alden in
Arabia, and then clear for Bombay, in
British India. If successful in safely
crossing the tempestuous Indian Ocean,
he will sail for Penang, British port in
the Strait of Malacca, stopping al
Galega on the way. From Penang the
adventurous voyager proposes to sail
northward, and after touching at Singa
pore, offthe southern extremity of Malay
Peninsula, will astonish the Celestials
at Hong Kong, Shanghai, Yokohama and
Yeddo with his Yankee craft; after
which he will sail for California, which
he expects to make in the fall of 1881
From the Golden Gate he will come east
to Boston by rail with his boat and crew
and he expects to turn an honest penny
by exhibiting the craft on his way
Such is the programme as now laid ou
by Mr.. Goldsmith, but circumstance
may change it somewhat. For instance
If sufficient inducements are held ou
the daring seaman says he would diyerg
from his path and takea little run O
five thousand miles to Melbourne, il
Australia. Again, if Burrill starts OF
his trip across the Atlantic, Goldsmith
is willing to make a match will
him that he can beat him on eth,
run across" Mr.. Goldsmith expresse
himself as confident of completin
his journey, relying on his skill
as a navigator and his knowledge of tn
climate, winds and currents of the vari
Gus quarters of the earth which he vii
visit, for safely travelling around thi
sphere of ours.
The boat is now being built by w.
Smith, at City Point, on the mos
approved scientific principles. 1t
eighteen and one-half feet long, six fee
beam, with three feet depth of hole
built of oak and hard pine plankine
1t is so constructed as to be a boat With
a boat, having nine air-tight compar
ments or chambers on each side whic
will foat the craft, even if the boa
ships sea and is filled with water.
is pink-sterned, that is, sharp at bot
ends; has shifting bowsprit, and by
unique arrangement is so constructed s
to "bail' itself. Everything about th
craft is compact, strong and convenier
for the hazardous voyage contemplatet