Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-06-30

The Cruise of the Innocents.


The Cruise of the Inn0cents.
roftcial report of the Admiral Sir, K. c. b.
LOG OF THE KANGAROO.
Went on board ship at 10 O'Clock A. M,
June 10Th. at the Boston Wharf. Norfolk,
Va. All the morning occupied in taking
In stores for the cruise pork, potatoes,
pine wood, poles, puncheons OF water. &c.
Crew aboard consisting OF five souls-three
able seamen (all captains,l ons fat boy to
sleep through all the watches and very
deeply colored brother named William
Malone. The others seemed to be with
out names except the fat boy, who All
swered to Jack, when he answered at all.
Explored the ship-found few rocks in
the hold for ballast. aud half of a sixty
pound drumnsh sailed down on the Keel
about midway between the forehatch and
Jhs door in the cabin bulkheads. SO that
line oder Of this noble (though somewhat
tainted fsh) pervaded every part Of the
vessel.
Weighed anchor at 2. NJ. and the tide
favoring, dropped slowly down the Eliza
beth River past the kirk, past the hill and
past the lighthouse top, (see log of Anci-
ent Mariner.) 3P. M. becalmed below
Crany Island Indications of blow to
windward. Sailed with the first Of this
breeze and in little more than an hour
crossed the Roads and made an anchorage
behind Point Hope and under the lee OF
the new freight house at Newport News.
Had hardly got eur stream anchor out
and all made snug when the storm burst
upon us in all its fury. To say the ships
company s'went below' is to express but
feebly the energy with which they hung
on to the seclusion that cabin grants
The Captains meanwhile staid upon deck
Glowing up the topsaiI .halliards, keeping
out their weather eyes, hanging out the
dead lights passing down the basin and
splicing the mainbrace.
ATOP. M. the fury of the gale SO In
creased that the ship began to drag hsr
anchor. The Big Tom was thereupon let
60 and William Malone ran down the
companion way as pale as a side of Span
ish soe-leather, shouting in despairing
howl that s'Big Tom would not hold and
Captain Lige said the ship was gone up, ~
Tor down. which would have amounted 10
the same thing.) Stem resignation took
possession OF the souls of those below.
Big Tom, 1.-THE great anchor,) however,
did hold, the ship did not drive on the lee
shoIe, the storm abated and William Ma
hone recovered his color if not his spirits
Next morning this promising sailor re-
quested the Captain to pay him off and
put him ashore, declaring his solemn in
tention TO then and theirs renounce torev-
or the life of seafarer.
ATT A. M, on the l7.h. the Admiral,
with his staff, several able seamsn, the
midshipmite and three passengers came
aboard.
At A. M. anchor weighed, made sail
and stood around the Roads under a steady
topsail breeze to Hampton. Wind SOU by
SOU west. Came to anchor in two and
One-half fathoms. Caught crabs, went
fishing, visited the Hygeia Hotel
Weighed anchor and hested sail at s A.
M, on the 18th. Stood across the bay I'M
der full sail. wind SOU by SOU west, to
Fisherman's Island on the Eastern Shore
Came to anchor behind the Island. Hail
cd all the craft in the vicinity, made them
light their lanterns. show their papers and
splice the mainbracs.
At A. NJ. on the 10th, got under weigh
and ran down the coast for fifteen miles
to tbs bar Laaking out from Linen Island.
Cast anchor near ChsrrYstone Light
Passed through great school of porpoisa IS
during this sail. Constant fire kept up on
them by the bow gun and one of the Md
ship batteries. No damage except to the
ammunition, and to the reputation of our
most famous rife shot. Fished, bathed,
and shot sea birds all day. At 2. NJ, a
tremendous squall blew out of the west,
chilling the souls of the mariners who had
been exposed to like experience on Fri
day night. Purser went ashore sick and
took up his quarters at hotel near Cher
rystone.
Stiff breeze from the SOU west all night
causing great rocking of the ship and
much illness among the crew. Even the
Admiral did not feel very well.
Made sail at A. M. on the goth and
beat outside of the line of breakers very
handsomely. Water in the bay outside
breaking into white caps and the sea rum
ming very high.
10 TF hoo OF ~ ob<r
House from the thing you hook it to, and
cunning through the hawssr hole, nearly
scared the life out o. everybody on board
from the Admiral down. The anchor not
being fixed to the chain, however, the
damage was soon repaired and the main
brace was again spliced.
Stood away across the bay and about IL:
80 A. M. passed the Thimble Light at the
end OF the Horse Shoe Shoal. Came to
anchor off the Government Bath Heuse
ashore for provisions.
During the absence of the boat the ships
crew (sailors) sent message aft to the
effect that they would abandon the ship If
they were not better fed. A consultation
was held in the cabin and it was deter
mined to let them leave and take the ship
with them, as the fact had been discover
ed fully that not man of them bad the
faintest idea of where any fishing OF shoot.
ing grounds were. Therefore, when the
provision boat returned frugal repa,t
was partaken OF, the main brace was splic-
ed and the company dispersed. So ended
the rough but happy cruise of the Kanga-
TOO. For those who liked sailing it was a
partial success, for the crew we're good sea-
men; but for those who wanted fishing Or
shooting it was complete failure, for the
reason that the crew knew nothing OF