National Republican., 1883-05-22
A pERILous VOYAGE.
A Sailor Crosses the Pacific Alone In a
Small Two-Ton boat.

Small Two-Ton Boat.
The London Daily News condenscs from an
tpodoan sources the following interesting ac-
count Of the voyage made by foolhardy
mariner from San Francisco to point neal
Australia:
Details are just 10 hand Of the extraordi-
nary voyage across tho Pacific by an Ameri.
can named Gilfoy. The voyage was under
taken rs one Of pleasure, but the adventures
he passed through were not all Of an agree.
able nature. Gilfoy and his little craft were
fallen IN with on the twenty-ninth of Janu-
airy by the schooner Albert Vittery. He was
then 100 miles Off Capo Sandy, and when
taken from the boat was in state
Of extreme exhaustion. He kept n
log of the voyage, in which the whole
OF his exper once was recorded. 1t seems
that he left San Francisco on the twenty
ninth OF August last year, with the intention
of crossing the Pacific aud reaching Austria.
liza. He anticipated that the voyage would
occupy some five months, for which period
he had provisioned his boat, taking with him
also l4O gallons Of water. For the first week
matters went on very satisfactorily, but after
this calms and headwinds were encountered,
which continued for at least fortnight. On
tho twenty.sixth of September ho crossed tho
line, having then fair winds. subsequently,
however, calms set in, and very little progress
was made, so little, indeed, that Gilfoy
found IL necessary 10 shorten his allowance
of food; but before this he was unable
to eat much on account of having no
exercise. It was Gilfoy's habit to sleep
three or four hours before daylight but
in this he was very often disturbed by the
knocking Of fish against his boat. Very
often sharks came near to tho boat, and, af-
tor taking mouthfuls Of small fish, would dis
appear. Gilfoy, however, was very much
afraid Of the sharks and made harpoon
from boat-hook, and with this he speared
any that came within his reach. The sharks
however, soon became aware Of the danger in
going too near the boat, and after this Kept II
safe distance of. Several were struck with
the improvisod harpoon, but Gilfoy was un-
able to draw any of them near the boat.
When, however, he went below, he found
that the sharks ventured dangerously near
his boat, and in order to keep them of he
had to resort to stratagem. Each time
when he retired to rest he put his shirt in
the place where he was accustomed to sit,
and the sharks, still thinking he was there,
did not venture near. On November 10 the
enabled to rectlfy his compass, having pre-
viously been guided by dead reckoning. He
also received from the vessel a quantity of
fruit. On the 9th Of December he was sail
ing along rapidly when his boat was suddenly
struck by wave and capslzed, and Gilfoy
was thrown into the water. He managed to
get on the bottom of the boat and by great
exertions he succeeded in righting it, though
immediately afterward it was turned com
pletely over second time. Fortunately he
was again able to right tho craft, but found
that most Of his provisions and water
had been lost and spoiled by tho salt
water. He was then 1,400 miles OFF
Cape Sandy. 1t took him seven days
TO put his vessel in order, and he again
roar ia affn
sword-tish struck the boat, causing IL to leak |
very much, and 1t was not observed by Gilfoy |
until the boat was very nearly full of water |
BY the capsizing Of tho boat Gilfoy lost his |
watch and compass, and he therefore deter |
mined to make for New Caledonia. On the |
7th of January he caught a bird which had |
flown on his boat, and four days later he |
caught a second one. The bird In this in. |
stance alighted on ttopf Of the adventurous |
head. Both of them were very acceptable for |
food. On the 14th of January Gilfoy ate the |
last Of his provisions2Af two pound tin of pre-
served meat-whichS had lasted him fora
week. On more than one occasion flying
fish was caught, which was eaten without
ceremony. Gilfoy was now becoming raven
Gus for want of wood. The 10th of January
brought another disaster, the rudder of the
vessel giving way, but this was coupteracted
to certain extent by a temporary con-
trivance which he rigged up, or Cape Bel
lonia island another bird was caught, but by
this time Gilfoy's hunger was becoming too
great for him to bear, and as last resort he
took the barnacles from the bottom of the
boat and extracted what he could from them.
On the twenty-fourth he shot bird with his
revolver, but was unable to recover It from
.he water. The next day he was fortunate
enough to catch another bird, and this did
aim for two meals He cooked it over few
broken matches. Sunday and Monday passed
without any food, and by this time being
,areless which way the vessel steered, he lay
lown to sleep. A short time afterward he
woke, and to his surprise he saw vessel n
hort distance of, and which was evidently
making for him. This proved to be the Albert
Vittery, which rescued him and landed him
It marlborough, Australia. Gilfoy is man
y years Of age. At latest accounts he had
almost completely recovered.