Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-04-16
Ships of the Past.

In these days of large ships and still
larger steamers, it is refreshing to an
old sailor, or still older Shipowner. to
recall the grand old ships of thirty-fve
and even fifty years ago. Compare the
sailing ships of to-day with those of
years ago, and what do we find? Large
and moderately sharp bulls, with square
yards and short maSts, wire standing
rlggIngs, patent anchors, windlass
pumps, steering gear, iron water-tank,
steam engine, and many other conven-
lent arrangements. Doubtless the
march OF Improvement and the GROW
ing necessities of commerce have grad
ually led up to the present stvIe of YES
sci. But are they an Improvement up-
on the old? do not find that the av-
erage time of passage from and to the
East Indies, or round the Horn ports, is
lessened. Occasionally there is noticed
some rapid passage, but reference to
old shipping papers will show the rec
ords of paSSa GEES to or from the identi-
cal ports equally quick, such passages
having been made by vessels that in
these times would be as much a curl
osity as the Chinese junks were when
was boy.
How regularly these old vessels made
their voyages, delivering their cargoes
in fine order, after which they were
ready to load for the return voyage at
once. No long and expensive jobs at
the end of every passage, in order to
put the ship IN Il SeaworthY condition.
The good old ship, with her round and
easy model, carried cargo with ease
and comfort No thrashing and strain
ing in gale of wind or heavy sea; easy
to her rigging, she came out of a gale
fresh as a daisy, and without Il particle
of damage to herself or cargo. What
does the sailor of to-day know of the
beauteous ship of old? The snug little
ship of four hundred tons or there
abouts, with white band picked
out with ports, or the bright waist,
flush deck fore and aft, broken only by
the cabOOse, long boat, and companion
way; the old-fashioned windlaSs, with
working-room on each side of it
good hempen standing rigging, well
taken care of; the old-fashioned wheel
and tiller, the big, lower studding
sail, with the swinging boom; the COM
Portable and serviceable topmast stud
ding sails, and the less useful, but vet
graceful and airy, topgallant and royal
studding sails, not forgetting the snowy
white main skysail, the apex of the
whole beautiful creation.
Whole tOpSails mad not then given
place to double. Close reefing off
either of the caps meant warm work
for the crew; but the men knew their
duties, We're sailors, and could tie up
the muslin and e happy. Dear old
vessels | know the ending of many of
you, and as from time to time | have
read of the final end of some of your
number, | have felt as though some
old friend had gone before me. Your
memories are pleasant to dwell upon,
and the remembrance of the glorious
men that trod your decks as masters,
mates, and sailors recall also the pleas
ant days that / have passed on board
some of you during voyages to India
and China.
At some time in the future | may re-
call my experiences OF certain voyages
in years long gone. In those days the
telegraph was unknown. Old Parker,
upon the observatory on Central wharf,
had telegraphic code of signals for
vessels; but Morse had not electrified
the world. Sixty days was the aver
age time of the so-called India mail,
SO that a voyage to India meant from
four to four and a half months passage
out, and an additional two months for
the news of your arrival toreach home.
Now the Suez canal and the electric
wire have changed everything. But,
as the world must progress, [ must
accept all the terrible changes, and
comfort myself talking with some old
fogy, like myself, of the ''good old
days. "-B0stO'o Budget