The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-01-29
Ships of the Past.

In these days of large ships and still
larger steamers, it is refreshing to an
old sailor, or still older hipowner, to
| recall the grand old ships of thirty-five
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 hulls, with square
yards and short masts, wire standing
riggings, 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 style of ves-
sci. But are they an improvement up
on the eldP l 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 passages to or from the identi-
cal ports equally quick, such passages
having been made by vessels that in
these times would be as much curl
Osity as the Chinese junks were when ]
was boy.
How regularly these old vessel. 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 a seaworthy condition.
The good old ship. with her round and
easy model, carried cargo with ease
and comfort No thrashing and strain
ing in a gale of wind or heavy sea; easy
to her rigging, she came out of a gale
fresh as a daisy, and without a particle
of damage to herself OF 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 a white band picked
out with ports, or the bright waist,
flush deck fore and aft, broken only by
the caboose, lorg boat. and companion
way; the old-fashioned windlass, with
working-room on each side of it
good hempen standing rigging, we'll
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 yet
graceful and airy, topgallant and royal
studding sails, not forgetting the snowy
white main skysdll, the apex of the
whole beautiful creation.
Whole topsails had 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, were sailors, and could tie up
tho n,1rS1in "A II
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, l 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-cal!ed India mail,
SO that 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, l must
accept all the terrible changes, and
comfort myself talking with some old
fogy, like myself, of the ''good old
days. ."-Bostom Budget