The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-15

The captain, his wife and two sons,
aged l2and 16 years, were saved, but
the bark was so badly damaged that
the surveyors condemned her, and she
was sold for a song. The vessel was
built of oak and chestnut at Mystic,
Conn, for Capt. Slocum in 1865.
AT SEA IN A CANOE.
ENothing daunted by the mistortunes
that had overtaken him, Capt. Slocum
gathered the remnants Of his fortune
together and constructed canoe in
which to return to Baltimore. He built
her of hardwood, with a &c ;ker keel,
and stepped three masts as straight as
needles in her. She was decked over
with a raised cabin extending about
one-third of her length-thirty feet-and
rooted over with mats securely sewed
to the framework. The canoes beam
was five feet, and she drew three feet
Of water when launched. Ropes were
stretched along the sides to prevent the
passengers from sliding off the round
ing deck. The American consul offered
to send the captain and his family
home, but he declined, and Mrs. Slo-
cum seemed to think her husband
knew what he was about, and entered
heartily into his plan.
The canoe was provisioned, and with
her three lateen sails SET left Rio Grande
do Sui in rattling breeze. The captain
named his boat the Liberdade, and she
soon fulfilled her owners hopes regard
ing speed and seaworthiness, for two
months later she entered the harbor
of Santos. This was about June 26 last,
and here he met Capt. Baker, of the
United States and Brazilian mail stea-
mer Finance, who towed him from
Santos to Rio. Mrs. Slocum, agreed to
take the passage to Rio in the Finance
with the children. Capt. Slocum stayed
in the canoe and a long tow line was
attached to her. The wind was blowing
a gale when the Finance steamed out
to sea and during the five days of the
voyage it continued to blow great guns.
Seas washed clear over the promenade
deck of the Finance and the steamer
made her tacks a point at a time to
give the canoe plenty of sweep. Capt.
Baker had oil bags suspended over his
stern, but every time he caught sight
Of Capt. Slocum in the canoe that
individual was sitting bolt upright with
his hands on the tlller.
POURING OIL on NTIIE WATERS.
Mountainous seas boiled over the bar
at the entrance to Rio Janeiro harbor
when the Finance, with her tow,
arrived on August 80, but with the aid
of oil the canoe came through right
side up. A bunch of bananas which
was suspended in the fore rigging Of
the canoe at Santos still held its posi-
ton.
Capt. Slocum said he would not have
missed his experience in the canoe
during the trip for anything, but he
did not care to be towed again. When
he was in the trough Of the seas all he
could see of the Finance was the fore
topgallant yard.
The Liberdade remained at Rio for
several days and then left for Pernam-
buco. The Finance over-hauled her one
thousand miles out, and in response to
hail Capt. Slocum said himself and
family were all right, and bade Capt.
Baker "go ahead" if he was Sin a
hurry" The Finance, however, lay TO,
and at Capt. Bakers request the Liber-
dade came alongside, when barrel of
potatoes, some vegetables, bread and
butter and other edibles were lowered
into the canoe.
Half hundred novels the passengers
haG been reading were dropped on the
Liberdade's deck, and a gentlen an
passenger looking over the rail at Mrs.
Slocum, comely woman Of forty, who
stood by the cabin door, remarked fer
vently: "If that captain ever dies I'd
like to marry that woman. She's the
pluckiest woman. ever saw"
Capt. Slocum stubbornly refused to
have himself or family taken on board
the Finance. and the canoe filled away
as the steamers whistle shrieked part
ing salute.
OVER TWO THOUSAND MILES IN NINE
TEEN DAYS.
At Barbados Capt. Slocum again met
Capt. Baker and the Finance, the
Liberdade having made the voyage
from Rio to Pernambuco, a distance of
1856 miles in nineteen days. This was
equal to 124 miles per day or five and
one-siXth knots per hoI- Capt Baker
renewed his offer to ta..c Capt. Slocum
and family home or to take his |. 0. L.
for $500, but Sloculn would not listen to
it. He declared he would go home in
the canoe and he is going 70 keep his
word. He has the offer Of the command
of 4 large vessel when he gets home.
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