Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-20
A YEAR ON THE SEA.
Mrs. SlOcum Tells of Her Long
Voyage From Brazil.
NO MONEY TO PAY THEIR WAY
But, Nothing Daunted, They Constructed q
Tiny Sail Boat.
NOT EAGER FOR ANOTHER SUCH TRIP

NEW YORK, May 1s.-Tales of Captain
Slocum and his wonderful small boat, La
Libertad, have been told far and wide, and
everyone is more or less acquainted with the
fact of his having been shipwrecked of the
coast of Brazil when sailing his own brig.
There he subsequently constructed the tiny
craft in which he has sailed with his family
1000 miles to these shores. A reporter went
down to the small boat, bobbing and rolling
with every ripple Of the tide that flowed
around the gray stone walls of the Barge
Office, close to which La Libertad was
anchored.
"Can you get in?"
This question was Mrs, Slocum's greeting
when her husband introduced the reporter,
whom he had Just handed on board, and
who stood at the entrance to the low canvas
covered deckhouse, the only shelter afforded
by the limited accommodations of the boat.
The hostess sat in the wee cabin on plank
running the length and raised about three
inches from the deck. A sitting posture
was the only attitude possible unless one
chose to lie down. Mrs. Slocum is young,
strong, finely developed woman of perhaps
five or six and twenty. Her brown hair is
brushed smoothly back from broad, full
brow; bright hazel eyes, a frank smiling
mouth, and a chin expressing both frmness
and tenderness, are the features of an oval
face which has acquired rich bronze tint
from months of exposure to tropical suns
and ocean breezes.
HAS HAD HER SHARE.
"It is an experience which 1 should not
care to repeat, although now that it is
mine feel a certain satisfaction in having
gone through it. AS you know, Captain
Slocum's brig, the Aquidneck, was wrecked
a year ago last January at Paranagua.
That is small town inhabited by natives.
Most of our luggage and some of the furni-
ture were saved, but the vessel went to
pieces. and we had no insurance. Ny hus-
band fell i'll with Jungle fever and we had
much trouble" Mrs. Slocum sighed and
was silent moment
"The reason the small boat happened to
be adopted as an expedient was because we
hadn't enough money to pay our passage
home. There were four of us-the Captains
two sons, Victor, who helped his father
build and navigate the boat, and little Gar
field, who is eight years old. 1t is mis-
take about the boat having been constructed
of the ships timbers. She is built of en-
tirely new wood of very fine quality. We
were in a great lumber country and it was
easv to get the best, only it had all TO be
sawed BY hand, so getting it ready con-
sumed much time. The only native labor
employed was in saving planks; all the
rest of the work, every hammer stroke, was
done by Victor and Captain Slocum; only L
made the sails.
LAUNCHING OF THE BOAT.
ssThe boat was ready to launch on the
18th of May, and that being the day when
the slaves in Brazil were liberated we called
her La Libertad, which means liberty, in
commemoration of the occasion. 1t was the
oath of June before we sailed. Just there"
pointing outside the entrance-"stood two
| big water casks. Behind them provisions
were slowed. There's the stove over which
we did our cooking" 1t was small iron
pot on three legs, in which handful of
charcoal could be kindled. when we
reached colder latitudes, in November, we
sometimes used it to heat the cabin, letting
the gas burn off and then placing it at the
| entrance"
"Didn't you grow weary and lonely dur
ing the long voyage?"
fsThe loneliness came and went early in
the voyage. The WEAKNESS grew because it
was impossible to get any exercise. There
was no chance to walk on the narrow deck,
and much of the time it was not possible
| even to stand outside"
'sWere you more oppressed by sense of
loneliness when you first embarked?"
''Yes. When we left Rio they gave us
great send-off Captain Slocum had OBJ
! tained permit to all ports, duty free, from
| the marine Office, and also had been granted
permission to sail under the flag of Brazil.
| They thought it great honor to allow so
small craft to carry their colors. Crowds
of people assembled on the quays to see US
off and they cheered us wildly. 1t was very
exciting. Then, as the land grew dim in
the distance and finally faded from sight, it
seemed very desolate on the sea.
"In few days, however, 1 had learned to
| like the life on board-I became accustomed
to my surroundings, and was not only con-
tented but happy. Wherever we touched
| the most lively interest was manifested, and
when we went ashore we were delightfully."-
entertained At Porto Rico we lay two
days. The United States Consul there in
yited us to dine and drove us out to his
fathers plantation, where we had charm
ing time."
WEDDING JOURNEY.
"Are you going on another voyage, Mrs.
Slocum?"
"Oh, hope not. 1 haven't been home in
over three years, and this was my wedding
Journey" The young woman twisted round
and round heavy golden ring which shone
on her slender finger and looked a good
deal more embarrassed at the statement
than she could possibly have done if she'd
been on shore all that time. Perhaps honey
moons shine longer when lovers are on the
broad sea in little boats.
Young Garfield Slocum here put in an
appearance. He is tanned, freckled, jolly
little chap, who says he'd like to go on an
other voyage ''most any time" BE dis
played some trophies-a whales tooth, a
curious bivalve with hinge big and strong
enoug for fve-barred gate, and the jaw
a1s