The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-24

Fully Two Years VIM be Necessary to
Cenplsts the Perilous voyass-
the Tourists.
NKx.nas, CAL, Nov. 22.-The two daring
nsyieatoes, Godfrey Sykes and Charles Mo-
Lean, Who propose coasting around the
world IN . small boat, are now making nnal
preparations for the commencement OF sneir
perilous undertaking.
Thev viii launch their little craft on the
Colorado river about tho sd instant and
pull down the river light to Yuma, where
they will ballast and provision her and than
make for the gulf below.
Their trip q roughly and briefly mapped
ont. will DO ~ follows: Reaching the Gulf
Of California at the mouth Of the Colorado
river. they will follow the Mexican and
Central American coasts to South America.
down to Magellan straits, thence mp the
east coast a. :. far 49, g CAPE Pc st. ~, R3oaus:
the Atlantic and 90 to Sierra Leone
on the African coast, thence east
along the European coast to the
British islands. They will then return
through the Bay Of Biscay into the Medi:
tcxt80840
Red sea to the Indian ocean. along the coast
of China and Japan, passing by Singapore,
Hong Kong and Yokohama, up the Russian
coast, Leaving the Russian coast at Petro-
polofsky, they will cross the Pacific ocean
at the Aleutian islands. and thence come
They calculate that the trip, provided no
unusual amount Of bad luck overtakes
them. will occupy the best part Of two and
half years. and they hope to be back in
time TO attend the Worlds Fair In Chicago.
ors propose to make this trip around the
world Is twenty-five feet over all, twenty
feet keel, and seven feet three inches beam.
Il 10 built after the Mackinaw pattern.
though the lines are finer than those of the
BULGE smidsS Gp TSe mat material used
is we'll seasoned selected Arizona pine, and
she has twenty-one strong steel ribs. She
il provided with four water-tight lockers
for slowing books and instruments, and two
air chambers forward and att capable OF
She has six-foot deck forward and the
same size deck aft, which, with the wash
boards, will be covered with heavy canvas
and painted. Light, she draws ten inches,
and loaded and ballssted, twenty-five inches:
pounds. The sails are three in number, be-
ing mainsail, foresail and jib, and are Of
the Pound pattern, combination Of top
sail and mainsail.
Believing that the American plan Of CEN
ter-board is preferable, both for speed and
safety, the builders have rigoed her with
one Of boiler iron with six feet Of surface.
which gradually runs when In position
from nothing forward to two feet aft. At
present she will only carry LEO square feet
Of sail, but after arrival into their first port
on the coast this is to be doubled.
A sextant, barometer, compass, chronom-
graphic outfit. viii comprise the useful and
scientific armament Of the ship, while q
condenser will be carried to be used
Il Is calculated that she can be
easily victualed for the two men for
four months. Besides the symmetrical and
buoyant appearance OF the little craft, the
men claim that she will prove fast sailer,
and they propose to win some money from
the Britishers on their trip through English
waters. Another source Of pride to them 10
the claim that she ID the first sea9oing boat
built 1000 feet above sea level.
The hazardous undertaking il not the re-
trary, both men have cherished the Idea for
years. and essh only awaited mseting man
who would take the Same view Of the mat
ter as lie did. In ''cow camp" in Arizona
the two men met more than year ago, and
there and then the journey was agreed to.
men, IL native Of Paisley, Scotland, and
is between 80 and 81 years Of age. He has
had seven years experience before the mast
in whaling and ooasting vessels, and 10 an
expert In sailing small boat. He Is very
quiet, unobtrusive young man, and though
retiring and unassuminR in conversation,
has an air Of decision and discrimination
about him. He says he knows and appre-
ciates the hardships which he will have 10
undergo, but be is confident Of success.
For years." said he, II Wa planning 9
ready to be put into execution, but could
and no one whom thought was Just exact
" the man to accompany me. Finally /
drifted into Arizona and went into the cat
tie business, whore ! met Red Sykes.
''One night. after hard days round up.
Icasaally referred to my pct scheme
What's that. Charlie, said Red. do
you want to coast Il around the world, too?'
eyes, have dreamed Of II, and thought
OF i for years.
., .ThsSn, y boy, zen zen %. h s. scheme =,
make such trip, and you arc the man to
with me-"
Thus vas the compact entered into, and
from that day until this thsy have worked
and looked forward 70 The day Of sailing.
Sykes beeauss Of the auburn hue q his
looks and the ruddy, rosy glow Of hia face.
il q native. Of ''Merrie England" havinr
been born In London tWenfy-seven lyeSrs
ago. He u genius. and not unlike many
ceniuses, he Ii eccentric. His parents e
tempted to give him thorough classical
and literary education, and though. through
impatieuce, he did not remsin at college
long enough to obtain his degree, he u .
thorough scholar, being we'll mp in philoso-
phy, astronomy, mathematics and Latin
and Greek. Some years ago he took quite
fancy to navigation, and after studying il
and Learning all he could Of it theoretical-
u, he made four voyages around tho world.
In order TO take advantage Of his surround
ings. he did mot ship before the mast, but
would pay his passage in vessels which did
not carry passengers, and when ont at sea
would assist the officers in navigating their
vessel. thus putting into practice tbs the
ory which he had learned.
Both men are decidedly in earnest, and
determined to succeed, IL success Lies In
their power. Both arc handy at any kind
of work. and both ars good navi9atora
They begin their journey vitha full reali-
cation Of the many dangers and privatious
before them, but they arc confident OF euo-
ceeding. Should their little vesssl Do cap
sized, abs il 90 constructed that BY remov-
ing the masts she will right herself again,
and though she should b 6llsd with water
che viii mot sink, and when bailed ont il %
good q before.
From every port which the voyaRers pat
into they win write back to their friends.
and inform than in detail Of THAR inurnav