Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-05-24
MY FIRST VOYAGE.

I sailed from the East India docks
on Sept. l, 1857, in the full rugged
ship Duncan Dunbar, 1874 tons,
for Sydney. This vessel was
named alter her owner, who was so
memorable a man in the history of
British shipping that | cannot but
pause a moment to refer to him.
To the eternal honor of Duncan
DnnOar be it said that he began
life as rag aud bottle merchant
and workt d with such energy and
skill thet be died possessed OF
more than two millions of English
gold and the fiuest fleetOf mel chant
shlps at that time trading TO all
parts of the world from the river
Thames. He was remarkable for
his avarice, aud many diYerting
stories of his cheeseparlLg Strug'
giles were current on board bis own
vessels.
Unlike the shipOwner OF today,
who is with scarce an exception
one of a company. Dunbar was the
sole holder of his fleet. He died in
1861, and a portion of his great
wealth went to Mr.. Gellatly, a
very kind, gentlemanly person
who had married the rich mans
niece and for years managed his
business down near the docks.
went to sea rs midshipman III
the merchant service. But this is
a catch. penny term. Outside the
royal navy there are DO mldship
men. Consequently, as l did moi
snip as an apprentice, [ must have
signed articles as a boy simply.
l think the premium charged
for the first voyage was 60 guineas
The outfit cost abou; 80. So tha
to send lad on voyage in those
days was cOstlIer 10 parent thai
putting him to a first class school
where he would have got som'
education, perhaps learned goo(
manners and probably acquired
taste for trade or one of the pro
LESSONS.
Certainly of the midsbipman il
the merchant service in my tim'
not half remained at sea after tb
first voyage, and hardly a Noutl
out Of our numbers ever found
place upon the quarter deck, evel
in the langhably low capacity o
folrth mate. Most OF the captain
and officers began as appretices o
rase from the fOrecastle.
was Is years and Z mouths oil
when [ went to sea aud was un
doubtedly too young for the vocs
ton. / had no strength Of bod
for The rough usage of tue miC
shlpman's berth. was 100 tend
to 90 alOft or to keep the dec
through long, bitter night.
well remember the dav aud til
hour when / stepped on board th
Duncan Dunbar, in the East lndi
docks. Ii was all wild cOnfuslO
TO my inexperienced gaze. lu
medialely after | bad gained th
ship she began to warp out OF docl
Drunken seamen on the for, cast
were Shritking and gesticulating I
equally drunken people ashore
The waist aud quarter deck "eI
full of ''lnpperr," or "runner
elbowiDg crowds of weeping stee
age passengers, shabbily dresse
and elutcbing screaming infanIs.
Eight or nine Widshipmen wei
running about the poop. cOul
merely hold on and look on. III
confusion was complicated b
noise. Every one seemed to
shouting, and nothing was
peace on board that irlgate bul
ship, freIghted to her chain pla
bolts for the other side of the wOrl
except her blue peter, signal OF d
parture, blowing serenly at b
iorercyAl masthead.
No work seemed expected OF u
1t was repaired, however, tina
e should not get 10 the way. AS
r succeeded in getting very much
the way l was purposely knock
about, and when at last | "