The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-07
PICTURED STORM
AND DISASTER
Remarkable Voyage of
the British Ship
BlackbraeS.
She Left England Fourteen
Months Ago and Oaly
Arrived Yesterday.
Sprung a Leak While Rounding Cape
Horn, and Had to Put Back
to Montevid:o.

port on November s, 1895, and reached her
destination yesterday. During the four
teen months she was en- route succession
of gales were encountered that twice dis
abled the vessel. Once she put back to
Birkenhead, and when rounding the Horn
the storms we're so severe that many of
the men were disabled, and the vessel had
to put about and run for Montevideo. On
arriving at that point all hands were at
the pumps, and the cargo had to be dis
charged and the vessel docked for repairs.
Captain Chisholm's account of the voy
age is brief but 10 the point. 1t is as fol-
lows:
Sailed from Liverpool November 8, 1898.
Had q succession of heavy southeasterly gales,
which did considerable damage, ana haQ 10
put back to Birkenhead Tor repairs Whlie
living in the dock the Blackbraes was run INTO
by a steamship. We repaired damages ana
sailed again on January 20, 1896. Had south
ery winds to lat. u n and then TOOK tne
to lat n. Crossed the equator In long; -
w and took the southeast trades in lat n.
and carried them to 10 s.
then had a succession of southeriy and west
erly gales. Had southwesterly gales 10 Staten
Island.
northerly and southYes terly gales.
April 10, off Cape Horn, had heavy hurrl-
cane from north-northwest to sou th-southwest
lasting twenty hours, throR wing The snip on ner
beam ends shifting the cargo and blowing
away complete set of sails. Broke about
thirty deck stanchlons and carried away both
forward boats and started the deckhouse and
carried away the port main rail, also doing
considerable damage TO rudder and steering
gear.
Had q succession OF westerly gaIeS untlI
April % when we had a very heavy gale 10
the westward of the Diego Rameriez, when the
ship sprung leak, starting the decks, the
salt water going through the cargo ana INTO
the fresh WateT-tan6.
Headed the ship for Falkland Islands. Ar
rived off the islands on May ID, when we had
q heavy south-Southesst gale and not having
sail enough to hold the ship up had to keep
off for Montevideo, and arrived at Montevideo
on May %, when we discharged large por-
ton OF the cargo repaired The ship and Loaded
all the cargo with the exception OF about go
tons of salt Sailed October Is. Had head
winds to Cape Horn; off Cape Horn had
strong southwest gales and blew away several
sails; had head winds to latitude 40 south
longitude 50 west; had southwest winds to
latitude 80 south; took the southeast trades
in latitude SO south, and carried them to lati-
tude north crossed the equator Decem Der
IL, longitude III 80 west; took the northeast
trades N latitude north and carried them to
latitude 30 north; had Southerly ana north
east winds to port.
One of the apprentices on tne Black
braes kept log OF each days doings and
he thus describes the time all on board
had when the vessel was rounding the
Horn. After recounting the incidents
that had gone before he says:
We'll, we are again settling down in ease and
transport But hush, listen! What is that
mournful sound thst csn be heard in the dis
lance? Nearer and nearer it approaches and
seems to Teyel in the water below. STORMY
spirits are awakening in the heavens The
elements seem 10 combine in their fury with
the rear OF the ocean. The unanimous din be-
speaks a storm. All, it is suddenly upon us!
Order after order is issued and is as quickly
RYppntpd UO'f this rOne ftDDll On't q
other; 'haul on" that; ''ree1" this sail; "furi"
that; tug, pull, haul until we are ready TO fall
on the deck with exhaustion.
Fiercer and fercer the wind the sea doth
lash until it rolls mountains high. The dark
ness seems to augment the storm. As the ship
is put under lighter canvas she begins TO roll.
sea after sea comes over her rails and we are
washed about like sraws on mighty current.
Sail after sail is carried away, torn into rib
bons before we can do anything to save them.
But at last we conquer and are ploughing
through q mighty head sea under three top
sails and fOresail, All that can possibly be
done is done and we are allowed rest.
The starboard watch are all asleep in their
hunks. One of the port watch is laid up with
broken arm.
1t is bitterly cold; every rope. every wire,
in fact all, is a solid mass OF ice. The snow
and hail that are driven by the wind are
enough to cause you to perish.
1t is about l o'clock in the morning. Hor-
rors! The ship is suddenly struck by ter
rife sea and is almost at a standstllL She
trent les like leaf in gentle breeze.
Her DOW Is stove ID, the SLrOnR iron plate
having been burst. leaving a large hole,
through which PUSHES a voluminous body OF
water.
When the sea struck her the water breaks
over the house with such force as to strain our
ports and lift open our skylights, letting in q
fearful body OF water. The poor and weary
wornout lads who are in their hunks are
nearly drowned. Bedcovers, mattre sses and
clothing OF all description are thoroughly
drenched. The lockers on the Starboard bow
have been torn down, and paints, brushes and
oils brOOmS to he floating in q
directions over the deck-a fearful sight as we
view it by the aid of torchIight. The debris
was cleared up as well could be, and the
scattered articles are all put away.
Stronger and more terrific grows the gale
Sea seems to mount sea and throw Itself
against our gallant ship. The starboard tack
OF our foresall is suddenly carried away Now
1t is turl and make fast that heavy sail. Oh
that you were there at that time, that you
might actually go through that bitter expert
encel Not that 1 wish to punish you as we
were punished but that you could experience
actually, and not in imagination, the reckless
bravery required in the Carrying of inter
national commerce.
All hands on "deck'' came the order. Wet
and weary, anxious and exhausted as we were
the next after was call hands lay aloft" Work
pull struggle and wrestle with q spread OF
canvas that flied itself with wind from thai
awful gale; and yet we could not master it
One, two, three, four, and yet the fifth hour
passes, and we are still struggling with the
same sail.
The bitter wind penetrates us to the very
the frost that we can stand 1t no longer. Strips
of flesh are torn from our hands owing to tue
frantic whipping of the sail in the wind I'm
able TO stand the torture on the foot-rope any
longer we go down. After resting few min.
utes up we go again. 1t is daylight, and even
the captain comes up to lend US hand. What
with q lull, and the aid of daylight, we con-
quer: and now it is secure.
You who mug the fire, you who enjoy the full
benefit of distended stomach, you who can
exchange wet garments for dry ones, you who
go TO rest after a days toll between dry, com
Portable covers and the walls OF a cheerful
room, when the storm, the blizzard or snow
squalls are raging, would you exchange places
with US? Would you say you would, even II
, we said the marine mercantile trade must
come to standstill so far we are con-
cerned?
When tell you that there were three-fourths
OF an inch of frost on the bulkheads of oul
ocastle, that we were gaunt from hunger
that for five long weeks we waded III salt
water, and turned mas we call going to rest
in our bunks-with wet garments on, and
came out again from that cold, restless couch
to put on those same wet garments, let this
sound as it will 10 you, yet tell you that it is
implanted truth.
imagine see you turn to the above pic.
ture and as you see sea after sea hurl itsell
over the rails, filling the snip to her utmost
capacity, please remember that we were
clutching, grasping, struggling for a rope,
pin, wire or anything, lest we be washed
through portfolio or over the side.
After the second attempt of rounding
the Horn the Blackbraes did fairly well