The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-02-05

feel easT.
He suggested that we go to the shipping
office.
On our way there we made bargain,
and l signed papers to go on board of the
clipper ship Golden State" Capt. Andrew
Barstow in command, bound for Shanghai,
China, from thence around the Cape Of
Good Hope to New York. This was in
October, 1854.
l thought, will we ever get there on a
sailing vessel.
The captain suggested that 60 aboard.
was very glad to do so.
got my dunnage and reported to the
drst mate. He put me in a house on deck
with three others. We had elegant quart
ers. | was soon put at work with the
Others reavlng running gear and making
other preparations for sea.
We were going to cross the Pacific in
ballast in day or two.
We cast off from the wharf. tug
flowed us into the stream and we anchored
close to small mountain in front of the
entrance 70 the bay, at the northward OF
the famous Telegraph Hill. Since then, 1
believe, the government has put fort on
it During that evening the balance Of
ahe crew were brought on board. Some Of
them were pretty drunk and contended
that they had shipped for the Galiteer, not
the golden State, for the latter ship hadn't
very good name among the sailors in
Frisco. However, they got quieted down
and went to sleep.
Next morning a tug was alongside,
bright and early. The anchor broke, the
tow line was soon taut, and we were Off
We soon passed out the golden gate.
Everything on board was hustle.
Some one sang out "whale."
climbed on spare spar dashed ON deck,
Tor the waist was so high one could not see
over it. l saw his back as we were all so
busy hadn't chance to look much at his
Iordship.
The tugboat had cast off and it wasn't
long before the ship was under full sail.
All hands were mustered aft on the main
deck Chats between the main and mizzen
mast), the roll was called and the whole
crew was divided into two watches. Star
board was the first mate, port the second
The captain had no watch. l believe the
dog watch in the evening is considered his,
but whatever officer was on the quarter
deck looking after the ship, whenever the
captain put in an appearance the officer in
charge would Immediately leave and go to
other duties and the captain lookout
He was liable to come on deck at any
time
The first mate asked me if | would sooner
work on sails and have all night in or stand
watch.
was not long in deciding in favor of
she sail work.
was given between deck, with nearly
whole suit OF spare sails to repair and
new n,oin +cpsail 10 make out Of Russia
duck. l had a picnic.
/ forgot to mention that this ship was
about 1900 tons burthen and two decks.
For two or three weeks or longer we had
delightful weather.
The ship, with everything set with an
easy roll, for the sails kept her so, was de-
lightful, compared to a sidewheel steamer,
which is the meanest boat man ever went
to sea in, pounding, roaring one guard
and whcelhouse half under water, the
wheel opposite not touching the water,
then heavy roll and the other wheel and
wheelhOuSc would be buried Such was
the case on the George Law off Hatteras.
A person would almost wonder how wood
and iron could stand it.
In sailing West you will lose a good deal
OF time, After we were out four or five
weeks it just amounted to "a hours. So
we had one week with but six days, and
the missing day was Thursday duff day.
Plum duff on merchantmen means -four
and water mixed to a dough, with a season
here and there, put in bag and boiled,
served with molasses This we had to do
without, in order to make our bean day
come right, which was Friday. Our plans,
raisins, rum were out but we had a pretty
good substitute in the shape of dried
apples
When we were out about five weeks the
new main topsail was ordered bent It
was daisy and | was mighty proud of it.
L turned in as usual on Saturday night
The weather didn't ook altogether right.
There was good deal of hustle on deck
during the watch from II to 4 Chewing I'M
and furling skysails and royals. The ship
seemed to be laboring good deal more
shan usual, and from the roaring of the
wind through the rigging, each size rope
having different sound from this con-
remuneration OF sound knew it was
blowing. Besides that it was raining.
hauled out to lay in stock of rain
water. just at that time eight bells struck
4 a. m.-when call hands on deckr wa.
she cry. Then clew up top-gallant-sails,
malnsail and foresail, close reef topsails
fore and aft.
Daylight made its appearance
Every gale a sailor GETS in is the wors.