The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-03-28
. SlocUS's WONDERFUL vOYieE.

Capt. Joshua Slocum. author OF
| sailing Alone Around the World
having something TO say TO his critics,
says i'm Century Magazine:
From feeling OF diffidence toward
sailors OF great experience / refrained.
in my published account of my single
handed voyage around the world. from
entering fully into the details of the
Sprays build and OF the primitive
methods employed to sail her. Having
had no yachting experience at all.
had no means of knowing that the
trim vessels seen in our ha-bors and
near the land could not at all do as
much, or even more, than the Spray
sailing. for example, on a course with
the helm lashed.
was aware that no other vessel had
sailed in this manner around the globe,
but would have been 10th to say that
another could not do IL. or that many
men had not sailed vessels OF n certain
rig in that manner as far as they WISH
ed to go. / was greatly amused. there
fore, by the fiat assertions Of a local
expert that IL could not be done and
was also amazed that one in his pos
ition should put himself so completely
in my hands when he criticised me
somewhat unkindly, L think.
Some of the oldest and ablest ship
mates have asked how il was possible
for her to hold true course before
the wind, which was just what the
Spray did for weeks together. One OF
these gentlemen, highly esteemed
shipmaster and friend. test. fed as gov
in "a
trial in Boston not long since that a
ship would not hold her course long
enough for the steersman TO leave the
helm To cut the captains throat. Or
dinarily IL would be so. One might say
that with a square-rigged ship IL would
the Spray made from Thursday Island
TO the keeling Cocos Island, 400 miles
distant, In twenty-three days, with no
one at the helm in that time save for
about one hour from land to land.
No other ship In the history of the
world ever performed, under similar
circumstances. the feat on so long and
continuous voyage. Ii was, however.
a delightful midsummer sail. No one
can know the pleasure OF sailing free
over the great oceans save those who
have had the experience. Ib is not
necessary, I'm order 10 realize the ut
most enjoyment OF going around the
globe, to sail alone, yet for once, and
FOR the first time. there was a great
deal of fun in IL.
l have given. I'm the plans OF the
Spray, the dimensions OF such a shin as
/ should call seaworthy In all condi-
tions OF weather and on all seas. IL is
only right To say, though. that TO in
sure reasonable measure OF success
experience should sail with the shin.
But In order to be n successful nayi.
gator or sailor it is not necessary 70
hang a tar bucket about ones neck.
On the other hand, much thought con-
cerning the brass buttons one should
wear adds nothing TO the safety OF the
ship. Practice in a craft such az the
Spray will teach young sailors and fit
them for the more important vessels
l myself learned more seamanship
think on the Spray than on any other
shin i ever sailed. and rs for patience
the greatest ~ an Inc virtues. ever,
when sailing through the reaches OF
blum mainland and dismal Fu-go
where ] was obliged tp steer. learned
10 sk by the wheel content TO make
ten miles 2 day beating against the
tide and wher ss,onth at that wr
lost. A could md some old tune 20 hum
while I worked the route all over
again. beating az before. Nor did thir-
~ hcurp NJ the wheel. TN suorm. .overtax
my human endurance. and TO clap a
hand TO an oar and pull into or out OF
port IN calm was no strange expert
ence for the crew Of the Spray. The
days passed happily with me, wher-
ever my ship sailed.