Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-02-23
TO SAIL AROUND CAPE HORN.
Capt. GiIlen Planning PeriIeus
Voyage TO San FrnnciAcO.

capt Giitcu trimming Pertious
Voyage TO san Frnncisco.
In an open boat, built Of oak, hlck-
DRY and cedar, with no cabin, Capt.
William II. Gillen Of Guysborough
County, n. S., with one companion, pro-
poses to row and sail from New York
around Cape Horn to San Francisco.
about l40O0 miles, by the deep-sea
route, says the New York World
Before he starts on his novel and dar-
ing venture Capt Gillen, who Is n sea-
soned seal hunter, wishes to set sufi-
tlent backing to make success OF his
enterprise, after which he feels safe
in the assurance OF book and magazine
material which his adventures will pro-
vide.
The captain was the mate OF the Vic
toria. B. c., sealing schooner Enter
prise, which was recently burned In the
LSrbOr OF the Rio Grande do Sui, Bra
County, where lie was born In 1874.
lie Is feet high, about ~ inches
rro'.nd the cheat and weigh 1855 pounds.
lie has been fourteen years seafarer.
Sunburned, erect, blue eyed, with sandy
hrir and complexion, nervy, steady and
cool, a master at handling the sharp"
sailing boat the young giant Is enthus.
!nstic over his plans.
Most OF his sealing has been done out
O. Victoria, where he knew Wolf Lar
sen, hero of Jack London's famous tale,
whose right name is Capt. Alec Mclean.
The last rumor Of the Sea Wolf" ac-
Guiding to Capt. Gillen, Is that Mclean
sailed out OF Victoria, flying three nags
and equipped with three sets OF ships
papers, Mexican, American and British.
Tho report is that the Carmencita, his
schooner, was capsized with all hands
while beating out of Clayoquot, B. c.
ION several occasions when | had
gone fourteen or fifteen miles from any
schooner, which l should not have
DONE" said Capt. Gillen, 81 was i'm
pressed with the wonderful seaworthl-
Less Of the sealing boat. ! should Sc
lect mate after test OF his endur-
ance and prefer some one who has been
Ahipmste with me. | should build my
h0at 20 feet 8 Inches In length, 4 feet
H. inches beam and 2 feet or 3 inches
deep, with only little cuddy forward
FOR the storing Of papers. l should
take one pair OF S-foot oars and an
{ ther Of 9-foot oars, feeling at liberty,
Of course, TO use a mainsail and jib In
fair breeze. l should start In Sep
TENDER and believe l could make Fris-
co IN seven months with no risk.
MY provisions would be mostly can
ned stuff, packed In waterproof painted
canvas bags dashed In the bottom under
tie three thwarts, in the first OF which
would be stepped the detachable mast.
| should not use the ordinary lug sail,
but have a gaff.
II should take rife and 500 rounds
Of ammunition for shooting game birds
and fishing tackle for catching fresh
neat from below. A watch and a sex
tant would be my only instruments. The
deep-sea route would be far safer than
a. gging the shore. l should not touch
at any port, but should haul up ON
Cape Island to repaint
II have been lost for thirty-six hours
at time in the toughest seas the North
raclnc could kick up OF the Fair
Weather grounds OF the Alaskan coast.
The captain OF the Sadie Turfel once
reported me lost and l was picked up
Icy another schooner, transferred to still
another sealer and arrived back at Vic
tCria In time to read my own obitu-
airy"
Capt. Gilien became interested when
he heard Jack London proposed to build .
. little schooner aud cruise around the
world with his wife and a mate. but
thought he could 10 London one bet
Tor on the seamanship part Of the
kana