Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-28
By FREDERICK ORIN BARTLETT


But in the end he was claimed,
and with him his bride. He gambled once too often
Captain Andrews left behind him complete log of
of these trps-a diary which makes very vivid
the dangers Of such attempts 1t was in $50 that he
sailed from Boston in ffteen-foot whale boat which
he had called the Dark Secret. In describing his
sensations when he was in mid ocean he SAYS:
The Dark Secret is tuggng away at her hawser
as restless young mustang at his tether. 1t is
storming My cabin is dark, the only light coming
from the pinnacle There is sail in sight The
waves in high carnival, they toss about
and dash the spray over the boat when she, like
porpoise, plunges through them. Above the bowling
demons who rule the sea. This may sound romantic;
but with it is reality. For the last two months
this cookie shell has been my home and stronghold
among sharks, swordfsh, whales, in fact all the
perils of the deep. For fifteen hundred miles old
Neptune has scrubbed her deck with the capricious
Atlantic
neither have tasted warm morsel. The under
side of the boat is foul with rank growth of vege-
table matter grass and barnacles) two inches long,
which retards her headway caused by the applica-
ton of antifouling varnish the copper paint
put there against my wishes. My drogue was
Iied away by tremendous storm Sunday. My
outfit is out and nearly useless. The boats rig
is bad; in fact, after my two months experience
suggest many Improvements. My water gave
out long ago. The weather is getting cold as the
season advances and l proceed northWard through
the drizzle and fogs
Three times was driven from my course off the
Georges Banks to the vicinity of Cape Cod and once
by adverse circumstances TO -NanIuCkeC SnOalS.
Four times l faced these reverses, and find
myself in the middle of the 1t has been from
the send-off mostly up hill work. Ny boat and
courage still good for the voyage, however.
But everything is wet and in exceeding unhealth-
full condition. AS it looks now it will take me to the
last of September at least to finish the voyage 1t
would now be comparatively easy were it not
for the continual rolling of the boat caused by the
iron ballast which l know has rolled many pounds
out of me.
Il have spoken twenty-three vessels of different
descriptions. Many of them furnished me with
water and lanterns. l found them all generous.
But many days have passed without sight of sail,
and then it has been like being in the Slough of
this boundless deep but misty sky and breaking
splashng over boat and me. The boat rides
WE'LL but how she ro1ls However, she brought me
of gale the Grand Banks where had the
worst experience l ever had in a boat. have made
a scraper, and with that l am trying to keep the
bottom clear of the barnacles Everything is wet or
rusty, and being steward have been more intent
on getting to Europe than making a fire. My time
is occupied with sailing, bailing pumping, repairing
damages, and sleeping when l can
Il get up at daylight, and am often under way
compass till dark Many days cannot change nv
position, and must steer with hand to prevent a
young Niagara of spray from getting down my back.
l am getting used to eating oyster crackers and
drinking cold water all day long Some of my
canned goods were too damaged for use, and threw
them away. l never knew what it was to be alone
before. And | have not been strictly alone either
for have company such as it is, and such company
l had much rather be without. have thought l
might be compelled to con-
dense salt water or catch