The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-09
TINY BOAT ON
PER|L0US TRIP
VENUS REACHES CHARLESTON
AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF HARD
SHIP WITH OWNER ABOARD
FROM CLEVELAND, OHIO.

u now commences to look Ike Capt
Joseph r vttcus Of Cleveland. Ohio.
who. with his family, is making trip
from that point to Jacksonville IN q
small motor boat, will win the wager
Of $1,000 made by him that his boat
could come down the coast and tie up
At Jacksonville safely.
This wager was made with friends,
and Il the boat arrives here safely
Cart Yitous will. in addition to re-
ce:ving the SO, 900, have all Of the ex-
penses Of his trip paid
The tiny craft reached Charleston,
S.. c., Tuesday night and the News
and Courier Of that city has the fol-
lowing interesting account Of the trip:
After four months Of hardship and
misfortune at sea, Capt. Joseph =.
Vitous, bound frosn Cleveland, Ohio,
to Jacksonville, Fla, accompanied by
his wife and little son and-a crew Of
seven men, arrived in port late Tues
day nigh. IN the little gasoline motor
boat Venus, coming from Georgetown
by the inland route. Capt. Vitous Will
remain in Charleston several days.
The Venus LETT Cleveland, Ohio. on
the 18th Of July, bound for Jackson
Vile. a distance Of 1900 miles. The
trip 10 being made on wager. Capt
Vt.ous has a bet with some Of his
friends that a small boat like he
Venus. which is only twenty eight
feet long, could make the trip easily
| IL the captain ties up his boat safely
III Jacksonville. he is to receive $4,000
and al Of his expenses otherwise the
expenses are to De paid out uf his
own pocket. Notwithstanding the ac-
cidents that have befailen his frail
little craft, ne expects to reach Inc
goal
History Of the Trip.
From Cleveland Capt. Vitous trav-
eled IN The water of Lake Erie dis
lance Of 90 miles. He next passed
through, tina Erie canal, a distance O,
337 miles: -hence INFO the Hudson 20
New York. Leaving New York. the
Venus took me outside route to Eliza
beth City. Where, owing to sickness
aboard. the party -euained several
weeks. The Venus left Elizabeth City
on, day before the approach Of the
tropical storm Of the 18th Of October
IL speaking OF the storm Capt. Vi.ous,
VINO Is civil engineer by prcses SIGN,
and who for the past twelve years has
been interested in navigation, says
that 1t was the worst he ever encoun
tered in his life. He attempted to
anchor, but the chains broke, and his
boat drifted helplessly for nearly two
weeks, finally reaching point about
one hundred miles from the mainland
When the storm subsidized Capt. 'Vitous;
made his way as best he could to
Portsmouth, where his boat underw ent
the necessary repairs.
Food Supplies Han Low.
Not only was the little vessel il
Rad shape, but after having drifted
heir,essly for SO long, Capt. Vitous
tound bis food supply almost exhaust
ed. Having had his mail containing
letter with ccecks forwarded to
Charleston. Cant. Vitous and his par
~ had TO depend entirely on the gen
erosits ot tie good people OF Ports
mouth for supply for their pantry.
The Venus left Portsmouth On tie
10Th. A short stop vas made a: More
head City. \. {. The party arrived at
"riShtsvil!e on the 18th. They ieft
Wrightsyi.ie OF the 18th, bound Tor
Charleston.
Stranded at Little River.
On the 18th the Venus ran on a
shosl at Little River, s. e., early ~
the morning and remained hard and
fast until Il 5shing boat came to the
rescue IL the evening and towed the