The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-04-27
THE LOG" OF
A SUMMER CRUISE

F. F. Bingham, whose versatility or
the one hand is only eQualled by what
some people call his politics" on the
other, has now extended his talents to
the field of literature and The Journal
publishes the first installment of his
literary work this morning.
In addition to his other attachments.
Mr.. Bingham is a boat-owner and a
seasoned seaman. Some may be skep-
teal on this latter point, but the state
ment is true nevertheless. Last sum
mer it occurred to Mr.. Bingham that
there were probably some points in
the waters hereabouts which Ponce de
Leon, DR.. Cook, De Narvaez and Al
lie Riera had failed to discover and
properly chart, and he therefore fitted
up an expedition and with his family,
set forth to see what he could see.
More than that he kept a log-not a
diary, but a log-and it is the latter
which The Journal has now arranged
to publish.
This log will appear in installments.
This is the first one. If it indicates
that Mr.. Bingham knows anything
about logging, other installments will
follow If 1t should develop that he
doesn't know the difference between
a pinnacle and a barnacle or that his
"nauticalogy" Is anything like his
politics the aIog'' win end with the
following first part:
The First Day.
Sunday, July 14th, 1912. bells OF
the Mfssus' watch, meaning s g. m,
and the Missus washing dishes.
Yesterday at 2:47 p. m. Il can't Elk
press it in bell hngo) the cabin cruiser
Peep o. Day cleared from Palafox slip,
Pensacola, Florida, with her crew OF
eight Counting cornbatants and nom
combatants) provisioned for two weeks,
bound for Santa Rosa Sound, The Mar
rows and Carriers Bayou, sixty miles
distant.
My heart almost stops beating when
think OF the narrow shave we had in
the matter Of provisions: Something
bid mo check the store list-and
found the potatoes. butter and bread
missing. Otherwise we would have
sailed about lat, but think of two
weeks cruise without potatoes. butter
and breadi
We rounded the red beacon, straight
across Pensa cola Bay, at 3:13, or TWEEN
ty-six minutes for the 2 SIS miles, or
eos miles per hour. This also was
our trial trip speed-not towing skiff
or provisioned for two weeks. We were
now at the entrance of Santa Rosa
Sound and met stiff tide running out
At $40 we rounded the white beacon
which IL painted black. which the chill
dren (rhe combatants) don't think
right. At Ass we dropped anchor at
q Chicago mans winter
place. twelve or thirteen miles from
home for the night
I don't recall that there was more
than the usual amount of scrapping
during the evening. I had promised
to convert the Peep o. Day into a
training ship. The Missus reminded
me of 1t, but / deferred action.
Dick caught two choppers (trout baft1
and ! rowed out to "the edge of the
grass where had been assured trout
and red fish awaited me. Nothing
dom. might have known better for
years ago found that was no fish,
ernan. The children caught more
choppers and offered the proverbial
plug of tobacco to the first one that
should land a trout, and still. there
was nothing doing.
We made a call at a camp, quar-
ter OF mile down the beach, the.
protesting that we did not
know the people. They were the
incest kind OF people and we only left
early because the baby got to cutting
up: Poor little fellow apologized
the Missus, hes sleepy"
We spread our bedding out on deck
and the children fought valiantly ''for
position" From the way they covered
the deck I realized how fast they are
growing. The Missus worried about !
where was going to find place to
sleep. 1 told her not to worry, that |
when morning came they would find
that had the best berth on the ship. /
There was a sudden hush and / lit my |
pipe and settled down for a quiet |
smoke much pleased over by fortu-
nate remark. To accentuate its sinis- |
terness, / told the children the story |
Of the traveller in Texas:
There was the farmer. his wife and
six children-the very same number |
that we have-and only one bed. |
We've only one bed. stranger" said |
the Texan. but it is all right. Light"
Shortly after supper the two youngest |
we're ordered to bed. In a little while /
hey were asleep. and they were lifted /
put of bed and into a corner. This /
was done three times, and then the /
Texan addressed the traveller: All |
light, stranger, go to bed" mo. mo,
satd the traveller, you and your wife
70 to bed and I'll sit up" Go to
BED, strangers' ordered the Texan, and
protesting and apologizing the traveller
vent to bed. and In the morning he
woke up over In the corner with the
children.
That's one time I had the children
They hung on to their pill
ows and fairly glred themselves to
he deck as l silently pulled away at
ny pipe. They struggled against sleep
Until finally Charlie asked, Papa, 90
sn't going to do hathaway. Is 90
,apa,n so pitifully that had to take
{ all back and SAY that the story of
he traveller and the Texan, like many
,thers concerning those two charac-
ers. was only fiction.
Thus ended the first day out, the Il
weather the finest, the water the
the children sound asleep,
md my pipe drawing beautifully.
Second Day.
Monday, July Is. Harris postoffice
on the Narrows.l s bells. but nothing II
LONG in dishwashing vet. Ii
We started q long eyentftIl and in