The Wilmington morning star., 1947-07-02
Columbus Tells
Of Exciting Ocean Voyage

also a carpenter, set out on tool
from Horta, Fayal, Azores, tc
walk IL miles along the coast
where they could secretly launch
a 16,toot open sail boat, without
observation Of Portuguese authori-
ties.
The two we're setting sail on a
1900 mile journey across the At
lantic ocean to New York where
they could meet their families, cut
off from them by the American
oonsulary because they could moi
obtain vessels CIR permits 10 entel
America.
my mother died when I wa:
four years DID," said Manuel il
his American : Portgese accent
land I came to America at the
age Of IA on a whaling boat with
% other seamen. We landed OF
the shores OF New Bedford, Mass.
where I made my home"
Fished For Whales
Manuel fished off the banks O
New Bedford for whales for three
years. He then decided to come
to Wilmington. He married the
late Miss Annie Klander of thi:
city shortly afterward.
my only desire remained I'm
requitted within my breast" hi
said, as he sat and looked at the
teeth Of the whale which he hae
caught" and that was to see m,
father. AS the years passed
knew that the time was soon Il
pass when / would be able to fine
him at that fishe1man's modes
cottage in Horta, Fayal, an islane
off the Azores group"
thine passed." said Foster
Finally I carried my family bacl
home to Portugal"
Later, his children and wife re
turned to the States. but due t.
the postponment of his papers tt
enter the U. S. again, he was fore
ed to live at his real home"
much longer than he expected.
He finally renewed old friend
ships and saw his father buriee
beside the sea, that he so great,
loved. This separated him from
his only home.
Il grew impatient and desper
ate as months passed and I wa!
still waiting for the visa so tina
1 could gain entrance into thu
states," Manuel said.
Zone day I met de Jesus OF
the docks, and learned that hi
too was burning with a desire tt
enter the United States. Jesu!
wanted to join his mother in New
York"
After they set to sea, they sail
ed with clear skies for IL days.
guided by a compass that Jesus
had wrapped in an oil cloth. Sud
denly, a squall struck. The tiny
craft was tossed by mountainou.
waves. Thrown against the gun
vale, Manuel received thre,
broken ribs. The boat began fill
ing with water. For hours the,
bailed water from the small craft
The food was soaked with salt wa
ter, and as Manuel said, "soaket
away as fast as our salt an,
sugar."
Kerosene that had been KEEP
for cooking was tossed about ant
filled with water, everything wa
soaked" he said.
When the sun began rising tn,
next morning, Manuel felt the In
juries that he had sustained.
Ate Raw Rice
BESIDE my injuries, we hat
nothing left to eat except raw ric,
and in the days that passed.
Manuel added, eve began to rea
lize that an early rescue was i'm
perative."
The two men lore the hard
ships, and Manuel said that ship;
passed at night, but they had Il,
way to signal SO as to be picket
up Or given food end water.
Manuel recalled the times whel
the whales surrounded the small
craft and when they would streal
around the boat by the dozens
We would take an oar and poune
on the side Of the boat" said he
That would scare them off,"
Finally, after long and tedious
hours Of suffering and wondering
when we would again be attacked
by the whales, a fifth vessel came
Il hoisted a signal" said Manu-
e, land offered a prayer. 9TH
ship changed its u r and as
neared US I clapped Jesus on tn
shoulder. and we yelled -feebly
with joy"
The men, fatigred and com