Arthur David LINKLATER

His ’Journal’

Apprenticed aboard British Princess

10.xii.1895 - 13.iii.1900



⚪	Thursday, 27th Lat 57°31’S Long 66°20’W	Been very thick all day, 8 a.m. A strong gale accompanied with a high sea from N.W. sprung up. We had all sail set at the time, and stowed everything except lower topsails and mizzen S. Sail. I was up aloft for the whole 4 hours. Raining and blowing as hard as it could the whole time. It was very pleasant. “All hands” were called on deck twice today. I had to take a lee wheel, but soon we had to heave to. We put tacles on the wheel and “Hove to”. Ship rolling and pitching terribly. I shall never forget this day.
	Friday, 28th Lat 58°18’S Long 66°17’W	I have had three lee wheels within 12 hours, but they were sjournaltopped at 12 today. The gale has moderated a lot, but there still is a very high sea running. Set Foresail, standing by all day. Tonight started to steer a course again, so lee wheels started too. The sea is now journalright ahead, and we are pitching and bumping awfully.
	Saturday, 29th Lat 58°34’S Long 68°39’W	Today it has been windier than ever. The ship also is rolling and pitching much more. Everything in the half deck has been adrift. The chests have been going all over the place. Our lamp got dashed over and smashed and our “kid” which we get our rice in got smashed between two flying chests and sustained serious damages. I along with other men got knocked off my legs, and violently washed into the scupper. Took in F lower topsail today. I have had four lee wheels today. Grog was served out tonight, but I did not have any.
		MARCH 1896
	Sunday, 1st Lat 58°3’S Long 68°23’W	Calmer today. Set more sail. Wore ship three times today. A few squalls, and also rain. A large number of albatroses around. Dog watch singing hymns.
	Monday, 2nd Lat 56°58’S Long 69°7’W	Sighted The Diego Ramirez. They are barren rocks. Only inhabited by sea birds. 1 p.m. Tacked ship and stood to S'ard. 2.50 p. m. Diego Ramirez bearing N by W. We were hauled out tonight for the first time. Sea is much calmer. Very squally tonight. Took in F and M topgallants and Staysails.
	Tuesday, 3rd Lat 57°52’S Long 69°59’W	4 a.m. Strong gale accompanied by heavy squalls. Furled M topgallant sail. 5 a.m. Furled Fore sail. 9 a.m. Set all sail again except Royals. It is now a fine day, sea pretty calm. Fishing for albatroses. There are some very large ones.
⚪	Wednesday, 4th Lat 57°15’S Long 73°45’W	Day passed without event till 5 minutes past seven tonight when an exciting adventure occurred. It was my watoh below, and the ship was rolling a bit, when I fancied I heard some one call “man overboard”. But before I had time to think Mr. Pye came flying out and what a yell that was. “Man overboard, all hands on deck”. In a second I was on the poop, and all hands came running aft. I ran to the rail, and saw that it was Williams. It was a horrid night, but fortunately at the time we were not moving a bit. Scottie threw the bite of a rope down, but it fouled. Then another was lowered but as we were hauling him up he slipped off the end. The mate made a bolun to put round himself, for he was going to jump over, when he succeeded in getting another rope and all hands hauled him on deck. It was a near shave.
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