Arthur David LINKLATER

His ’Journal’

Apprenticed aboard British Princess

10.xii.1895 - 13.iii.1900

Monday, 11th Sugied everything and washed poop and decks with sand. Not a breath of wind, not moving a yard. Sails hanging quite loose. Saw [- ? -] quite well.
Tuesday, 12th This morning tug boat ‘Bessie’ came alongside, but the Old Man would not take him as there was a good wind and we were going along alright. At breakfast time he tried to get our hauser, but took half an hour over it as we always kept going ahead, and he drifting astern. He wished £25 first, but came down to £8. He had to put out his boat. Droped anchor at 12.45 p.m. and unbent all sail. Iquique is as flat as a pancake and one house above another. Seals and fish are very plentyful here. Saw a chap fall off the landing stage.
Wednesday, 13th Working cargo, and chipping lower hold. A Scotch chap fell off his Gondola by the landing and was drowned. The ‘Argo’ fellows were aboard till 10 p.m. tonight.
Thursday, 14th Not working cargo today. It is another “Feast Day”. Chipping and painting instead.
Friday, 15th Working cargo all day. Tonight a German ship finished loading, and hung up her coloured lights and cheered every ship in the harbour. Any ship that did not cheer got hissed, and hooted by all the others.
Saturday, 16th Working cargo very hard today. Discharged 4 lighters, almost 100 tons. We discharged 810 bags Barley, 107 cases bottled beer, 48 cases glass, 1 case steel and two tally clerks. I fell out of the boat today and just managed to catch a boat line and get hauled aboard again. Near shave.
Sunday, 17th The German ships are working just the same as any other day. A good lot of ships came in today including ‘Scottish Wizard’, ‘Union’ (French 4 [- ? -]) and also some Germans. We all went over the Bow for a bathe. I again was nearly drowned.
Monday, 18th Loaded 4 lighters. Also been ashore in the boat a good lot today.
Tuesday, 19th Finished unloading. Not got a lot of cargo in now, only the 300 tons of ballast in now. The Old Man has not got any orders yet.
Wednesday, 20th Squaring up hold and taking out bilge water. Had some grand fun killing rats.
Thursday, 21st Cleaning bilges all day. Two Chilian men-of-war came in all decked with flags, it being the anniversary of the taking of Iquique from the Peruvians. General holiday, and Feast Day ashore. Fireworks, bands, ect. ‘Imite’ finished loading, cheering.
Friday, 22nd Had the pleasant job of limewashing the fresh water tanks. The men-of-war are signaling with their sirens and search lights. A duce of a racket.
Saturday, 23rd Got tanks filled up by steam kind of a lighter. ‘Bandeith’ finished today and got hooted for not cheering.
Sunday, 24th Went ashore this afternoon. Iquique is a nice place. The streets are soft, the houses are all made of wood, the cars are the same as in Valparaiso and run to a small watering place called Cavancha. Very good shops here.
Monday, 25th Chipping all day. ‘Bendeith’ sailed loaded below her mark. ‘Pera’ finished, had great cheering.
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