Arthur David LINKLATER

His ’Journal’

Apprenticed aboard British Princess

10.xii.1895 - 13.iii.1900

Tuesday, 26th Went ashore with Captain for 200 lbs of paint. The 3rd mate and myself had to carry it down ourselves.
Wednesday, 27th Chipping lower hold, working from darkness to darkness.
Thursday, 28th Chipping lower hold all day, and nearly got it finished. Pulled off to S.S.[- ? -] but nearly all the fruit was gone.
Friday, 29th General clearing up of hold. Puting and painting stringers, sweeping hold clean, and any amount of little odd jobs. Charlie got paid off today.
Saturday, 30th Been in after cabins all day, knocking off at 3 oclook and got all my clothes washed before tea. Also washed all over. Some of the men went on liberty tonight.
Sunday, 31st All the men were on liberty today and everyone came aboard dead drunk. ‘Sails’ and ‘Mac’ did not get aboard. They got put into “Calabush” by Vigalanti (police). Mac has done a bunk. Had a pleasant time in the boat.
JUNE 1896
Monday, 1st Been in the boat all day. ‘Sails’ got aboard dead drunk, but ‘Mac’ never came back. Painting hold.
Tuesday 2nd Taring down today. Fellows off ‘Fort George’ aboard tonight.
Wednesday, 3rd Finished “Taring down” and tared the cable and put it all below except 70 fathoms. ‘King George’ finished and sailed tonight. Terribly hot.
Thursday, 4th All hands have been painting up aloft and nearly finished. Tonight I went aboard ‘Fort George’.
Friday, 5th Finished upaloft. Cleaning poop. I've been in boat all day.
Saturday, 6th Sand and canvased everything especially poop for “Bethel”, I have been in boat all day.
Sunday, 7th This morning we had Bethel, and then four of us went ashore on liberty. I pulled the mate and second mate on board the British man-of-war ‘Wild Swan’ and got shown all over her. Then we went aboard the ‘Scottish Minstrel’.
Monday, 8th Been ashore all day with the boat, waiting for the Old Man. The rest are chipping fore peak and cleaning Fo'c'sle, Went aboard ‘Fort George’.
Tuesday, 9th In boat all day. Head Gunner and another blue jacket from the ‘Wild Swan’ came aboard tonight and we had some fine games in Half deck.
Wednesday, 10th Had an easy day of it, lying in the boat waiting for Old Man. Parseling beams and stansions ready for nitre. Not chartered yet.
Thursday, 11th Ashore in boat all day. Went off to two coast steamers, but were too late for the fruit. Four men-of-war sailors and ‘Scottish Minstrel’ fellows on board tonight.
Friday, 12th In boat all day. No orders yet.
Saturday, 13th A general clearing up of decks and paintwork. Got orders today to “Proceed to Junin for nitre”.
Sunday, 14th Went ashore with Scottie, and each had 5 dollars. Went and saw a Fandango in Ci San Martin.
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