| ⚪ | Wednesday, 29th | In the 24 hours (under 2 lower topsails) she did 203 miles which is exceedingly good. Gale still blowing as hard as ever. Gale is from S.W. Sea aft. All the watch is “standing by”. Half past one all hands were called on deck to “heave the ship to”. It is a terrible gale now from the W.N.W. The sea is one mass of foam and is flying about like snow. We had to furl the Fore lower topsail and reefed the Mizzen staysail. Very large seas continually breaking over us. Wednesday night, blowing a living gale. | |
| Thursday, 30th | 4 a.m. You could hardly stand against the wind. Also heavy hail squalls, which seemed like pins and needles droping on you. A sea washed our Starboard life boat right out of the forid chocks, and smashed all the lee chock preventers. Skuse and myself had an extremely lively time with the boat beam, it falling on us, etc. Still two hands at the wheel, which has also two tackles on and is kicking terribly. 10 a.m. I am writing this now about 9.30. Two enormous seas came along about 40 feet above us. The captain said they were two of the much dreaded 40 footers. They luckily did not break on top of us, but sent our lee side completely under water. Also washed the Fore topmast staysail out of the net. I was glad when they were gone, for you can't get out of their way. The mate said they were two of the largest seas he ever saw. The decks are completely under water now, the water dashing about from side to side. It took me ten minutes to get aft from the galley to the house with the Starboard watches' dinner (a bit of meat in a tin), the water being up to my waist amidships at times. We are only 417 miles off home too. The sun is shining brightly. Oilskins and sea boots on ever since Xmas. They are nice and wet too. We had to put out the oil bag on the weather bow and put oakum in the cabin W.C. and fill it with oil so that it would drip through. An A.B. got washed against the bulwarks with such force that it almost broke his back. He is off duty now. 10 p.m. Gale moderating. Sea going down. Glass rising. | ||
| Friday, 31st | 12 a.m. this morning set Fore lower topsail and stood our course. All seemed well. At 4 a.m. a strong S.E. gale was blowing, and all hands had a fine job making the Fore Lower Topsail fast again. Raining as hard as it can. We had to heave the ship to again. 5 a.m. Blowing and raining as hard as ever. Can't face it. 8 a.m. Gale shifted to eastward. We were hove to on the Port tack for 36 hours with the N.W. gale. Had square yards for 4 hours and now again we are hove to with a E.S.E. gale. Blowing and raining hard all night. | ||
| JANUARY 1898 | |||
| Saturday, 1st Hove to 60 hours N.E.gale 28 hours 88 hours |
4 a.m. Went round and steered course. Set fore lower topsail. Main topmast staysail. Rolling heavily. We were hove to on that tack 24 hours. Dull, bleak day accompanied with heavy rain showers. Hove to N.W. Gale 36 hours Hove to S.E. Gale 24 hours Took in oil bag. Lee wheels stoped. 12 oclock took in Foresail. | ||
| Sunday, 2nd | Glass falling. 4 a.m. Had to heave to again, A Gale from North now. Took in fore lower topsail, put on wheel tackles again and lee wheels started again. Barquatine passed us going very slowly. Blowing hard all night. | ||
| ⚪ | Monday, 3rd | Severe N.E. gale blowing very heavy sea on. Once again washed the life boat chocks out, also smashed up the ladder which leads up to fo'c'sle head. Noon we bout ship and steered by the wind. Sighted a steamer away astern, also another large tramp passed us outward bound. Gale is moderating. | |
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