November 1870
Voyage of the Franklin

Monday . Now, we stood up the Carim ala straits with a favoring breeze, and at 4 PM, made the island of the same name, with it’s lofty peaks pointing to the sky, and the adjoining sea  of Sorrotou(?).  It was not the first time we had seen

them.No.  I had toiled many a day  and night, when in The Dolphin years ago to get past these islands.  If such days and nights as those should come back to me, I think I should almost want to die!  Thank God things are different
now.
Tuesday following I went into the forecastle to see my sick ones.  Two of them are on the mend.  quinine and gruel is all they want, but two men must be seen to at once.  They are in lower berths.  No air.  No light.  Unmarked and dirty enough.  This is no place to be sick, let lone raging with Java fever.  So, I get them lifted up, clean white clothes put on them, bring them to my cabin- Hot water baths with mustard to the feet.  That long hair is cut off their heads, then washed clean.  They are put into my nice newly fitted staterooms to see what that will do.

 

Quinine and gruel with a little wine is their medicine.  They look so grateful.  It sends a big thump to my heart.  soon they are both asleep.  Shortly they make one better, all of a sweat, the other raging crazy.  We have to keep a strong man

in his room night and day.  Sometimes he is going forward to let go the anchor, then he is going to stand this treatment no longer, then he is crawling out of the window.  Oh Deck Bucket, it is a fearful responsibility.  Yes, Pil, but nothing when you get used to it.  During all this passage the crazy one gets no better.  Good deal.  Toast and chicken broth, such as a sailor never gets.  Starts the others along and they are quite well enough in a week to go about light work.  But Old Bill, he with the sore leg is a confined invalid and can’t work.  Another is laid up with Rheumatism and so we go, and this is the way, I take care of the sick.  I know of nothing so mean or wretched as it is to be sick at sea is a ship’s
forecastle.  God _____ the day when there shall be no more be sailing ships.  It is so- hard for Captain and sailors working night and day along dangerous coasts, with seven or eight men right out…

 

… of the little crew-sick to be taken care of.
Well! Our fine favorable wind is done and now we must baffle through the debatable region, to get into the NE monsoon.  We are surrounded by small islands.  The nights are dark as pitch with torrents of rain and unseen

currents sending us, we don’t know where.  Three or four days we pass thus.  At last we have weathered the islands that range along the Borneo coast.  We have passed from the Java Sea to the China Sea.  We have crossed the equator again, and are now in position to shape a course for the Singapore straits.  Tremendous
rains still and no observation but here we go.  Monday morning as the darkness clears away, there two little islets ahead, we know what they are, but we ought to have been northward of them.  The tide, the tide that waits for no man, has set us back. But we’ll clear them in spite of the tide, so we will and do.  And now the NE monsoon is blowing strong.  The weather is clearing up.  A noble ship is running down the sea from China- homeward bound.  I see her through skysail yards.  Her glittering hull, her golden…

 

…Streak.  We set our colors. He answers.  Tis the “S.B.Palmer” tea ship out of New York. from Stanghee? Never go with __ friends.  Boldy, we hold our way, trying to see the land before night, but it can’t be done.  Never mind if we don’t

get set by the _____, we will be all right, for there is a good light at the entrance of the Straits.  So, at nine in the evening, the man finding the main royal, sings out, Sight ho! Where away! Right ahead six!  What does it look like?  A
revolving light sir!  All right!  We are just right.  And at eleven o’clock, we are rushing past it at a glorious speed.  But soon the wind dies away.  Just enough to go ahead.  We see the land now, for it is on both sides of us.  Delicious odors come from it.  All hands are on deck, watching.  One man ______ the lead.  Still, we drift on.  So still, so ____, thru in the morning.  a ___ row of twinkling lights ahead, and we can hear the surf roar. Tis __________ the beach, and the
____, in the ships.  At dawn we are right up among the ships and stand by the _____.  ______ is the cry!  All ready sir! Let go the anchor! cleve/clear? up your sails!

 

We had now made a Capitol passage to Singapore in eight days, 20 hours..  And the sound of our rattling cable, reverberating over the ships, the bay, the shore, wake up the sleeping sailors in the harbor.  To see a new Yankee flag flying in their midst from the peak of a lofty ship.

Now, soon again we crowded by people coming off from shore to solicit business.  Ship Chandlers, carpenters, caulkers, tailors, shoemakers,  ______ divers, and everything else.  Most of them Malays and Chinese, each with a bundle of written recommendations to have you read.  They say the mail comes at 1 PM, so Pilgarlic writes a letter to his wife and another to his owners.
Again the boat is ________, and off we go for the shore.  Calling on the ship, “The Argonaut” one of our fleet, commanded by Baker.  She was in Boston at the same wharf with us last spring. and _______ pleasant recollections of them and _______.   _______ at the new store Query, we go to the owners.  Agents,  ______ Barstead &…

 

…and consign the ship to them.  Pilgarlic remembers that house well, but that not exactly.  It is a new one, but the old one, was close by.  Sixteen years ago he was mate of the ship, “The Dolphin”  and he was conveyed to this _____ house.  He went into that office and crossed it to look out the window at the shipping.  The

head of the house sitting there asked him who he was and how he dared to cross that room.  Pil, modestly? told him that he was Capt. Hoyt’s mate and he wanted to see if the ship could be seen.  But my! How his blood tingled, how keenly he felt, to be bullied this way.  The scene changes.  Our country is a mighty nation now, and Pil walks in, it’s representative,  flying the colors at his ship’s ________.  Oh!  Captain- I am glad to see you.  When did you arrive? Very quick passage. We were not expecting you. A… a….we shall look and see if there are any letters for the captain.  Take a seat sir.  Your agent, Mr. Fay, is up to _______ just now, but will be back in a day or two.  Want to copper did you say?  Yes, we should
like to sell you a ____ of metal.  Mr. Mackay will show you.

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Yes!  We will collect that Freight for you.  Can I do anything for you?  This is not that man that treated Pil so roughly a few years ago.  I wish it was,  He has gone to the dogs before this I don’t say.. When he, and all such dogs ought to go.  This

bald headed gentleman with spectacles, was then salesman.  He did not remember me of course, though I brought out ball goods from voyages for him to sell.  It was too good, I had to put him in mind of it.  He flushed, but I wanted them to know that Pilgarlic was as good then as he was now.
Well!  No letters, a little gulp of disappointment.  But what is life but disappointments!  Next we go off the American _________. Dr. Jewell of Mississippi sir!  _____ there was with the American Eagle over him, all ready to ________.  We left the ship’s papers with him, which we have to do in every foreign port.  We have a little talk.  I can see he has _____   _____, the law sir!  So, all right.  It ends in his inviting me to call often, and if there is anything he can do for me, he will do it.  That is as it ought to be, and we take our leave.

 

Next to the Doctor.  We put him into a boat and off we go into a chucking rain to the ship.  Now for the sick man.  “This Manilla man is sulky Captain, he is quite able to work.  This man is crazy you say?  At Times. Yes, he is very sick, the sooner you get him to a hospital, the better.  Those two are doing well.  Keep up

with the Quinine and they will be alright in a day or two.  Let me see your leg old fellow.  Put it down so.  How long have you had this?  Five months!?!  Captain, this man will never be a use to you.  He must go to the hospital.  You have done just .  right by these men Captain.  It was the only thing to do.  Now that job is through and the _____ Captain, who is quite worn out, has himself been off his feet for days.  Thank God for the dark and drops off to sleep like a baby.  And so ____.  But why no letters?  Why don’t they write? Have they forgotten him, or they died? Well!  Perhaps neither.  I guess they have written, and that’s all about it, so don’t bother about it, Pilgarlic.  You do your share of writing at any rate.

 

Next day, we are visited, the numerous peddlers, or B___________, as they are called, with East India trinkets, _2___ Chinese and Japanese goods of all kinds.  There is a Bark bound direct to boston, the Lizzie Williams”.  She is going

tomorrow, and the Captain has offered to take any small package I may want to send.  My sick men have gone to the hospital in charge of a native, so I divote a little time to examining and purchasing a few things to send my loved ones.  They are all included in a small sandalwood jewel box.  Nicely bound up and ready for the passage.  We have on board some nice Java fruit, some _______. They are larger than oranges and look like them.  “Put a dozen into that boat steward.  They will do for Captain Henry’s children.”  So, Pulling up to the L. Williams, we find the Captain isn’t there, but we go on board and find his wife and children.  She is a nice specimen of a Maine girl and comes from H_______.  Captain Curling’s daughter she said.  She puts me in mind of home.  There are three cunning little children.  A boy, five years old.  A real ____.  a sweet little girl, three,  and a baby boy, 5 months, born on board the ship at sea.

 

The ________  pleased them hugely and they tell old Pilgarlic all sorts of pretty things.  Here is a lady that always goes to sea with her husband.  Goes all over creation.  Thinks no more of it than I do.  She is entirely at home, and never

is seasick.  She has an english woman to help her, but I think it must be hard work to take care of three children at sea.
Today it is ___ about that The Franklin will dock.  It is fun to see how quick carpenters, dock men came round.  What a good set of fellows they are all.  And how they do offer this and that.  Well!  It is a job worth having, and I don’t blame them.  The ship Chandler, McAllister is the head quarters.  Everybody goes there to see everybody.  Then there are the agents of the different insurance companies, who are all anxious to survey your ship, for the trifle of sixteen dollars.  Then there are steamboat Captains to _____  your ship.  Water boats to supply you with fresh water.  A hundred Captains, coming and going.  It is a good place to see character.  So, having not much to do, I sit down and watch them.  I have decided to go to the dock nearest to town…

 

…and discharge my ship, and dock her at the same place, but there is a French ship in dock and she won’t be out for a week.  So, as there is no freight for me yet, I am in no hurry.

Crowds of merchant sailors are wandering ‘round, begging for a ship.  They look hard enough sitting ‘round the ship chandlers outside.  We meet a Mr. Dennis, agent of Hackfield and Company.  He proves to be a brother to Charlie Dennis who before the mast ____ a few years ago, and his father kept the Hallowell house for some time.  He appears a nice fellow, and takes to lunch, or tiffin, with him.  “Hunger is good Sauce” and we make a good meal at Emeritnus? who sets a table for Captains and merchants.  We patronized him many times after that.  We do not need a carriage here, as all the business part of the town is in a small space.  We make the acquaintance of Captain Smith of Provincetown, Mass.  He commands the bark, Metis from Cardiff and about sailing for ______.  Everybody is waiting for the “mail”  it is due now from ____ and ____ that does not know, can tell what a ____…

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…there is in all the East, when a mail is about done, especially in wartime like this Bets are duly made that the steamer (mail), will be in at such an hour, and the signal staff on the hill, when that will be announced is _____ ______. Well at last,

a gun is fired.  There!  The mail!  At last we shall know. Jesus Christ- at last the telegrams up to Ceylon are sent. (At Ceylon, the telegraph stops, though the steamers are laying from there, here, at present.)Then the ____ papers, then the letters.  Serious complications between England and America.  Ben Butler’s _____- Grant’s message.  The Alabama ______The fisheries are thought in a moment.  Up goes insurance on American Vessels.  An English Captain comes along and says, “Well old fellow, we are going to have a slap at you at last.”  All night, ______ fend off, but there is no letter for Pilgarlic, and no other hand.  When a mail is about to depart, Oh! everybody is writing for the mail.  You ask your agent to do a little this or that for you.  It is mail day.  We are awfully busy writing for the mail- and nothing else can be attended…

 

…to but the mail.
So we went to the wharf.  At “Sanjoy  Pajar” about a mile from Singapore and discharged our cargo by Steam!  Steam! What would old Joe Hoyt say to that?  It was ____ out, it seemed nice to be at a wharf, once more.  Here great steamers

on their way from England to China via the Suez Canal.  Stop. Discharge cargo, take in more, recruit their passengers and ____their sister’s ships from China, and are off.  The produce of the world, meets here at this wharf.  It is a pretty sight.  Some days there are twelve of us here, and there several wharves the same.  Here we see people from our own country, making the voyage around the world.  Not as pilgarlic made it, but all in a few degrees of latitude.  What wonders ten years has done.  Within the last decade, the Steamer, The Railway, The Telegraph have done it all.
After this we went into the dry dock.  One of the finest in the world, and tore off our worn out copper and put on new.  It was all done in a few…

…days.  And over 300 men at work on her.  What a noise! It was fun to see the great pumps going by steam, throwing a ________ of water a second,  and everything in a space as large as the Knickerbocker Ice Houses at home.  Two

hours!  We enjoyed it all having to see the ship’s bottom that had ploughed so many seas.  To watch the workmen- to strut about, a kind of lord among all this, was good to ______.  We hired a carriage at $1.25 per day.  When we got through our morning’s _____, a way went _______ to town.  To _______ Office, as it is called, then back.  Then at twilight a little drive, then dinner somewhere, and so at last, the ship was chartered by some china men to go to Rangoon and load rice for ______.  And looking in our ballast, we were ready.  Took steam and ______ to sea- on the 20th of ___8__
About the last night.  I dined by invitation at _____ Boustead & Co’s. Head quarter.  They have built a view house.  The finest in the East, and Mr. Lorry, the head of the firm, lives in it with his young wife.  She was very pleasant and came…

 

…from Liverpool. A fine specimen of an English lady.  She had two sweet children, and a middle aged woman to take care of them.  The rest of the serva

nts were all Chinese and Malays.  We dined at 7PM and we were an _____ or so about it.  The conversation ran mostly on America..  Captain Freeman was inclined to brag about it a little but Pil kept very quiet.  There was a fine billiard room and Mr. Lorry and Captain Martin of the “St. Paul” went for a game, while Mrs. L. went to the piano and _______ some fine old English and Scotch songs.  Capt. F told her that Deck Bucket was a singer and then persuaded him thus to Capt. D.  Well he sang, “The Breaking Waves”- he never sang better.  She played the accompaniment.  Mr Lorry came up and said, “Who was that singing my…

 

…Dear?”  Capt. D. and not to be outdone, warbled a pretty Scotch song.  Tea was brought and at last we called the carriages and away we went to our solitary ships.  I was amused at our Captain.  He came in a black cloth suit, tail curved, so-tall black hat.  The host dressed in all white linen, short jacket.  The style in Singapore.  This child had on white vest and pants with black frock coat.  The Franklin paid for that dinner in the hope of $200 commission on her charter.  That’s the way it’s done.  After all, “It is Kind of men” and I enjoyed it considerable.  Oh Deck bucket,  get all the good you can,  You’ll have to black your own boots before a while.

-Pilgarlic(shut up?)

 

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Read Chapter 7 – December 1870