1857
SATURDAY May 9th Came on board about nine o'clock
this morning. Found the rest of our party busily engaged
in arranging matters in our new dwelling where
we expect having to take up our quarters for a few weeks.
We are in a room to ourselves, but we have plenty of
neighbours. There are about 679 passengers. A great
number of them are from Ireland, and some
from almost every county in England, also a
few from France, Scotland and Wales. About 300
of the passengers had been on board the Tuscarora,
which started off about a fortnight ago, and after
a few days sail was seriously injured by coming
in collision with another ship and had therefore
to put back to Liverpool for repairs. We went
out into the river about 11 o'clock. Were all had upon
deck twice in the afternoon about an hour each
time for examination. Much confusion throughout
the day. Were towed out to sea about sunset.
Tug left us about nine o'clock. - Day very fine, and
we set out with favourable breeze.
SUNDAY 10th Rested pretty well during the night
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Slept a few hours Fine morning, steady breeze till
about noon. Calm a short time not much progress
in the afternoon. Were in light of the Welsh coast till
about 4 o'clock Wind arose a little again towards evening
and we got on better - Fine through the day - Not
sick - Some of us rather dizzy - little appetite - Saw
several ships during the day one of them "The
Aurora", a little ahead of us going to America -
sounded and found 50 fathoms.
MONDAY 11th Fine morning - Steady breeze - sea calm -
Not much of importance to day till evening - A
few ships in sight - Wind got up towards night - Most
of us very dizzy, and sickly with the motion of the
vessel - sounded again and found more than 200
fathoms.
WEDNESDAY 13th Did not sleep much on Monday night -
Sea rough ship rolled a good deal. Yesterday a very
heavy day none of us out of bed from Monday
night till this morning (Elizabeth Jessop did just get
up and go on deck but came to bed again immediately)
excepting Jabez, he got up and took some
water to boil for our breakfast, But the water had to
to go cold again, for we got no breakfast till this morning -
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None of us eat much - Some of us not a mouthful all
day - Jabez was sitting beside our berth all day quite
dizzy, and sickly, and yet I believe we were not
near so bad as some - We could help ourselves and
each other a little when vomiting came on, - But it
has been in truth a weary time, the ship rolling
and tossing in all directions, for two nights and
a day without intermission, boxes falling down
over each other, tins &c. rattling about, and the ceilings
and partitions of the berths creakling [creaking?] like an
old whisket [woven basket?]. - The sea is in a troubled state
this morning, but somewhat better than it was - We are
all rather poorly today through sickness, and want
of rest, and having nothing much to eat since
monday, Sea sickness is a very heavy unpleasant
feeling, I do not much wonder at people when they
are oppressed with it, saying they could almost
wish themselves anywhere so that they might be
off the sea. Day turned out fine but very cold -
A child 3 or 4 years old belonging to some Welsh people
died this afternoon, It was kept about 3 hours -
after the Captain had read the ceremony it was
put over into the sea.
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THURSDAY 14th Slept a little in the night all better
this morning but not right - Went upon deck, The morning
being very cold I began to feel very chilly, and sickly
was obliged to come down and have been in bed most
of the day - None of us much appetite. Got a little
tea and gruel, also a bit of meat and potatoes.
There was very little that felt as if it would be good
while the dizziness and sickly feeling lasted.
FRIDAY 15th Rather strong wind from southwest with
small rain. Did not make much progress. - Had to
sail about on account of the wind being ahead of
us. All middling excepting a little dizziness through
the continual motion of the vessel.
SATURDAY 16th Weather still windy and rainy, has
been so since monday night, and very cold.
We have now been sailing a week. - It has appeared
a tedious week. We have all experienced something
of sea sickness, but not so much as many on the
ship. - The weather being so cold, and wet, has
prevented us getting on deck much or perhaps
we might have felt better - We are all pretty well tonight.
- I think Elizabeth has been almost as well
as any of us during the week. Berry has not been
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much affected only that he has had to go to bed a
time or two in the former past of the week. Uncle
Valentine and Jabez stand it pretty well - We have
seen several ships during the week - Our Captain appears
to be a very nice man. - The mates too are very
steady men - There are about 30 Sailors, chief part
of them young men and boys. They are very industrious
and attentive to their work, I have not heard
much swearing amongst them. Save what is done
by the Boatswain, a man very much deformed in
his legs, and apparently little fit for an officer on
board a ship, but I suppose he tries by angry tones
and vehement gestures to supply the lack of other
accomplishments. Sea calm to night - A little fiddling
and dancing on deck about sunset.
SUNDAY 17th Wind arose in the night, Sea very
rough this morning - We lay in bed rather long
or rather held ourselves in bed, it is not a very easy
matter to lie in bed without holding by something
when the ship is rolling and tossing as she does
sometimes - When I came on deck this morning
and saw the sea in such Commotion, it brought
to my mind very forcibly those words in Haydn's
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Oratorio of the Creation, "Rolling in foaming billows'
uplifted roars the boisterous sea". Elizabeth has been
poorly all the day in bed most of the day. Strong
wind and rain. Very few on deck to day - It is difficult
walking when the ship is so unsteady - Not
much like Sunday.
MONDAY 18th Elizabeth better this morning. - Jabez
got cold and very poorly, with bad headache - Today
not so boisterous as yesterday, but windy and rainy
still - better towards evening - retired to bed early -
TUESDAY 19th Slept a little in the former part of the
night - Heavy gale arose about midnight we were
all awakened but did not get out of bed - Jabez was
not well - Uncle Valentine had taken a bad cold through
getting wet, and Elizabeth rather poorly too so we
stayed below listening anxiously to the dashing
and roaring of the sea. Several that went upon
deck said that the sea was raging terribly and
the effect caused by the force of the waves against
each other was like lightening - I thought of the Glee
we used to sing sometimes -
"When winds breathe soft along the silent deep
The waters curl the peaceful billows sleep.
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A stronger gale the troubled wave awakes
The surface roughens and the ocean shakes
More dreadful still when furious storms arise
The mounting billows bellow to the skies.
On liquid rocks the tottering vessel's lost
Incumbered surges lash the foaming coast
Whiten with wrath and split the sturdy mast",
But it was not so ill in our own case, the masts were
not damaged, the main sail and some others
were torn to pieces - It was said that when the sails
were so much torn the seamen had not much
control over the vessel and the captain commanded
to let her go. Whether it was so or not I cannot say
positively but certainly she did roll about furiously
and dart along at a dashing rate - We felt what it
was to be "driven of the wind and tossed", the storm
continued a few hours and I can assure you we
were wishful to see daylight before we did. The storm
however gradually abated, and daylight came at
last, disclosing such a scene of confusion and
disarrangement amongst the boxes, cans, barrels &c. as
we little expected the night before - The sea and
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elements appeared in a wild and agitated state
this morning - The sailors seemed almost exhausted
with the fatigue of the night and the ship with few
sails spread was driving along rapidly the wind
being still high - Some that have been on the sea
before say they have seen worse storms. We were
not sick at all during the gale. It appears that
after a few days most people get over the sickness
so that afterwards the motion of the vessel does not
much affect them. - Sea calmed down as the
day advanced so that towards evening it had attained
something like its usual appearance.
WEDNESDAY 20th Felt much inclined to sleep last
night on retiring to bed. The room we occupy is
about 10 feet square. The main part of our luggage
is piled in front of our berth. The partitions of the
berths are of thin boards about 1/2 inch or so fixed
upon a firm framework, and the beds or hammocks
are arranged two on each side of the berth, one above
the other. Two persons have to sleep in each bed. -
There is a board nailed to that side of the hammock
which is not guarded by the ceiling to prevent us
falling off, but as it only rises two or three inches
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above the bedclothes it is not a very formidable
bulwark in case the ship rolls much. Elizabeth
and I sleep in one of the upper hammicks [hammocks?] -
We hardly dare venture to sleep with so little
protection for as I have said before we have all to
hold ourselves in bed when the ship is very unsteady so
we tied my comforter and a handkerchief together and
fastened it to each side of the bed passing it over
us to prevent us from falling off The sea was rough
but not near so rough as on Monday night, however
having made ourselves as we thought pretty
secure from falling we slept middling and
did not feel much of the tossing - The rest of our
party did not sleep much as they had to steady
themselves in bed by having hold of something.
Most of the night, sea very turbulent this morning
- continued so most of the day some rain.
THURSDAY 21st Fine morning up to this time
since the first two or three days the weather has been
very cold. It was quite warm was this forenoon though
not hot. All hands upon deck many got their
beds and bedding out to be aired almost calm
till noon so that we did not make much progress -
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Somewhat better in the latter part of the day. -
FRIDAY 22nd Not so fine as yesterday rather wet
and uncomfortable. A woman gave birth to fine
boy to day. She had been on the "Tuscarora" and
expected to have got over before the time of her
confinement had the "Tuscarora" been successful.
The mother and child are likely to do well
The child is to be called "John Bright Wilson" the
parents name being "Wilson", -
SATURDAY 23rd Rather wet this morning - Turned
out a middling fine day We are all very well
This week has not appeared so tedious to us as the
last did - We have all good appetites - As hungry
as hunters - Could eat almost every hour of the
day - Our provisions have kept very well so far
and what we have tastes good to us. We all join at
what we have got, and eat that first which is likely
to go bad soonest. We are much more comfortable
than we expected we should be able to be.
The cooking is all done upon deck There are two
stoves and two men are employed from morning
till night cooking for passengers There is
a separate cook and cooking place for the crew.
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Passengers can make almost anything they
like. We generally boil water to make tea or coffee
for breakfast sometimes make oatmeal porridge
or add a little rice - Get meat and potatoes to
dinner with preserve pasty or pudding made of
sea biscuit. Flour and Rice mixed or something
of that kind. If we had a little milk the puddings
would be very good, but we can eat them well
enough as they are. Then we boil water for tea.
We cannot always get our meals when we would
like. There are so many passengers to cook for
so that the stove is nearly always full, and
sometimes we are early at other times late with
our meals.
SUNDAY 24th Very fine day. Not much wind -
but little progress. A many of the passengers put
on their better clothes some of the Irish very smart -
No preaching - The doctor distributed a large number
of pacts and several Testaments a many
were upon deck reading a great part of the day -
During the past week we have had to contend
much with contrary winds and have had to
sail in a sort of zigzag way, Keeping towards
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the right course as much as possible. There is much
conjecture among the passengers as to how far we
have got on our journey I should judge by what
I can gather that we are somewhat more than halfway
towards New York. -
MONDAY 25th Fine day - Wind not strong but favourable,
sailed moderately Got our week's provisions
of meat and potatoes today We have not asked
for any meat before as we did not like the appearance
of it so well, however we thought we would
try a little of the beef - It tastes pretty well but I
dont think we shall eat much of it as we have
plenty of good ham. - The rice, potatoes, flour, and
peas are good. The oatmeal is very rough ground
Moderately good tasted but not like our own meal.
The sugar is very coarse and strong tasted, and
the tea little worth - we use our own that we brought.
We do not like the sea Biscuits We seldom eat any
besides what we steep over night and just among
rice for puddings. We have had a plentiful supply
of water hitherto. It is as good as we can expect
there is what I may call a ship-taste about it.
The allowance to each passenger is three quarts daily.
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TUESDAY 26th Wet all day not heavy rain, but very
dense atmosphere wind somewhat favourable
sailed middling.
WEDNESDAY 27th Tremendously cold saw several
Icebergs in the morning at some distance from the
vessel could not tell the exact size of them might
be two or three times as large as the ship The atmosphere
pure Brisk and piercing wind from north
or north-east drove us rapidly on our course. Had
great difficulty to keep ourselves warm but think
we shall sustain no injury from the cold.
THURSDAY 28th Very fine morning not so cold by
far as yesterday yet the air feels quite chilly -
Almost becalmed till noon when the wind arose
a little and we have been sailing at a moderate
rate all the afternoon a little north west saw an
Iceberg towards evening in the south-west supposed
to be from 15 to 20 miles away from us, and to rise
about 130 feet above the water. To us it appeared
something like a Castle or a Tower. The sun was
shining on it, and we could see it glisten very
plainly in the distance - Day very fine throughout
scarcely a cloud to be seen. The air very pleasant as
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indeed it always is when the weather is fine. Motion
of the ship very steady almost like sitting in a house.
We all like sailing very well when the weather is fine
and the ship sailing steadily, but we are none of us
much fond of it when the vessel is tossing about a
great deal and running almost on one side as
she sometimes does. It is then difficult either to
sit or walk or stand, and dangerous carrying things
about which are hot, such as boiling water or any
hot liquid and especially carrying it down the steps.
several have been rather ill scalded thro persons spiling
water on them.
FRIDAY 29th Somewhat cloudy this morning but
soon cleared out. - Not strong but steady breeze.
Atmosphere clear, could see a long way. Jabez asked
when he must get our "oak leaves" from to decorate
with today - It has been a very agreeable day. Had
you seen us on the forecastle at noon eating our
preserve pasty just come from the cook you would
have thought we appeared pretty comfortable. - late
two or three fishing smacks towards night - I
suppose we are near what are called the banks -
There are several different banks; Newfoundland,
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St. George's &c. I understand we are not far enough
north to see much of the fishing. We have seen a
few rather large large fishes about the size of a pig and
somewhat similar in shape in the course of our
voyage. We have seen lots of birds and fowls different
kinds all the way flying about just above the water.
SATURDAY 31st not so thick this morning as yesterday
cleared out to be pretty fine with now and then
a shower vey cold all day - Tolerably good breeze.
Sailed better than yesterday but not exactly in the right
direction - Many of the passengers dressed up
a little again today. People do not generally go
quite so shabby as we expected, with the exception
of some of the Irish who are ragged, the passengers are
for the most part moderately dressed. We had no
preaching today: I am not certain whether we have
a minister at all on board. I almost mind we have
not. There is not much distinction between Sunday
and other days here. I do not think the sailors have
got quite so much work to do on a Sunday as week
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days, but there is much the samehurry, confusion, and
bustle amongst the passengers after the cooking &c.
so that it has not much the appearance of a day of rest.
We hear sometimes a little singing by different parties
in their rooms.
MONDAY June 1st Rather foggy - becalmed most of the
day - warmer than yesterday - served out provisions
today - A woman died to day about noon She was
married her husband and two children were with
her, they had been on the Tuscarora - I think the woman
had been poorly nearly all the time - The corpse was
wound up tightly in linen, or cotton, and so let
down into the water.
TUESDAY 2nd Sea very calm this morning smooth as
a lake scarcely a ripple to be seen, even calmer than
we wish, as there is hardly a breath of air to hoist us
forward. A little breeze arose about noon which
continued through the day, and we have sailed very
nicely this afternoon. Warm and pleasant today.
WEDNESDAY 3rd Misty morning with tolerable breeze
but not exactly right for us - had to sail a good deal
north-west - Mist cleared off towards evening and was
very fine - We were sitting upon the fore-castle at sunset,
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and saw the sun gradually sink (apparently)
into the sea - Shortly after (for the duration of twilight
is not quite so long here as in England the moon's
pale light was beaming softly on the waters. It was
indeed a beautiful night.
THURSDAY 4th Fine morning but wind against us
and to turn the ship about two or three times during
the day in order to gain a little if possible. Our
progress is slow.
FRIDAY 5th Very pleasant morning wind rather
more favourable. On deck the greater part of the day.
The air cool yet sailed sailed south west most of the day -
Several ships in sight within the last few days Two
in sight when the sun was setting to night -
The ruddy rays of the sun when setting, striking against
the sails in the distance made the ships appear
as though they were on fire - Evening rather cloudy. -
SATURDAY 6th Moderately fine day but not much
sailing done We had expected landing by this time
if we had had favourable winds but perhaps we may
be towards a week longer yet it depends much on the
wind we must have patience a little longer. We have
had much easier sailing this last fortnight than we
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had the former. I dare say you have wondered whether
we have seen New York yet or not - We would certainly
rejoice to see Land, but I am happy to say we do not
feel so much overwearied as we expected - On the whole
we have each enjoyed pretty good health. With the exception
of a little sickness now and then Elizabeth has been
much better than I feared, fully as well for aught I
know as she might have been at home - Aunt Hannah
will be anxious to hear how Berry is going on -
He seems quite right-very healthy, there are plenty
of boys about his age, They run about playing
all the day when it is fit - create good appetites -
and get plenty of something to eat.
TRINITY SUNDAY 7th Cold and wet most of the day
Had moderate strong breeze but not altogether favourable
for us. Often talked about you and wondered if
you had a nice Trinity Sunday - We put some
raisins in our pudding to day and Julia would
put us a little rum in our tea to night as we had
no cream, - We intend keeping Trinity This
time though we are far away what feast we may
keep the next year I cannot tell, but I think we
shall not quite forget Trinity. I am sorry to say
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Uncle Valentine has been rather poorly all day, but
hope he will soon be better.
MONDAY 8th Becalmed again nealy all day rather
misty and unpleasant - Nothing seems so tedious
at sea scarcely as a dead calm and especially when
we are getting towards our destination. Some people
appear to grow very impatient, and sometimes speak
foolishly about the weather &c. but then it is no good
we cannot make the wind blow, best way is to wait
as patiently as possible it will blow again. A
child died to day belonging to the same persons
that the other child did that died. I think they
have both died of the measles. The disease is somewhat
prevalent in the ship, a good many children have
had it Uncle V. [Valentine?] not much better yet.
TUESDAY 9th Somewhat pleasingly surprised before
we got up this morning to hear that a "pilot boat"
was making towards us. Perhaps you may know
what a Pilot is, as far as I understand, Pilots are
men who have authority and commission granted
by Government to go out a certain distance from
land and take charge of vessels coming in. No
vessel can go in without Pilot. He came on board
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about six o'clock this morning. It was one of the most
beautiful mornings I ever saw, the sea was quite calm
and we appeared to be at a standstill. A breeze arose
about noon and we have been sailing nicely
since. I am sorry to have to record again that two children
have died to-day, one of them belonging to the same
people that the two I have mentioned before did. They
have lost three children on the voyage (all they have.)
The regular Church of England funeral service was
read by the Captain in a serious and impressive
tone this evening and the corpses were put down
together in the water. The occasion was a very solemn
one, A great many of the passengers were upon
deck, with heads uncovered listening as attentively
as you have seen in a Church and during the ceremony.
WEDNESDAY 10th Rather foggy all day, but we have
had a very favourable breeze, and sailed well
many thought we should see land before night,
but I think the Pilot must have come out a long
way. Uncle Valentine is almost well again excepting
that he feels rather weak. He has had the bowel
complaint rather ill. He has had the bowel
complaint rather ill. Misty and wet night. The
watch on the forecastle have a horn to blow in misty
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weather to give signal to vessels that might be near,
Berry and I have just been blowing a bit to night;
He blows many a time, he is quite a good hand at it.
THURSDAY 11th Wet and foggy morning sailed very
little since midnight till about breakfast time when
the wind got up a little and helped us forwards.
It continued quite misty and rainy all the forenoon.
The mist cleared away just after dinner and we
came in sight of "Land" the Jersey Coast about 2
o'clock this afternoon. Another child died this
afternoon. - We have had 6 deaths on board the ship 5
children - One [upgrown?]. - The Tug boat "Hercules"
met us about 5 or 6 o'clock. It was but a small Tug
and the Wind being rather high it could not get
along with us very well, so they were obliged to cast
anchor about 8 o'clock.
NEW YORK FRIDAY JUNE 12th We cast anchor last
night about 8'clock as I have just said. I suppose
we should have come forwards had not the wind
been strong; but we were obliged to stay a few hours.
When we got up this morning about 5 o'clock, a larger
Tug "Achilles" was coming towards us. The Captain
agreed with the Master to tug us forwards. We got
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to New York about one o'clock or halfpast.
We are going all the way by railroad.
The young man that Elizabeth Jessop was coming to,
met her at the "Castle Gardens", She went along with
him, and I suppose they are on their journey
home.
Joseph Wood.
