YEAR'S VOYAGE IN ROWING BOAT

Evening Star, Issue 18052, 21 August 1922, Page 8

YEAR'S VOYAGE IN ROWING BOAT

A MODERN ULYSSES. REWARD OF £20,000. How a twelve-year-old rowing boat—just an ordinary old tub such as one sees on the Parxamata River any day in the week —with a drew of three, a tin of hard biscuits, a keg of water, cigarettes, and 1,000 postcards, put to sea from Halifax, in Nova Scotia., and! sailed down to Panama, through the canal, and up ihe western coast to Vancouver, was told on August 5 to a .Sydney ’ Sun ’ representative by Captain Jack Day, who recently arrived m Sydney from America. Day, who commanded the expedition, was reputed to be the youngest soldier in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. He ran away from school at the age of fifteen to throw in his lob with comrades in France, and after his repatriation found life very tamo. One day in hospital where he was recovering from ware ill-effects lie jokingly suggested the trip in a rowing boat from Halifax to Vancouver, and two of his mates, J. H. Morrison and J. H. Engle, jumped at the idea. The old boat was purchased for 25 dollars; wash-boards and a centre-board were affixed and a step for a mast added.

Old seafarers, says Captain Day, made fun of the scheme, but before the modem Ulysses and his crow set sail a sum of 100,000 dollars had been subscribed as a reward for them should the trip be a success. DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. Hard conditions were imposed. They were not allowed to carry life-belts, or money, nor food to last them more than two days; they were not to be towed or aided in any way by other craft. Their only means of livelihood were by the sale of postcards of their boat and the exhibiting of it at the different ports at which they touched. At each town or city they visited they had to obtain the signature of the governor or mayor. Over a year ago the odd little craft set out on its journey. Tbo general opinion was that she would never reach the Bav of Fundy, ninety miles away. Steam boats gave them a salute and aeropumes followed for a few miles. On the first day out winds blew solidly and tbo boat shipped considerable waum, but at the end of the day they had covered twenty-one miles. They had many exciting adventures. One day, says Captain Day, they covered sixty miles, 'and the Canadian authorities awarded them the record for the length of time rowed—eleven hours.

Meeting -with, good and -unfavorable weather in about equal proportions they crossed the notorious Bay of Bundy, known and feared by all seafaring men. There is a 40ft rise and fall of tho tide, a ton-knot current, and a great many tide rips to contend with. Before making Yarmouth their mast broke and they had to repair their craft in this last calling place in Canada.

Entering American waters they hadl to obtain tho American Government’s seal and enter and clear in each port.Off the coast of Maine a squall was encountered and the boat was overturned. The crew remained twenty-four hours iu the water with the U.S. coast guards around, but rendering no assistance as this would have meant breaking the conditions of the voyage. Finally,' however, they righted the boat and proceeded down the coast of Maine —ono of the worst coasts of America. There is little habitation and the men were forced to sleep iu the boat on most occasions.

At Cape Cod Canal they had to pay nine dollars to row through. _ As they could muster only six of the nine dollars they were forced to land and sell cards to make up the shortage. At N.ew London' they passed Captain Scott, who had left Halifax in a 16ft boat for Panama two weeks before them, and they, as a result, says Captain Day, made 5,000 dollars, as this amount was wagered that they would not overtake him. At New York they visited Mayor Gay nor and had lunch, with him, receiving the official seal of the city. They received the White House seal at Washington. Then on down the coast again. Striking hot weather they had to fit tho boat with mosquito nets and an awning. In the Gulf of Mexico only tho British and American flags saved thoir lives more than once. The Mexicans tried to steal the boat and kill tho crew, so that they wore forced to arm themselves with a couple of forty-fives apiece. Then they struck one of the unhealthiest coasts in tho world, called tho “ Mosquito Coast,” In times gone by no survivor from a wreck was ever heard pf. The presidents of the little republics along the coast were suspicious of the adventurers and they had difficulty in obtaining signatures, as they were looked upon aa spies. Then through the Panama Canal and up the west coast of America after many adventures similar to those related. They were often obliged to live on the fruits growing along the shore. They reached Vancouver after twenty-four and a-half months’ toil.

But Day is not satisfied yet. He Bays he is considering a trip right round' the world—but in a slightly larger craft.