AMAZING OCEAN CROSSING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 239, 27 September 1930, Page 11

AMAZING OCEAN CROSSING

TWO MEN IN SMALL BOAT FIFTY-FIVE DAYS’ ROWING. INTERVIEWED ON ARRIVAL AT SCILLY. In our sports edition last Saturday, an account was given of an amazing ocean crossing of two men in an open boat. By a strange coincidence Mrs A. E. O'Meara, of Hastings, has a pen interview by liei unde, .Mr. .1. 0. Tonkin, secured from one of tho intrepid men in Scilly, on arrival there from New York. It reads as follows On Saturday, August 1, 1896, the inhabitants of Scilly were surprised by the appearance of a small boat manned by two men and flying the stars and stripes. That surprise was intensified when it became known that the two men, George Harbo and Frank Samuelson, Norwegians, had rowed across the Atlantic from New York in 55 days. On landing about 10 a.m. the men were stiff from sitting so long, their hands and arms also from such a long spell of rowing, but otherwise they seemed none the worse for their long and perilous voyage. LONG ROW DESCRIBED. On being interviewed by Mr. Tonkin, George Harbo, a very intelligent man, said: “My first thought of the feat was two years ago when Captain Fritz sailed a schooner-rigged boat, 43 feet long, from Milwaukee to Boston, thence to Queenstown. My mate and I then decided to beat the record and row across the Atlantic. Our boat, which is 10 feet long, five feet wide and 23 inches deep, draws four inches of water. She was designed by ourselves and built of cedar wood specially for the purpose. She is called the Fox, after Captain Fox, of the New York Police News, who has promised each of us a gold medal. “I am married man; my mate is single. We are both naturalised Americans. We left New York on June 26 amid the cheers of assembled thousands. A tug with about 500 persons on board followed us for about eight miles. We did not feel lonely on being left—our object absorbed all our thoughts. GALE EXPERIENCED. “All went well till July 14, when we experienced a gale from the East, which lasted 12 hours during which time we proved the seaworthiness of the little craft. On the 16th we spoke to the Bismark, from Southampton bound for New York. The boat bore down on us, thinking we were part of a shipwrecked crew. After some conversation the captain offered to take us back to New Yors, which offer we declined. “On the 26th, when on tho Banks of Newfoundland, we experienced a gale from the south with rain, fog and intense cold, which lasted several days. Wo spoke to a fishing boat, and so intense was the cold that the men were wearing their pea jackets and oil-skins, and mittens on their hands (two pairs). On July 4 (Independence Day) we washed ourselves for the first time since leaving New Y’ork, having had to bo very careful of our water supply. CAPSIZED. “The next day the weather came on very rough and lasted till the 14th, during which time we shipped several very heavy seas; indeed it was as much as we could do to keep her free. On the 10th, about 9 p.m., a heavy sea struck our boat on the luff of the bow and capsized her. We were caught under her, but soon got clear, having life-lines attached to a lifebelt round our bodies and these made fast to the boat. We soon righted her and, getting one on each side, got in without any trouble. We lost several loose things, such as cooking utensils, floating anchor and cable, distress signals and a few other things. During the night our boat filled several times, hut we managed to keep her afloat. The weather was so had that we sat 72 hours in our wet clothes without rest or anything warm to make use of. We saved our oil stove, but it was of little use as the heavy seas extinguished the light so often. When the weather was moderate we relieved each other every three hours during the night. DINNER ABOARD BARQUE.

“On July 10 we met the Norwegian barque Ugine (Captain Bache) and had dinner on board and left her at 5 p.m. We asked the captain to examine the boat and see if there were any other means by which the boat might be propelled besides oars. He did so, and certified in our log book ’that there was no other means than oars. The Tito was from Quebec bound for Pembroke. We were then in latitude 27.10, longitude 31.20. “Four hundred miles west of Scilly on July 24 we spoke to the Norwegian barque Ugina (Captain Bache) and again on the 31st a Russian schooner. An hour before daylight on August 1 wo made the Bishop Rock light, and at 10 a.m. landed on the liter at St. Mary’s. “Our stock of provisions consisted of tinned meats and biscuits. We had neither tobacco nor spirits on board. We intended having brandy among our stores, but in the hustle of preparation for our journey it was forgotten. Our health during tho voyage was exceedingly good. “We have in our possession letters from editors of American journals who examined our boat previous to starting, and all testified to the absence of any means by which the boat might make the voyage except hv oars. We also hold letters of introduction to several of the leading papers in England. We have not decided our future movements—our one object is money.’’ Asked if they would undertake the journey again thev replied emphatically, “No, never!’’