JOHN LEIGHTON’S DIARY

Opunake Times, 21 October 1947, Page 3

JOHN LEIGHTON’S DIARY

VOYAGE FROM ENGLAND SAILING SHIP ERA November 11th.: Land Oh! The Cape De Verde Islands, rough mountainous looking places they are. One which we ran rather close to called the St. Antonio is 15 miles long. No signs of inhabitants or habitations A s close as we were there were no signs of soundings according to the appearance of the water. Five or six islands in sight. Very little wind and dropped iii afternoon. It did not look at all ]feasant at night hugging fdie linl so close. Ther. 7(. November 12th.: A light wind fair abaft. The island astern of us. Seven vessels in sight, one suppose d to be a Yankee. Oni captain wished to hold a talk v ith them, but he Was a sulky fellow, he did not show his ensign. We lost sight of the island toward:* evening. Our ship is yoted a had sailer with a light wind, but a good one with the wind on tli-3 beam, she having made 15 knots on her last voyage, but we hare to prove her .yet. The wind freshened up at uiedit and when I turned in was going 8 or 9 knots, but rolling to that unpleasant degree that the water rushed in at the scuppers. Have a winsaii hoisted in the mam hatch today which makes a great improvement down below. Eme mocnlight nights and beautiful sunsets. Ther. 76.

November 13th.: Light winds which afterwards _ (lied away. Two more islands in sight, one an immense height, belonging to the same group —Cape de Verde. The clouds lay about half way up the mountain. A nice breeze sprang up from the North East which in reality is the Trade Wind. Went on deck to smoke a pipe, .after Anna had turned in at 4 bells p.m. First mates watch, Fore brace was the cry, haul taut, after which we went spanking along 8 or 9 knots an hour, a speed we have not attained this side of che Fay of Fiscay, 1-5 degrees N. of the line. Some bottle nose whales are seen. The weather is so hot ad us P oor 68 are obliged to turn out and lie on the mess tables, or seats, or anywhere else where fancy may lead. We have 3 berths but did not like put the children in by themselves for reasons etc. Ther. 7T.

November 14th.:_ Sunday. Eleven years today since we sailed to America. A fine breeze which keeps lulling and then springing up again. Are 2 degrees nearer the line this morning. to prayers at the usual time. Going along at a spanking rate tonight with stunsails and staysails set. Had a yarn with the first officer on the poop ladder, it being his, watch till midnight. He is a very affable man and a first rate seaman. A large steamer hove in sight this afternoon on the starboard quarter. She overhauled its about 8 bells, did not make out her name, evidently a mail. She passed us, and as the shades of evening came on, we lost sight of her on the port. weather bow. Ther. 79.

November Isth.: FaR winds same as yesterday. In the afternoon a squall struck us on the starboard beam, which' almost sent us on our beam ends, _ accompanied with heavy rain, wind, lightning and thunder. Furled stunsails and royals which eased her. The gallant ship went scudding along, dashing the spray far and wide. It seemed qvdte pleasant after creeping along at such a slow rate for such a long time, except at short intervals. 90 degrees to the line. Ther., 78.

November 16th.: Fine morning. About dinner-time prepared for tbe squall which threatened us on the weather port quarter, but it passed astern of us, but a short time after, another struck us on the weather quarter, but of less magnitude than the one of yesterday. A beautiful night till 9 p.m. when the moon became suddenly overcast. Turn up the watch. Stand bv the royal halyards, etc. Let go, stand by the gallant halyards are the orders as the tempest comes sweeping over us, which soon told on the speed of the ship, accompanied with vivid flashes of lightning and heavy rain, such as it knows bow to rain in the tropics. Ther. 78. ~ November 17th.: Squally. November 18tb.: A. regular wet day with rain falling in sheets, driving us all down below, which is a very uncomfort-able-’state of things. Filled a number of empty water casks with sweet water. The ducks were turned on deck and had a dabble to their heart’s content. No wind. Ther. 75. (To be continued.)