Viewing page 126 of 184

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

faith that a storm was at hand. The keeping of a part of his men aboard yesterday PM to clear the deck stowing down the Barrels of provisions - heaving an additional anchor etc. etc. all that the looking ahead - the faithfulness of the George Henry's Commander. "In Peace prepare for War", may contain a sentiment of usefulness to other navigators also. 
I was surprised to-night to hear Capt. say that he had not spent a summer or Autumn month at Home (in the States) for  years except in 1853 when he did not [[insertion]] start out [[/insertion]] (sail) until July 13th & twice he arrived home in Sept. The 1st time Sept 23d & the later 26th. With these exceptions, He has been on the deck. Capt. B. has a remarkable memory of incidents & dates. He will, as fast as speech will admit, give you the [[insertion]] year [[/insertion]] month & day of departure & return of every one of his voyages. He will give a faithful history of American Whaling here in Davis Straits & all statistics & incidents relating there to. There seems no end to the Volumes of valuable information within his brain. 

This PM no cruising for Whales - too strong wind. Indeed this AM the wind has been strong, increasing to quite a blow by 12 Meridian. There were daring deeds performed by some of the cruisers as they crossed "Rescue" Bay to return to the G.H. about one P.M. No Whales seen to-day. The Esquimaux good Weather - storm - cocks. Whenever [[insertion]] their [[/insertion]] general arrival here aboard look out for the near approach of a Gale - a Storm! They are very fond of getting weather bound to our Craft. They know that the "George Henry" will shelter them, extending its kindly protection to [[insertion]] Esquimaux [[/insertion]] as will as to the White men belonging here. [[strikethrough]] especially [[/strikethrough]] in Storm - weather!

Wednesday Oct 10 1860

The gale of last night yet continues. This Morning blowing strong the yet unequal to 26th-7th-8th ultimo. The Bar. constantly falling. I note it each hour. This eve, I was out at the windlass viewing & testing the strain upon the Anchor chains, when "Spikes" (a good humored hand & [[insertion]] withall [[/insertion]] an excellent seaman) came along [[insertion]] scanning [[/insertion]] my movements. Said I [[insertion]] Why [[/insertion]] is it that nearly all this gale's power on the vessel is allowed to come on this one chain, pointing to the smaller one on the Star-board side? 'Well' said "Spikes", this ought not to be. We laid out a couple of fathoms additional last night, that the draw on the one might [[?]] [[insertion]] be [[/insertion]] after the same fashion as [[?]], but - but, continued "Spikes" lifting himself high in his Mastodon Boots, 'Ther's mighty good timber in that one little chain, I'll bet ye! It'll stand a worse gale than this, I'll bet ye!' "Spikes" is an old Sea-man, though not an [[underlined]] old [[/underlined]] man by any means He's experienced much of Sea-life [[insertion]] has voyaged it [[/insertion]] all over the World - has been ship-wrecked time & again. During the storm of Sept. 26-27 -6 28, "Spikes" took his position [[insertion]] voluntarily [[/insertion]] near the Windlass, watching [[underlined]] intently [[/underlined]] [[insertion]] night & day [[/insertion]] the Workings of the anchor chains. It will be recollected that for 51 hours all of us were expecting the parting of the chains, on dragging the anchors. I recollect, on the night of the 27th (about midnight) [[insertion]] at the height of the storm, [[/insertion]] I met "Spikes" on deck. Said I: Why! is this [[underlined]] you [[/underlined]]? - Why up [[insertion]] here [[/insertion]] at this hour? [[underlined]] You [[/underlined]] are not on [[underlined]] Watch [[/underlined]]! 'Yes' said "Spikes" [[insertion]] [[?]]iatically [[/insertion]], [[underlined]] I [[underlined]] am [[/underlined]] on Watch [[/underlined]], [[underlined]] Ill bet ye [[/underlined]], tho not [[insertion]] so [[/insertion]] by orders. Ive been ship-wrecked [[insertion]] too many [[/insertion]] times napping! [[strikethorugh]] but [[/strikethrough]] [[underlined]] I find it do'nt pay! [[/underlined]] - You do not catch this child [[strikethrough]] ship [[?]] [[/strikethrough]]