Journal of Billings Grinnell Almy
(1407-1C74)
Following is the continuation from the last Newsletter of the journal of Billings Grinnell Almy.
(See introduction in Newsletter No. 85, January 1996.)
[Merwin Almy note: I find this journal interesting reading because it tells about the many changes
in travel over the past 100 years.]
Tuesday, August 9, 1898
Rough sea, boat rocked all day. About 10 began to feel shaky. Ate light lunch at noon and went
to bed. Bath at three - Felt much better but still wasn't exactly safe (?). Exercised from 3 - 5, "tug
of war", "foot and a half", and "follow the leader", played checkers until 10:00 in evening. Feeling
better. All right anytime if I could only keep my mind off of the idea. Noon 336 miles (1886). Lat.
49-46, Long. 03?
Wednesday, August 10, 1898
Still considerable roll to boat all day. No vessels sighted, nor yesterday. Shuffle Board after
breakfast, lounged in chair till noon. Threatening sick again about same time as before, 11:00 a.m.
Slept in chair after lunch. "Tug of war" 3-4, Shuffle Board after dinner. Concert in saloon in
evening. Not quite comfortable day. Not very well and pretty cold. Ate some good cake. Noon
337 miles (2223) Lat. 49-46, Long. 23-20.
Thursday, August 11, 1898
A genuine "Sou'Easter"
Seasick.
Rather an unpleasant day. Very rough sea. Missed both breakfast and dinner. Ate supper but not
hungry. Cloudy and stormy all day. Eased up towards evening. Not so very sick just miserable.
Noon 325 (2548), Lat. 49-50, Long. 15-10.
Friday, August 12, 1898
Not feeling so very well in the morning. Quite well in afternoon. Ate my three meals however.
Cloudy day. Sighted several vessels. Three large steamers. Sighted Bishop's Rocks. Scilly Islands
at 2:00 p.m. Lands End at 6:00 p.m. Very pretty view and most welcome sight. By nine o'clock
could see lights along coast quite frequently. Wrote ACA, FFA, Ada. Good steady roll to sea all
day, quite stiff breeze. Noon 297 (2845), Lat. 49-50, Long. 2-35.
Saturday, August 13, 1898
Arose early to bid Southampton passengers good-bye. Anchored instead on wrong side of "The
Needles". Lay there until 11:00 a.m. waiting for pilot. Fog lifted and turned boat around west -
back came in O.K. took on pilot. Southampton at 2 p.m. Isle of Wight very pretty. Queen's
Yachts. Cowes Ryde, Forts, Portsmouth. Fog came on again and anchored in channel near
Brighton. Quite a scare by a ? boat coming near about 9:00 p.m. Very dense fog. Read the
London papers, announcing signing of Spanish-American Protocol.
[to be continued]
Goto next article
Return to Newsletter Index
Return to Merwin Almy's home page