William Strapps Diary Part 2

in the water, plowing the waves with its huge thich head & sending up jets of steam sounding & then reappeared till we lost sight of it. Many who have been to the Doctor for medicine have returned and made the expression that they thought he was more in need of a pill that they. I an sorry to have to put down in the Diary that he is confined to his bed & dangerous-ly ill as he went around every morning at 11:0 am inspecting (he goes round with the captain First Officer & head steward). We could not help remarking how pale he looked & constasting with the ruddy face of the old steward following him

Thu Feb 5th 1880

302 miles 40° 6" Lat S 80° 0" Long W.

The wind blew very cold last night which compelled several to put on their overcoats one of the Italian brought up his acordian & played some dance music & having sitten still till almost cramped to death I could not resist the temptation to have a reel which I did & the result was a thorough losening all my joints & feeling ten degrees fresher Sea rather calm this morning contrary wind blowing & our progress some slower The ships cook who had been a bad hand for some time past had to give up today working it & my helping duties accumulate in consequence but it is better to do a great deal than remian idle for "Satan still finds work for idle hands

to do One of the 2nd class passengers app arently a Frenchman is officiating as surgeon He went round with the officers this morning inspecting we had a new kind of game to-day at least it was to me Several of the most prominent of our chums & other who have to stand a good bit of chaff have by names given to them such as "Pelican", "Billy Luny" "Joker" "Salamander" "Blower" "King Dick or Richard III (Mr Batteram) May" Peggy" Sarah" Soloman" John the Baptist Obadiah" Nicodemus" Judas Iscariot" etc etc one of these Particular parties is chosen & a lot of us make a rush for him & no matter how he shouts bawls kicks or punches in spite of all his efforts to get free he is seized & hoisted up on to some of the strongest

mens shoulders several holding one arm several the other some hold of his legs & so on & is then borne round the vessel in triumph singing as we go. Getting away is out of question entire ly for it a man were 16 feet instead of 6 he would have to go The more obstinate the one to be carried the more fun This game was repeatedly done to various parties & they gloried in one who disposed to be a kicker

Fri Feb 6th 1880 319 miles 40° 1" Lat S 87° 57" Long E. A Whale was sighted ahead this morning but I did not see it. Cheery prospect Sails all set & favourable breeze filling them out the sea being a little troubled On going down the Foresquare to wash this morn ing I amongst others who had apparent ly been sound asleep were asked if

we had had the nightmare It happen ed than one of our chums who it was reputed had gone thro a considerable sum of money about 12.30 am he started whistling & talking as if to someone then dropped off to sleep about 1/2 an hour only had passed when he rose up shriekin g shouting & bawling for his life he crawled into his mates bunk over the next too & gave the other one such a thump in the ribs which he declares made him grin He then sprang off the top row of bunks one of which was his bed head forem ost on the floor a distance of about 5 feet & the wonder is he did not break his neck this it seems did not waken him & he crawled about the floor making the most horrid noises many jumped out of their bunks some bolt ed up the companion frightened