William Strapps Diary Part 1

lay me down with the blue canopy of heaven for a roof It was delicious after sleeping below which towards morning would put you in the mind of the Black hole of Calcutta about 1:10 am being half asleep I felt a few drops of water on my face which made me rise to a sitting posture All was still excepting the engines constant thump. thump & the rushing of the water as our good ships bows cut the waves suddenly a broad bright flash of lightening lit up the deck like an electric light (artificial) followed by a trememdous peal of thunder. It was a grand & fearful peal A few more flashed & heavens artillery was sending forth its notes of praise to its King Down came the rain & all the deck sleepers who were not awakened by the noise of the thunder were

soon disturbed by the rain & were to be seen rushing below with rugs & pillows The lightening was really beautiful The sailors call it Paddys Lantern Another young fellow & I got up early & had a saltwater bath in the Foresquare You may imagine that whilst you may be touching water as if it would be like we are throwing buckets full at each other

Thur Jan 15th 1880 277 miles 1 [degree] 21"Lat N. 11 [degrees] 32"Long W Sleeping on deck again I am not awakened by thunder of the clouds but by the thunder of the human voice The boatswain (bosun) was shouting If you dont want a bath with your clothes on you had better shift the sailors wash the deck down every morning with a hose pipe & the poor fellows who is

not very sharp gets a good ducking blankets & all We crossed the equator about 10.0 am this morning & instead of only seeing one line by a good many of young sailor boys you could see any amount if you could only lay on the deck and look up into the riggings To day all our cabin mates had to bring every thing on deck with the exception of the boxes for an airing beds Blankets pillows rugs Coats everything in the shape of clothes. The reason of this clear out may readily guess A certain gentleman from the Emerald Isle had a herd of above 4 legged stock & not wishing them to die of want "poor things! he generously brought them with him for our especial benefit Some of our fellow passengers observing where he sat one day certain creature with certain number

of legs addicted to a certain desire to bite were having a game at hide & seek round him Of course they made complaints & the result was this general turn out & a wash down below & the fellow & those who slept close to him had to scrub their bunks out which I think pretty well took them off I was up at the far end nearest to the hatchway so was pretty clear of them I was extremely glad that we had to clear out for it sweetened our cabin nicely & if another turn out is enforced I shall be very glad Having got mine up pretty early I took possession of the jiboom which being about 8 feet from the deck my traps got a nice breeze It put one in mind of a large auction sail of a drapery store for almost every hole & corner from the bows

to the funnel was filled up by a bed or some such articles There was a concert down the second class to night Our fellow are rehearsing for one they are getting up We saw a shoal of porpoises jumping out of the water the largest Number together we have seen

Friday Jany 16th 1880 265 miles 37 [degrees] 47 Latitude South 8 [degrees] 46" Long W I thought I would sleep down below (tonight) last night for it would not be as sweet again & even then it was very close & warm It was so warm that a shirt was unbearable a single sheet had to suffice for a covering on awakening in the morning I felt nearly roasted very hot again today The sailor had a lark to night I began hooting