William Strapps Diary Part 1

& shouting which gathered a good company of us in that direction We were told that their was a nighthawk up the fore-mast & they were trying to fright en it down one of our fellows thought he would have it so up he went but no hawk could he find It was a night hoax. He was greeted with a hearty laugh for his pains I was made not an April fool but an Equatorial one. The only hawk to be seen was a hawk without wings or legs with a large eye consisting of a huge copper lamp which hung at the mast head to let other vessels know our whereabouts. To night for the first time we see the southern X it being pointed out to us by the sailors The Great Bear & Polar Star are gradually sinking on the horizon & will soon be lost to sight

Sat Jan 17/80

276 miles 7 [degrees] 24" Lat S 5 [degrees] 54" Long W Very hot as usual but with it comes a nice breeze

making it cooler. This afternoon the fire bell called them to drill & away rush the men to their several positions. Our party had a concert down our cabin to night & it was crowded to excess A few minutes down went a long way with me so I had a good spelling at walking on the forecastle whilst it was clear to stretch my legs a bit for if you want to have a good walk without interrup tion you must get it first thing in the morning or at meal times when you want to be below with the rest or you will lose your dinner if you wait too long.

Sun Jany 18th 1880

273 miles 10 [degrees] 56" Lat S 2 [degrees] 59" Long W Service was held on deck this morning & it was nice & cool There was only a moderate attendance Came down the steerage in the afternoon & officiate d on deck again tonight It looked very amus ing this evening service the lamps all dodgin g We are running between the Isles of

Ascension & St Helena but did not sight Ascension having passed too far off Not so hot today Thought I would sleep on deck tonight again so took up my position between the sheet blocks & was soon in the arms of Morpheus

Mon Jany 19th 1880

266 miles 14 [degrees] 20" Lat S 0 [degrees] 5" Long W Was awakened this morning in a hurry. Orders had been given to take the awning down & as one end was fastened to the sheets above where I lay I was underneath some of the men One fellow it appears clambered up the sky light jumped up the boom unfastened the awning & slid down the sheets on the edge of my nose with his boot heel the sole pressing my forehead He perform ed to duties together took a reef in the awning & another in my nose The blood trickled down my face but I had to jump up & laugh it off although

pearl drops would have been more natural It's the only thing you can do if your wide-awake for if they see you are offended they will play some pranks upon you as they did one fellow who was sleeping not far from where I lay. They drenched him to the skin with the hose No doubt some of the sailors had a crow to pull with him Of course you can get no redress for if you go to the captain you cannot tell which one it was very often And if you should happen to know he would get off by saying he did not see you so it is the best to stand the jokes although they are rough ones.

Tues Jany 20th 1880

271 miles 17 [degrees] 47" Lat S 2 [degrees] 58 Long W "The old saying There is no peach for the wicked" is appropriate with regar d to peace We were sleeping under the companion & were awakened by the water from the hose drenching us.

We caught sight of two stormy petrels skim ming over the water. The sea is rougher to day and the Old Lady at the bows at a bath The sea is of the loveliest blue is have ever seen no artists colours could compare with it

Wed Jany 21st 1880

273 miles 21 [degrees] 10" Last S 6 [degrees] 10" Long E Slept down below last night The first time of having my clothes off for a week it is rather close as no ports could be opened on a/c of the sea washing over them but we have a canvas draught & that cools it a bit The engines stopt this evening & we lay dodg ing on the water drifting But it was found that they were only staffing some of the tables

Thur Jany 22nd 1880

263 miles 24 [degrees] 29" Lat S 9 [degrees] 18" Long E Blows a bit cooler today No need of straw hats The wind still blows from the south which is expected to continue till we reach the cape.