James White was a 21 year old farmer from Quincy, MA. In 1849 he sailed from Boston around Cape Horn to San Francisco and the gold diggings of California. In all he spent 6 months at sea and a year in California. I've transcribed his journal and am publishing it here as well as on Amazon/Kindle and Apple/iBooks.
This week a taste of bad weather, soon Cape Horn.
Thursday March 1st 1849
In the morning wind moderated. Set all sails but the light. About eight the wind increased blowing. Took in all sail but foretop stay sail, fore sail, fore top sail, main and mizzen top sail and main spencer. Wind SE. Toward night the wind hauled round E and moderated. Set all standing sails. About eight passed a brig about a quarter mile off, bound N. We did not see her not till on our quarter and then by her light. We returned signal. In Lat. 26º 52' Long. 40º 30'.
Friday March 2nd
Commenced with fresh gales from SE. In Lat. 28º 23' Long. 41º 04'. Today bent new fore and main top gallant sails. In the afternoon the wind hauled ENE. Saw hermaphrodite brig bound N. Probably a coaster. Acted rather shy by keeping off and then fully astern of us. We are fifty days out today. On third of the passage and one third of the time gone. Tending to my calculation which is five months.
Sat. March 3rd
Wind hauled from SE to NNW. Blowed pretty smartly. Under double reefed fore and fore top sail, main and main top sail, mizzen top sail, all doubled reefed and fore top stay sail. Went nine knots average all day. Blew all night. This heavy sea running. No sleep in the morning. This afternoon took in swinging boom, hauled down royal yards, top gallant, studing sail booms. Took in quarter boat and lashed them and everything on deck. Made ready for regular snorter. Heavy sea. Got no sleep tonight. The ship rolled and pitched violently. Wind hauled on the beam W about twelve. Hard work to keep in the berth. Some were thrown out clear across the ship.
In the morning
Sunday March 4th
This was an awful day to me. Thought of home, the elections, the inauguration of old Zack. I fully realized a big sea. Went on deck in the morning almost sick. No, I was not sick but a little frightened. The sea ran mountain high, the wind blowing a perfect gale.
(In Lat. Saturday 30"58' Long. 41"50')
Today Lat. 32º 43' Long. 42º 30'. Wind west about ten.
Passed a brig laying to under main spencer. Thought it strange that Capt Smith did not. She was within a quarter of a mile. Sometimes she would go down between the seas entirely out of sight. It was not long after we passed her, a big hairy cloud came from the SW. Wind hauled SW. Took in all sails and laid to under main spencer and fore top mast stay sail. Sometimes the waves look as though they would envelope us, but this old ship was a good one to ride the sea. I never want to see the sight again. The wind blew one of the sailor's pants off. Towards night it moderated. Set double fore and fore top sails, main top sails. Running with these and main spencer and fore top mast stay sail all night. Great confusion prevailed all night among the barrels, boxes, etc. The hog got loose and was squealing and he got jammed pretty bad. A rell got loose and greased the decks up finely. This was the second Sunday so rough that we could not have religious services
This was the worst day yet, a perfect gale called by Dana a Pomperus being off the River La Plata. They are very destructive to shipping and are felt many leagues at sea.
Monday March 5th
This morning more moderate wind WSW. In Lat. 34º 14' Long. 43º 13'. Turned reefs out. All sails set. Top gallants sails and sended along at the rate of seven knots. Heavy head sea. Today we were obliged to kill the hog as we were having rough weather and rather in the way. Had him made into two good soups. (quite a luxury to some) Saw a great many albatross and sea hens.
Tuesday March 6th
Wind WSW all day. This is rather a discouraging wind blowing us E too much. In Lat. 35º 39’ Long. 43º 18'., although braced up sharp and course SW. Today our men amused themselves in trying to shoot and catch albatrosses. Only one was killed. After being fired at all day some of the sailors said you could not kill one. Towards night wind hauled W. Went off at the rate of six knots all night.
Wednesday March 7th
In the morning wind NW. In Lat. 37º 40' Long. 43º 50'. Began rather squally. Clewed up top gallants and reefed all top sails fore and main sails. Carried away bow braces. The weather begins to feel cool. Gunge frocks and pea jackets quite comfortable. The water colder. Looks black. We have had now a weeks uncomfortable weather and been Cape Horn from morning till night and we are all most ready for the worst.
Experienced heavy squall this forenoon accompanied with vivid flashes of lightening and heavy claps of thunder. Raining copiously. We were also visited by a land bird looking very much like our Northern Martin. He appeared to be tired out as he was caught very easily Probably he was blown off in the gale. Toward night wind hauled SW and blew quite hard.
Next week will be published Sunday February 16.