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• 1 2019-03-10T20:32:25-07:00 Cecil Northrop "Two Months Before the Mast", 1919, pages 1-11 84 Transcription plain 2021-08-26T11:35:07-07:00 Transcription of Northrop's narrative of his first sea journey at age 18 in 1919. 

  
This work (Two Months Before the Mast), by Cecil Northrop, identified by SUNY Maritime Archives, is free of known copyright restrictions in the United States (life of the author + 70 years).

  TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE MAST

  (with apologies to Dana).
  
  by
  Cecil P. Northrop
  (Seaman S/S Santa Paula)
  
  From: Cecil P. Northrop
  525 Tribune Bldg.,
  New York City
  Telephone: Beekman 504)

  BEFORE THE MAST TO THE WEST COAST

  by Cecil P. Northrop
  
  Well, here I am at sea at last, days out from New York and bound for the West Coast of South America through the Panama Canal. The mate says it will take about seventy five days to go to Talcahuano and back. That is three hundred miles farther south than Valpariso, and we might even go through the Straits of Magellan and return by Buenos Aires and the East Coast. The other boat belonging to this company went that way.
  
  Every boy wants to go to sea sometime, especially after reading sea tales like Dana's Two Years Before the Mast. I thought I would go on a sailing ship at first, but a seagoing friend told me there was an awful lot of work, poor grub, and bad conditions on these ships. Sailing ships are fast going out of business and if not for the war having destroyed so much shipping, I don't think there would be any sailing ships left. They look wonderful though and make you feel like you would want to sail in one.
  
  I suppose you would like to hear just how I managed to get started on my first voyage. Well, here goes:
  
  A friend of mine helped me in getting a letter from a shipping company, as some sort of letter is necessary in making the first voyage in order to obtain a seaman's passport. Besides, I could not get my passport without a letter saying what ship I was going on. With this letter, I applied to the New York Barge Office and after being kept waiting several hours and answering a lot of questions about being a citizen, besides being made to bring three small photographs of myself, I got the passport. As the ship was to sail the next day, I went to the dock and went up the gang plank just as the Shipping Commissioner was "signing on" the crew. This signing on is quite a grand affair. The Captain of the ship and all the officers are lined up in the cabin and two or three United States Commissioners sit at a table with big sheets of printed matter spread out in front of them. These sheets are the "Articles" or agreement between the shipping company and the men. I signed it in three places and was "on" from that time. They seem to want to scare the life out of you before they get you.
  
  The week before I decided to go to sea, I was shopping around the water front looking over all sorts of sailor clothes, and bought the following "gear".

  Sea Boots, rubber $6.75
  Oil Skins 5.00
  Heavy working shoes 6.00
  Sheepskin Coat 10.00
  Dungarees two pair 8.00
  Sweater 4.00
  Cap 1.00
  Two Shirts 3.00
  Socks, heavy 1.00
  $44.75

  I did not know that I could buy nearly all this stuff on board the ship at very reasonable prices. The ship will let you have these clothes out of what is called the "slop chest". They advance it out of your wages. Lots of boys go to sea without any clothing suitable for sea life and as they don't always have the money, this ship store is a life saver.
  
  The ship at first looked in terrible confusion, which I thought would take days to straighten out. There were great piles of rope in tangles, hatches with the covers in the middle, all the chain rails sagging, rope ends all over the deck, loose blocks swinging, papers and all kinds of dirt, empty barrels, cargo runners and hooks, broken slings, all the booms up with the many wires which hoist the cargo hanging from them, making the place look like a wreck. Being unused to any of this, I could not make head or tail out of it. I just took ahold where I saw the men pulling; being very little help I suppose, not understanding any of the orders given by the Bos'n, when he would say "unshackle that off guy", or "unreave that runner", or "hand me the end of that inch and a half rope". Not knowing what any of this meant, I at first looked around for some man, thinking he was referring to some "guy" who had to be unshackled. I did not know the sizes of the ropes, or what a "runner" was. When told to get anything I would run aft and repeat the message in a parrot like manner not having the least idea what it was. The store keeper would sometimes ask what part it was for, or for which side, "starboard or port"? and I would have to say right or left, which would always cause a laugh. It is surprising how quickly everything was in its place. We first lowered all the booms into the chocks and lashed them down, we then battened down the hatches and put the lock bars on. Then we unrove the runners. They are the wires by which the cargo is taken out. We took all the "guys" and strung them up. This is done by passing the bight over the guy itself when pulled taught and made fast with some yarns. The guys, by-the-way, are the ropes which hold the booms in place when taking out the cargo. The chain rail was then tightened, and in about two hours work everything was beginning to look shipshape and we were ready for sea. After a quick wash down, you would not have recognized the ship; there was such a change.
  
  As soon as we cleared the dock, the tow lines on the tug were cast off, and we continued under our own power down the bay. When we had passed the Narrows and were well outside, we stopped and nearly turned a complete circle. A tug had followed us down and they pushed our bow around so that we could correct our compass if there were any error. This is called "swinging the ship" and is done to compare the ship's compass with some known point on shore, or compass brought from shore.
  
  All this time I had been working so hard that I did not get a chance to give New York a farewell look. When under way again, we had to send down the bow lines of which there are about four hundred feet and, being wet, they weighed like lead. I thought my back would break before we got to the end.
  
  By this 'time it was dark and we went to supper. It was much better than I had expected! Roast pork, potatoes, carrots, spinach, tea, bread and jam. I thought it would be the story book "salt horse" that I would have to go to the galley for, and bring it myself in a small tub. But we had a mess boy to wait on us, the meal was brought in pails with divisions ("chow cans") so it was not so bad.
  
  That night I did not sleep very well, as the beds are hard and filled with a sort of straw and so are the pillows. The lights are kept burning all night and of course the screw makes a noise like thunder. It took some time to get used to the single pieces of straw coming through the pillow or mattress and feeling like a needle going through you. But in a week or so I did not notice it.
  
  The next day being Saturday, instead of being given a "royal" all to myself, they gave me a pail of "sugee" (soap and soda) and LET me scrub up the forecastle. I tried to keep a stiff upper lip, and make out that I did not care, and enjoyed it. To help this along I whistled a little but felt far from cheerful, feeling that it was not real sailor's work; which it is not, this usually being done by the mess boy. The floor was very dirty and as the water was slimy from the soap, I hated to put my hands in it. I did not know that I was noticed, but one one of the sailors said "I can see by your face that you hate to do that" which of course I denied. When I had finished this, I thought I was through with this kind of work for the day, and was just recovering my lost dignity, when I was given a pail or coal oil, and told to wash up the alley-ways amidships. This was worse than the forecastle, as it required my getting down on my knees with a wad of waste soaked in oil, where before I was able to use a mop. This seemed to be the last straw and it made me fighting mad, and I got rough and slopped it all over the place. Then the first Mate came along and when he saw how I was doing it he laughed, and got down on his knees and showed me the way he wanted it done. This made me feel a little better and I finished work in good shape within an hour.
  
  lt was then about dinner time as I had "stalled" all morning. For dinner we had a meal that was first rate, two kinds of meat, green stuff, coffee and pie for des[s]ert. I then began to notice the men around me: they were nearly all Danes, all big men, their language as rough as it comes, but they all had nice table manners, every one washed before coming to the table which, for men of their type, was unusual.
  
  We then started to paint the deck of the wheel house aft. It is one of the hottest places in the ship, completely [e]nclosed and contains a good size steam engine, which turns the rudder. This engine is always leaking steam, so of course the heat is terrible and the air breathless.
  
  It being cold on deck and the sea running pretty high I was dressed in everything I had, to keep warm. Well, I began to paint and for the first half hour was alright. Then I began to feel a little sick, which I thought was due to the sea, but it was the heat and the smell of the paint. It got so bad that the room was swimming 'round and 'round. I was painting the engine, and every time it passed me I would try to give it a brush of paint, but my aim got so bad that I would miss it altogether, so I gave it up and started to paint the floor because it seemed more of a fixture than the engine. I knew where it was at least, and so finally got it finished and crawled out on deck where the air soon put me on my feet again and I had not more trouble that way. I was not sea sick at all, but my heavy warm clothing and the hot steam inside the wheel-house with the smell of the paint made me faint and dizzy.
  
  The following morning our real work began with washing down, which takes about an hour and is done between seven and eight, the day men being called at six thirty. The ship was in a terrible condition, as dirty as a pig pen, and all the running gear frozen stiff with rust, all the ropes rotten, fore and aft peaks in chaos. So we began on the blocks, which weigh about seventy pounds. We had to lift them down, which means knocking the pin out with a sledge, then dragging them along the deck, and swinging the sledge for about an half hour trying to loosen them up. I suppose this work is not hard for anyone used to a black smith's shop, or to an iron worker, but to one like myself who had never done any manual labor it was killing. You can bet by the time night came I was so dead tired that I could have slept on anything. The noise of the engines did not keep me awake any either. The next morning we "turned to" and did the same thing over again. By this time I began to wonder why I came to sea. I believe that if land had showed up I would have swam ashore.
  
  In a few days the weather got warmer. My spirits rose with the thermometer and I began to look on the work in a different light. I figured that I had to do eight hours work every day, and what difference did it make what the work was, so long as it made the hours slip by, and that, as, washing up the alley-ways was better than swinging a hammer, what difference did it make? In other words, I settled down to the job to make the best of it, and I find that everything goes much better with this method. I never hurried to finish anything, as there was sure to be something else to do just as soon as one job was over.
  
  For a couple of days the weather was not up to much. The sea was gray and sullen, with large swells, and when the wind blew hard it would blow the top of them right off, and for awhile kept our deck a little wet. I guess if it had been a smaller boat we would have been under the water most of the time. She had a nice easy roll and she sure could pitch, but I soon caught the trick of being steady on my feet and was OK for the rest of the trip.
  
  They kept me pretty busy all day at one thing or other. The only fault that I found was, that when the day was done I got very little chance to study. By the time I had supper it was dark, and I had to study in my bunk as the crew were playing cards on the table, and you know how quiet a bunch of seamen are when off duty. I wish I had been an "AB" and then I would have had my watch, and it would have been daylight with no one in the room, or on deck they would have been busy and have let me alone. So, the next trip I don't think I will ship as an "ordinary".
  
  The sea down here is the most beautiful color that I have ever seen, a wonderful light blue, and when there are a few white caps on it, it looks like a painting with cloudless skies.
  
  I tell you, there is some class to this baby, going south for the winter, but "sorry to say that business calls me back to New York in a month or so". And here is another thing I can tell my friends. I am on the bridge most of the time (washing paint) and am getting to know the Captain quite well. He came across me the other morning and said "why hell-o what are you doing down this way". The truth is, he tripped over me and instead of saying "Hell-o" reversed the word, which sounds quite different. "Ordinaries" by the way are never supposed to be on the boat deck.
  
  We have passed a lot of islands, the Bahamas, which are very pretty as we go within a few miles of them. We are now headed for the Windward Passage between Cuba and Haiti, and shall be able to see both of them if we don't go through at night. 
  
  Another thing I notice down here are the beautiful stars.The air seems so clear, and there is no moon, nearly every star casts its reflection on the water. Late last night I could not sleep very well. It being warm I came on deck about four in the morning, and as I looked over the port I saw a star that at first I thought was the moon, it was so big. So, I looked it up and found that it was Jupiter. It cast a long silver gleam right across the ocean. I watched it for about an hour, it seemed to hold me spell bound.
  
  It is now warm enough to go around without anything on except a sport shirt and a pair of pants. My cold is nearly gone and as the heat is even I think I will get along fine.
  
  Most of the crew are from the cold climates and cannot stand very much warm weather. They are all down in the cabin sweating their eyebrows off, but I am up here on the forecastle-head, where I do not hear the thud of the engines, which I must say make a most fearful noise. I am sitting here with my Corona on my lap feeling like a pirate king. I am happy just now, as I have made some easy money. You see, this is Sunday and we are paid over-time for anything we do. A little while ago, the Bos'n received word that the Captain was coming around, and as there were a handful of rope ends which looked bad, he said that he would give me an hours over-time if I would lend him a hand. I thought it would be an hour's work, but it only took five minutes by my watch (I was watching out for my over-time, you bet it gets the care that only a mother can give) and so when I had finished I thought I would not get the full hour, but he said "Thanks, son, that is all, I will put you down for an hour."
  
  Being the youngest of the crew--eighteen years old-- I am known as the lad, by the Bos'n or sometimes "Son" and "Sonny-Jim". A big fellow who used to be on the sailing ship Inverclyde, seems to have taken a great shine to me, and when the other fellows tease in a good natured way about something that I happen to do, he will say "that's all right, Sorn" and will tell me some Danish name to call them. I guess I am the youngest on board as they are all about thirty-five or forty. Considering that I am only a green-horn and so many ways to be made fun of they sure do treat me fine. Altogether these are a mighty fine bunch of men, clean, and very simple, very much like children.
  
  There are some swell jobs on board; easy, I mean, such as the Wireless operator, the Purser, and of course the mates have the time of their lives, and the Captain does nothing, so that is the job I have set my eye on.
  
  I have done so much scrubbing lately, I suppose I will come back with house-maids-knee. Anyway I am going to sea with gloves on which Dana said was impossible.
  
  Nearing Colon, heat about 120° and working like hell!
  
  I have just finished my week's washing, which amounted to a suit of underclothes, a pair of dungarees, a few towels and a pair of heavy socks. Everything was as black as tar, as this is the first trip of the ship since the war and we are getting it into shape. The Navy has had it for the past two years and as they knew that it would be given back to a private Company did not take any care of it in the way of painting or by keeping the paint which was already on clean. Before it can be repainted it has to be washed. The dirty water runs down your sleeve, and for the first two or three drops that trickle down your arm you stop washing and follow it all the way down to your toes, but you get used to that and miss it if it should happen to drip somewhere else. From that kind of work you can imagine the condition of my underclothes. This is the system I used for washing colored clothes: I got a nice wide board (this "system" created quite a lot of comment and laughter) I laid that on the "floor" (I mean the deck) and then wet my things and laid them out flat and proceeded to soap them. I went to the store room and got a scrubbing brush with bristles like wire, and I tell you in about ten minutes when I hung them up to dry they were beautifully white. No not quite white, but a brown which is much better for the eyes. Anyway all the men rubbed their knuckles raw and I don't believe they got theirs any cleaner. I also noticed that two or three of the men when they got through laughing came and sheepishly borrowed my brush.
  
  By the way, about calling the deck the "floor"- I had to go into the engine room the other day and tell the engineer that we were through with the water on deck, and I went down and said that we had finished with the water "upstairs", and he said "upstairs" and I said (just to make him think it was a joke) yes, on the "front porch".
  
  The islands have been very beautiful in the last few days., Most of them had wonderful beaches of the very whitest sand, very wide too, and way back you could see the palm trees waving in the breeze, and see the great rollers break on the beach. This water is the most beautiful color that you can imagine, real light blue, not a cloud in the sky, just the sun shining on everything. While I was looking at one of these little "heavens," a whole school of flying fish rose out of the water and flew for three or four hundred feet. When they fly they flash their color in a thousand different ways. You feel as though you would be content to live the rest of your life on one of the islands. One old sailor said they reminded him of the south sea islands. I felt as if I were reading a story in the magazine "Adventure."
  
  While standing on deck a night or two ago one of these fish flew right on deck. They are attracted by the light, and the men say they are excellent eating. They are caught at night, by placing a lantern on deck and they fly towards the light and fall on deck. I picked this one up and tried to save it to send home, but we are about three days from port and it would have gone bad by the time I got to the Post Office, and even if I mailed it the same day, I doubt if it would keep. I hear that along the West Coast of South America, there are beautiful parrots and other birds which the natives sell very cheaply.
  
  Just think, I am having July weather down here and always a nice breeze, as we get all the trade winds which sometimes blow for months.
  
  The seaman of today sure have changed from those of twenty years ago. One of the men in the forecastle has an electric fan, another an electric iron. He washed his Panama hat today and pressed his nice blue suit. While in the weekdays they have a hard time keeping clean (their clothes I mean) Sunday they all put on their very best. Nice clean pants and a white sport shirt and you can bet they sure do look cool. When I opened my little brass bound box, they all came around to see what I had, and there was my face powder, and buttons, and thread and all the other little things, which I was surprised to see they did not think were out of place. They said "You sure have got a nice daddy; he has given you everything that you need. I bet he has been to sea.” When I said he had, and in a sailing ship, this seemed to please them a whole lot. So, you see, they are not the ordinary bunch of “sea dogs" which is the usual conception of anything going to sea. They are all very nice to me and ready to show me anything that I would care to ask, such as splicing, or knots, or anything at all.
• 1 2020-03-10T16:47:45-07:00 Cecil Northrop "At Sea," 1921 49 Transcription plain 2021-08-31T19:53:26-07:00 In "At Sea," Cecil Northrop details his experience as a cadet on the training ship Newport of the New York State Nautical School from June-July, 1921. The typed pages were likely copied from handwritten journals, and were clearly in the process of being edited (hand written corrections and notations have been incorporated into the transcription). Unfortunately, pages 3-8 are missing and the text is cut off at page 25.  The digitized manuscript is available through the Stephen B. Luce Library's digital collections site and the original is part of the Cecil Northrop Papers. Unlike most cadets on the Newport, Northrop wasn't "green," as he had already shipped out on the SS Santa Paula and traveled to the West Coast of South America at age 18 in 1919. In "At Sea," he often compares his existing skill and sea knowledge to his classmates' relative inexperience.
  
  Any text in brackets is a note of the transcriber. 

  June 26, 1921
  “At Sea”

  Introduction Needed [Hand written]
  
  Last night I took my first watch, and gave up the job as “orderly” owing to the fact that the orderly is expected to stand a night watch which would have made me work 17 hours, I could not see it, so I am going to take it as easy as possible but work on deck which is far more interesting and unless I have to lift any extra heavy weights, all will go well. Being in the second division we had the grave yard watch, 12-4. I stood lee wheel for the first two hours, also steered for about twenty minutes[.] I did better I drew regular helmsman because I have the knack of “meeting her” in passing Fire Island. Broad on our Port Bow Sir,”.  At four bells I was relieved and hung around the deck doing nothing. Some of the boys were sick, although only light swells running; don’t know how they will be when we get a little weather. Had to take a strip wash on deck this a.m., rather nice and not so very cold. We are steaming at about 7 knots per, with cloudy weather but wonderfully calm sea, I have never seen the Atlantic so before. My work don’t begin until we get under sail, and then, the Lord only knows. Afraid I am going to miss very much my various girl friends. Was told by Executive Officer I could stand a shave.
   
  4 P.M. Same day. Have just come off my watch and am a little tired for the first time since coming on. For the first ten hours I stood boss lookout. Sighted some whales. Last two hours helped heave ashes with about six others and also heaved bags of coal out of engine room, I should say, fire room gratings. The work was a 
   
  2.
   
  little heavy, but I am anxious to get a line on just what I am able to. The boys show so little spirit that it makes all work hard. I would give anything to be able to be contented slacking, but somehow it goes against the grain, and I like to do things with a snap. In this case I guess I am about the only one I can make snappy. O, well such is life! I am going to take things as easy as I can, as my side hurts some now. A great many of our divisions have something the matter with their hands so we are a little shorthand. Sea still calm, but slightly heavier swell.
   
  June 27th. Stood lee wheel first two hours. There was some sea running and we pitched heavily. As luck will have it, about four of my division are sick, a couple of with bad hands, and the others just plain seasick. One poor little fellow with a physique like a sparrow, was laying on the lee side clutching the rail. He was the port cat-head lookout. I felt so sorry for him that I stood watch for him. I regret that I did not bring Mother-Sills Sea Sick Remedy as I hate to see anyone suffer, especially when they are never fitted for the sea. I have done a lot around the deck and as far as my side is concerned it feels O.K. But I am tired, tired, tired, I feel as though I would not care if I died. I do not seem able to get the old “pep.” The system of watches is very poor here. You stand your watch and go off duty. They turn you to put you to work, though your watch is over. I came near pasting a guy last night- 4th class; he has eyelids that sort of cover his pupils, his head slopes back, and I am sure something is lacking. Everything on this packet is primitive. To wash clothes is a real hardship due to the terrible crowding. This afternoon they set sail. I was at the wheel at the time. Wind was so light that she would not even pay off.
   
  [page 3-8 missing]
   
  9.
   
  July 2nd. This a.m. the ship was put in irons by one of the second class. I never saw such a thing. I did not stand wheel this day as I wanted a rest. I was aft on life buoy and saw it all. The mate at the wheel says the wind changed suddenly,- this I known did not happen. He was relieved and another man took his place. He was nearly as bad as the first. He was told to let her fall off, believe me, he did. The course was nor-east and he let her fall off to N.W. I was watching the north star and warned him in time to save her from wearing ship. The job was hoisted and spanker furled in order to get her under way again. The weather man at the wheel has asked me to stand the watch with him as he admits he is green. I am catching on first rate to working the ship so that in a month’s time I shall be able to “hand, reef, and steer.” Just at present we are clipping along 6 knots, I heaved the chip log myself. The sea is getting more like the old Atlantic I know, and I would not be surprised to have a little heavy weather today. Being Saturday we had Captain’s inspection and got thru by rolling my underwear down to my waist and borrowing a shirt, mine being not fit for publication. We change watches tonight, I have an 8-12. I am sort of out of luck as there is going to be no more scrubbing until after the 4th and I have nothing clean. This is not neglect on my part but due to the short time allowed for scrubbing and having to do so in salt water. We expect to reach Ponta Del Gada Wednesday week, if we have any sort of fair weather, and sooner if this keeps up.  
   
  Some of the boys are black and blue from beatings by old mugs for various violations of rules. Once again I express my sympathy for and disgust at the brutality of one animal with another.
   
  10.
   
  But when they get into commercial life they will have to change their method a little. Altogether the day has been very pleasant and I have no complaints. I was thinking of the terrible crowds going to Coney Island to see the Ocean and here is more than I know what to do with. So long, diary, old top, until tomorrow.
   
  July 3rd. Running before a stiff breeze-might say a small gale with blows that heel us way over to starboard. Steering 72 East. Relieved wheel for supper, some little excitement if not watched with minutest care. She comes up with the wind like a bat out of hell. The breeze is strong enough to take the kicks out of her, so I heard the Captain say. It rained like cats and dogs which was a God send, as there was no washing period and I did not have a clean suit in my locker. I scrubbed three suits, three caps and two pair of underwear. The underwear I am somewhat ashamed to own, that is if I were home, there are many things slightly different from home. Yes Lord!
   
  Tomorrow being July 4, will be a little holiday and they will have sports such as boxing and wrestling. Wish I was able to box, but I guess I had better not. Got kicked in the side by accident, and boy apologized; it hurt a little anyway. Am standing 8-12 watch now and get a little more rest. The only objection is Stock, “Pope [?],” is O.D. Went aft and climbed up main topsail, also passed the gaskets for trisail. Captain asked me about my side and told me to be careful,- much nicer of a man than some one I know. Days seem to slip by fairly swift now and we are more than half way across.
   
  11.
   
  July 4th, In about Lat 39 degrees N, 50 degrees W. Long. Some Fourth! and writing this while ship is laboring heavily, so much so that the lockers are capsizing. Running before a heavy gale of 75 mile per hour. Spanker storm sale set. At twelve o’clock midnight when going below, wind was very strong but steady from N.W. Running wind. Reefed topsail and foresail. 4 A.M. all hands on deck. When I got on deck there some change! Were actually wallowing, sea coming over gangway and running level with bulwarks, we could actually slide down the side of the seas. The wind shifted suddenly to south, nearly taking her aback and all but lost the fore. Four men are on the wheel, others heaving away on deck. I grabbed the first piece of gear where men were hauling. Nearly absolute silence was maintained. Some men were stripped to the waist as when they turned in – their white bodies contrasting against the dark gray sea and softened by the pouring rain. Awful pitch and fall of the ship gave the whole affair a supernatural aspect. The sea is a great leveler, Officers, men, “new mugs” and old, doing their duty with that silent determination and upholding all traditions of the sea. “Newport” acted better than I ever expected, rolling and pitching at about forty degrees both ways, but riding like a duck. Earlier in the evening the wheel was given to one of the A.B. crew, a real seamen. The feeling of security at knowing that an experienced man is guiding the vessel, I am unable to describe. But it comes from knowing that everything that human beings can do is being done and eliminates the danger of fatal mistakes and leaves more to fate, which is the easy enough to become resigned to. After sail was furled, the watch below
   
  12.
   
  was piped down again. It was hell on deck and I would have liked to stay, but I realized that today would be heavy and I needed all the rest I could grab. Some never turned in again, and were scared green, even tried to sit in lifeboats. I slept well, never waking until 7 a.m. What is the sense of worrying, if we had gone down, well others have drowned before, perhaps it would be fifteen minutes of pain, I don’t know. Anyway I hardly think I care enough for life to lose peace of mind at the chance of drowning. Barometer is still dropping and it is getting so bad that I am hardly able to write. Captain on deck all day, not even coming down for dinner. The truss of the foremast is eating away and handfulls of pulp is falling on deck. Making ? for it as soon as possible. Two days ago it would have been impossible to have realized a scene such as going on deck. God help the boy that falls overboard now; it is impossible to launch a boat in this sea. One boy was nearly washed overboard last night, but one of the boat davits stopped him. The sea is very like a woman, one she shines and you are able to see to the bottom, (or think you can) and the next minute she is grinding her teeth. Little we realize what a disaster at sea is until we ourselves get scratched – this the power of the sea. Getting so bad that I guess I will have to quit and see if I can get a little sleep on a bench or some place, because it is my trick at the wheel tonight from 8-10 and believe me it is real work. I am dead tired even now, having worked like hell all day in the pouring rain. Passed nearly all the gaskets for the trisail myself. Those I did not
   
  13.
   
  were all foul of the running gear boys some of the “very part A.B.” But I must say that this is all thrilling and is a real fight if you know what I mean. Had turkey for dinner and was able to get a little in the face of very big “old mugs.” It is a case of sweet now for the rift, at the table anyway if not on deck. I wonder who was in charge of the hospital last night and was sorry to wake up. I wish Josephine or babe doll was with me, then I would not care very much if we did go down. Au revoir, till we meet again, there is no telling what will happen in the next few hours.
   
  July 5th. Under all sail again, steering 72 E sea choppy but devoid of swells that have been running for the last three days. Had turkey dinner yesterday as I expected made up for it today. Namely stew of indifferent kinds of meat, hard tack, prunes, not enough, coffee like bilge water. But of course, this was reaction and maybe will get something to eat to-morrow.
   
  Nothing very interesting to record today. Late last night before sea fell, they were running high, fifteen to twenty feet above the topsail rolling 45 degrees and dipping bowsprit under something very impressive about an after tow sea, had to ____? under storm sails until this a.m. Last night all the grub went on the deck, but managed to get some more, which was remarkable in itself. Went aloft to cast gaskets off stays, also gave the mast the 0.0. Condition looks very bad. Looks exactly like a cedar pencil that I have often shaved. The collar, which is at the foot of the ____ has cut about an inch or so into the rotten mast. With any sort of blow it would go by the board, sure as hell. It is very cold, I suppose it is because 
   
  14.
   
  we are out of the Gulf Stream. At night I wear one sweater, heavy underwear, sea boots and oil skins. Sky is very gray. Sudden change to composition color is like Sunday in Hoboken. Am going to watch the gradual development of new mugs into old, even this early in the game I can see they (our class, some of them) are not going to prove the exception. All their talk of yesteryear is falling down. This is through inconsideration and because it’s not happening to them. Selfishness plain and simple. If I can possible prevent it I am going to do so. To step on seems to be human nature, but is the old case of giving common people the least but of authority. Meals are sort of lacking but manage to fill up on crackers and butter and guess I am not dropping any superfluous fat or gaining any for that matter. I have charge of five or six men under me in their respective watches. Some of them have the idea that when it is bad weather they can get out of it. Still raining and impossible nearly for me to get clean clothes dry, so am wearing gray ones, of course I don’t lose any sleep over this. Well, if this mast don’t come down or some little thing like that, I guess most of the excitement is over. A storm at sea puts most people on an unconscious strain, some very hilarious and some cross. Very peculiar. 
   
  July 6th. Hardly moving at present and 900 miles more to go. Today the sea is as calm as a mountain lake. It is hard to realize that this very same sea was raising particular hell just a few hours ago. I don’t mind a storm so much if ship is O.K.
   
  15.
   
  but I sure hate calm. It has started to rain again. This morning we started studies again, all classes. It makes you feel more ambitious when they begin to ______. We brought black boards on deck. It will be very pleasant when we get a little fair weather. This noon the commissary informed us all that we would not get any more biscuit as we were throwing it around the gun deck. This is not so, it is just an excuse to stop down on food, the S. of B. breed at that. If he starts this sort of business I’ll fix him when I get ashore. When we are off the ship we are off. I will just follow him until I get him a place where nothing he can say will be believed, and then, oh then. It was pretty cold this a.m. when we took our strip wash believe me, but somehow it does not seem to give any of us a cold. My feet are sore from going bare foot and also have a couple of split toes so am wearing sneakers at every chance. By the end of the week we ought to be in Ponta Del Gada. 
   
  July 7th. Breeze freshened this P.B. but has died down. In Long. 41 degrees 51 degrees W. Lat. 38 degrees. Every time first division takes the skip they put her aback. Bum steering, that’s what. Foxy gets hell for it too. I feel sorry for him as he is pretty old and takes things pretty hard; sometimes he tries to give the Captain an argument and gets hushed each time. Saw some “Mantiks” this afternoon they look very pretty with their pink sails and blue backs. I tried to get one but was not allowed over the side by O.D. As I said yesterday have started studies, so we do not have to work all day, which complies more with my ideas. I have divided the watches up so that one man gets a rest every day. In that way I
   
  16. 
   
  only have to answer life boat call during night watch, which enables me to sleep nearly four hours. Last night I stood real hard watch so that I would not have to stand up all the time as I do when the wheel of life bong, as it was I managed to sleep from 5-10 Bells on the night watch. Not so bad for first trial of course. I expect to become more expert. There sure are tricks in everything. This A.M. I swiped a can of peaches from the galley. I have some lunch all right. Coming down the deck I ran into nearly all the officers on this tub. As I walked I had to think of some place to store it. I was hard pressed and I hated like hell to chuck it out of a port, so I kept going and hid in the commissary. Chow gear box under his table. Knowing that close to home was safety anyway. Well, I hung around and hung around and everything seemed to stand between me and these peaches, by this time my tongue was hanging out. Then this Commissary started to tell about catching alligators, and drawing it out so that I thought, I would have to say “so long peaches.” He usually goes on deck early. Finally he did get up, then a first class man came to the table and started to figure out our position. I opened the port so we could perhaps ship a sea and he would move but the sea refused to come in and the “cadolle” kept writing. There were my peaches just hankering to be eat; there I was on the verge of murder. After a while this one moved too, and I was just waving a spoon when in walks stock inspecting and to Cap the climax he asked to look in the box; Ye Gods, how I trembled, but just in the nick of time the ship rolled, slid the box over and believe me I took my time getting it so I could open it again, and he continued the rest of his inspecting. When all this
   
  17.
   
  was over I sure needed peaches to steady my nerves. I killed the whole can in less than a minute, which is good speed, try eating a can of anything after a large meal,- not so easy. I parked myself in the library to recover, also due to inability of locomotion,- I was so jammed. Funny now, but, tragic then.
   
  If I can pirate enough I am sure I will gain as I am feeling better each day. Last night I watched the sun set. Well perhaps the sunrise at sea is lacking in the song of birds, light on house tops and hills, and general awakening of living things which makes sunrise on land so inspiring, the sunset at sea is more calming and beautiful, the work is done, everything is fixed for the night. As the sun sets, I watched it gradually sink into the sea, the clouds were streaked with a wonderful fire as some immense conflagration – this golden light is spread over everything, men and all, looking through rose colored glasses is nothing compared to this. The melancholy feeling that is impossible to resist, there is something awe inspiring, which with my poor ability to describe is merely sacrilege. It must be great to be able to describe, with a reality which can be seen over again. The boys say I am getting silent and don’t laugh as much as I used to – maybe not, but I have enjoyed writing this diary, as it gives me a sort of outlet to my feelings. The boys are so shallow.
   
  Here’s a good sleep on watch to-night.
   
  18.
   
  July 8th. Lat. 
  Weather wonderful. Not going more than four knots though. Passed Dutch Steamer Ceres. She altered her course so that she would come within a short distance, and passed our stern very close. Dipped her flag, blew her whistle. Wild excitement on board, trying to get enough steam to reply, got three measly blasts which made every one laugh. A ship meeting a ship at sea is quite an event. A very peculiar feeling. After about three weeks with nothing but ocean, ocean, ocean on every side, to sight a steamer with other human beings gives a sort of security and breaks the spell of being the only living thing on so vast a space. Found a swell job this afternoon with sail maker, he needed a hand to splice so stops for a mast screen. I regret to say that two of the boys he picked could not splice or course. It was just falling off a log for me, so I was able to drag the whole afternoon away. I think it is pretty bad for anyone to be on a ship, (especially a training ship) for eight months and not know how to splice. The boys at our top broke out some jam today. Before we sailed they said that anyone who did not bring anything need not expect to get any, so when they opened the jam I got up and left, they offered me some but somehow I could not make myself take it, for some reason I know my face went very red. I could not forget their words. I suppose I should not feel that way but I can’t help it. They must have felt bad about it, for one of the boys brought a piece of cracker and a lot of jam from his own plate to me, in the library, which I think was very gentlemanly, and showed a lot of character. Because they had very disagree-
   
  19.
   
  able about this, so as to impress it upon us that we would be sure to bring something. I still wish there was a gentleman among them although Furst is about the only one. The others are so infernally selfish, until it is disgusting. Nothing at all like the comradeship of seamen, which makes life at sea very pleasant, it is almost necessary when men are thrown together for weeks at a time with no other diversion than games, they feel aye between themselves. They [sturk?], grab best watches, impose on the mild ones, eat everything at the table, never care whether anyone else has anything to eat or not. Of course I always get more than enough. Some say I never laugh like I used to. I don’t think that the effect of the last month has worn completely off yet. If it has, it has left me more serious, perhaps indifferent, I have days of sad spells that I am unable to throw off. Sometimes I wonder if I would have been happier if I had died. Another strange thing is that nothing excites me. The other night in that storm and the wind was blowing 75 miles per hour, I only took an outside interest in the goings on and felt as though I were on the top of a mountain watching ants struggle. I do believe that if the waves had washed me overboard I would not have raised a hand to swim. I sort of enjoy this diary, which I think I will destroy when I finish with the cruise.
   
  July 9th. As I expected I am still about a week from port, but I feel safe in thinking we will be anchored Saturday next. Had Captain’s inspection as usual. Got thru O.K. Shifted back into white “not so clean.” Will ring same stunt in on Wally “por la mannena” which is Sunday. Have been closely watching the Commissary to see
   
  20.
   
  what he eats. As I supposed he eats twice. Once what the rest of us get and then what he has cooked for himself. This morning he had four eggs, bacon, lots of crackers, butter and tea with enough sugar. Every morning he has something extra. I see now why he such a heavy-weight. Think I will carry out my plan in reference to this “bumbo.” Last night when I was getting ready to ship a little on watch there was a general yell for Northrup to come sit here, no sit here! Now, tell us a tale, we don’t care what kind. I tried to plead not knowing any but it did not work and the mob began to get larger and larger, that I finally in desperation made an elaborate, complicated, blood murder out of my head. Worked fine, I increased from one point to another until I got into my stride, then, believe me, I sure had a “thundinger” of a tale. Tonight I will do my best to get out of reciting. Wish I had a book of strange tales or something. Guess I will have to cut down on this diary as I will not have any paper left for something real interesting. Still feel more so than ever the want of my nurses, wish there were sea going hospitals, I sure would be sick for months at a time. Have thought of Cecil and wonder if she would care to hear from me. I will write her anyway and take a chance. She was sure a sweet girl. Guess I did not act exactly as I should, but she said she that she would never care for me if I went to sea, which I sometimes wonder if she meant. But I could never be satisfied with a settled position for some time to come and feel that in the end it would have meant unhappiness for both of us. So perhaps it is better that things should turn out as they did.  In
   
  21.
   
  my inner heart I shall always have a place reserved for her, which no one will ever be able to displace. I blame myself for many things and it makes me a little sad. Now, with the nurses I could not resist the temptation of saying pretty things, and telling them long lines of lies, not real lies either, as when with each separate one I thought I meant the things I said. In this way I guess I made bad friends of half of them. That’s what I got for having all my eggs in the same basket. When I get back I am going to go with only one or maybe two, not living in the same house, no siree. But I will write to the bunch anyway, just for the hell of it. I do love them all together and each separately. I sure will destroy this page.
   
  July 10th. Still going about the speed of molasses in winter. Lots of jelly fish floating past, once in a while a box or spar, outside of that the scenery is nil. Did not get as much to eat as I would like to have, but this is the first time since starting. Last night Duke, a boy on here, weighing 200 pounds, had what he called a sex magnet which consisted of a bullet on a string. About 40 cadets were down on their keens over a jelly fish trying to see if was a girl or boy, finally decided it was a lady. But such a gunout you never heard in your life, nearly the whole crew had buckets trying to catch jelly fish. Was awful funny.
   
  Am now on 4-8 watch, which I don’t like very much. Seem very tired and my side hurts some. Listened to a lecture on Spain by Spanish teacher. I am afraid I will have trouble with a tooth as it is beginning to hurt. Just can’t locate which tooth it is.
   
  22. 
   
  July 11th. Notes today will have to be necessarily short. This was very interesting day, started off with headache; got one demerit for not having clothes stamped on call. Am on 4-8. Got turned to a pont[?] so could not scrub. Worked two hours to get one demerit off. Got permission to scrub upper hammock; came on deck and could not get any water. So ship,- I never mind working but I hate to be treated unfairly. Working two hours for one demerit is not right nor according to regulations. They give demerits according to regulations. 
   
  July 13th. Was unable yesterday to write anything because I wrote letter to Pop and it took up some time in thinking what not to say. I did not mention that I do work like the rest of them as it would only worry him and he would think it is hurting me. Being on the 4-8 is rotten for me anyway, because from dinner until 12 we study,- from one until four we study, then we go on deck until hammocks, so have not a minute to ourselves. One of the hardest things I find is try to keep fairly clean  as to clothes it is bending over and having to keep at it so fast for the whole hours which is too short a time to scrub more than one suit, but it is also necessary to have that suit.
   
  I have had a splendid chance to study human character, and most of the boys are turning out exactly as I expected. We have been issued white pants and shoes. I have not as yet seen how they look. I find the rest of my class very much slower when anything is to be done aloft than I am, I guess they are not as sure of themselves. On good days they crowd to go aloft, but when it is blowing I find only about four on a yard. Stole some
   
  23. 
   
  soap yesterday which saved my life. Wish I had a caramel. I don’t know how I will write to the various girls in my terrible hand. Guess I had better though.
   
  July 14th. Arrived Ponta del Gada at about 4. [Van Horne Morris also visited the port on the training ship Nantucket in 1937].
   
  July 17th. Mad house for the last three days, this sure has been a mad house. I have been unable to write anything, because of the confusion, you can talk of your discipline, but if the events of the last few days are an example then it isn’t worth a damn. 
   
  We arrived on the 14th about 4 p.m. I sighted land three hours before anyone else, I reported it to the Officer of the deck. I said I see a mountain three points on the Port bow. He looked wit the glasses and said he thought I was mistaken. Three hours later the clouds lifted and there was Mount Pico about ten miles away on the Port beam, the Officer of the Deck said “Well, Northrop, there’s your mountain.” There is a peculiar feeling in seeing land after three weeks at sea. We furled sail and came into Ponta del Gada under steam, when off the breakwater a typical spick pilot came aboard. That same night we (Port watch) were given liberty until eleven o’clock ship’s time. Of course there was terrible excitement but to me the town was so much like the towns of South America, that I know just what to expect. The place is attractive from the water front, being surrounded by high mountains which are unusual in their being cultivated right to the summit. This place is noted for pineapples. The “bum” boats were loaded with them selling them at a big profit, - 20 cents, when you are able to buy them ashore for a nickel, or 500 centavos. Most of the houses are white but there is a strong mixture of pink,   24.   blue, green, and many other tints which give the place a clean look. They are built like most Spanish dumps,- square, two to three stories, without windowsills or door steps. The streets are narrow but clean, with the usual number of squares where semi-tropical tress and flowers. In their trees at night I could hear the parrots chatting and reminded me still more of the west coast. There are not many places of amusement or any large restaurants. Although I had a splendid meal in a small place, (about the best there) for a dollar or 10,000 raes. This included a bottle of Champagne between five of us, the whole dinner coming to less than five bones. We then walked around the town, but being at night we could not get much of an idea of the surrounding country. I would have liked very much to have been able to go into the interior, which must have been pretty owing to the care the people seemed to take in every thing they did. Of course, we did not get enough time, and most of the crowd made a bee line for a gin mill and worse. There were a bunch of average Americans who at home would have never dreamed of getting drunk or acting [paper creased, illegible]. Most of them would take two glasses and be rolling drunk, [paper creased, illegible?] raise hell. It is bad enough to do this in civilian clothes, but in a uniform representing future American Officers, well all I can say is they did not have a speck of pride. Even if I did want to do this, I would at least try to hide it. This town is wide open in every way, but they are confined to a certain quarter. I thought that it was only among common crews that all hands got drunk and was a little surprised at this crowd. The crowd I was with comprised about the only decent ones on the ship
   
  25.
   
  and I can guarantee that we had a far more pleasant time than any. The electrician was so drunk that they carried him bodily to the boat and of the gangway. Some of the cadets were so drunk they could not walk straight and fell overboard when trying to step into the running boat. Disgusting! The more I see of this the more I believe in "Pro". I can understand now why any girl will hesitate before marrying a seaman, and good reason too. I wonder if I will be judged such. Some of the boys were so drunk that I gave them a hand in getting into their hammocks. The only persons I saw drunk were Americans- some opinion they must have of us as a nation.
   
  The next night we had a dance aboard which was a great success. The Captain got the consul to invite the guests and a very high class of girls shoed up, in fact they were the best Ponta had. Some of the girls traveled all over Europe and could speak French and Italian besides a fair amount of English. I was a little coming on deck as I had been fixing [page creased, illegible]. We strung the whole deck with lights and signal flags which [page creased, illegible]. Deck and benches along the sides. The moon was [page creased, illegible] on the altogether a novel looking effect. I was surprised how the little Spanish I had learned while in South America helped me. When I came on deck most of the boys were sitting around like stones, so I started right in and asked the prettiest girl there for a dance, then as soon as I had finished that dance, I went right through the bunch, introducing some boy to the girl so that in about ten dances things were humming. I did not sit out one dance. They were fair dancers but you had to be careful not
   
  [Typed manuscript ends here. "At Sea" and other typed and hand written journals are part of the Cecil Northrop Papers, Stephen B. Luce Library Archives, SUNY Maritime College.]