Daniela and I visited Antwerp last week on the Mariner's Tale trail. Here are some of Myles's accounts of his journey to the City.
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Wednesday 24th January, 1912 - Odessa
Mild weather today. Scraping and painted over the side all
our working hours.
The forecastle were searched by Custom officials for
contraband. They are very strict. My two packs of playing cards were took aft
and sealed up, so there will be no more ‘poker’ while we are in this port. More
Russian officials came aboard and mustered all hands on the poop. They called
for Jacobsen the Finn who is a Russian subject. He went down the cabin to
undergo a gruelling questioning. The trouble was, he could not speak Russian,
nor the Russians speak Finnish or English. However he made out they wanted to
see his passport. He had none to show he having lost it years ago. Because he
was an elderly man, I suppose they let him off. The rest of us were not troubled.
In the afternoon we shifted to the breakwater mooring stern
on whit the cable our for’ard. We will remain here for several days, our cargo,
which rumour says we shall take to Antwerp, not being ready for us. The playing
cards sealed up, poker was out of the question, therefore to while away the
time we spun yarns, 'cuffers' we call them. At the start they were mostly of the
sea and shipping, but somehow or other the recounting of schoolday incidents
came uppermost. Schooldays, how dear they seem as we grow older. How we
remember the most trivial items of those bygone days. With what gusto we relate
them, and in the relating become boys again. Tempus Fugit! A few more years of
toil, and all is over. Now Myles – steady there, you are only a common Jack. Sentimentality
and the finer feelings are not for such as you. Come hail, come shine, you must meet either smilingly and
thankfully. I write this sitting up in my bunk. The watchman has just come
along and told me its 10 o'clock so I will clew up, put my scribbling tackle on
the shelf and have my usual smoke-o before sleeping the sleep of just, just so.
Bon nuit.
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Monday 26th February, 1912 - Antwerp bound
Fine weather continues making the slant a thing of
actuality, not of hope. Wind S.W. Meeting a lot of traffic. Homeward and
outward bounders. Work today consisted of blackening winches, using a wad and
black paint. Very few men like to clean or paint winches, too many corners,
nuts and sharp edges to be pleasant.
Ushant abeam 7:30pm. My wheel 8 to 10 steering up Channel E. by N½N.
Soon we’ll be in Antwerp. Go ahead old steamboat.
Wednesday 28th February, 1912 - Arriving in Antwerp
Middle watch on deck.
Hoisted two red lights well up the main rigging the signal
for the Antwerp pilot. Sighted the cutter (schooner) at little to the Eastward
of Dungeness 2:30am. Underway with pilot aboard by 6 bells. Below 4 to 8. On
coming on watch at 8 found we were in North Sea. Ship in charge of pilot. Wind
favourable. Reaching Flushing this afternoon. Changed pilots and proceeded up
the Scheldt [River]. Ship stopped at 8pm to pass, or rather, be passed by the Port
doctor. At 9 o'clock anchor was dropped (35 fathoms of cable in the water) just
below the city to await the tide. Made a move again at 10 past 10. By 12:30am
(Thursday) we were moored securely in berth 76. Siberia Dock.
..
Commenced discharging Friday March the first.
During our stay in port I had a good tour round and of
course that included Skippers Straat a locality well know to seamen. This place
– like others of a similiar kind – is not what it used to be. At least that is what
the older salts say, and I believe with some truth. With the disappearing of
the windjammer a lot of things are changing. I vow.
Paid off aboard ship Sat 9th March and was sent
home, passenger.
Glorious finish. All hands for’ard preferred that to making
a passage light ship across the Western Ocean. Who would not.
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