STORM AND COMPANY
JACOB STORM'S MEMOIR
I have included some notes I made of a typical voyage in 1887
because there might be some Storm mariner in years to come, or a
bearer of another Bay name, whom it will interest to compare his
lot with that of his ancestor or kinsman.
A VOYAGE IN THE SS
FYLINGDALES IN 1887
Saturday, 5th February, 1887. Took on 1913 tons
of coal and 392 tons of bunker coal. Draught 17 feet 11 inches
foreward and 18 feet 3 inches aft. Proceeded from Newport,
Monmouth towards Venice at 3 p.m.
6th February. Dropped pilot off Nash Point. Much
coasting traffic. Took departure from Longships. All shipshape.
Usual Sunday thoughts of home. High cross seas and a strong
breeze by midnight.
7th February. Sea subsided in the morning;
clear, cold atmosphere and a rising glass foretold pleasanter
weather. South-easterly breeze by evening and Biscay calm.
8th February. A sunny morning and a breeze
veering more easterly helping us to make nine knots. Noon course
SSW and land hidden by haze. Engines running well and speed up to
9 knots.
9th February. Gentle breezes and long swells.
Altered course at 9 a.m. to S. Lisbon abeam at 4 p.m. and saw
Cape Espichel light at 6.45; bright moonlight.
10th February. 3.15 off Cape St. Vincent, about
2 miles. Course SEE. A fine night with a light breeze from the
NE. Thinking of the battle and the ships more lovely than our
tank. Beyond Trafalgar at midnight and Spartel in sight.
11th February. 11 a.m. course E. Air keen. Snow
on hills of Granada. Passed Cape de Gata.
12th February. Course unchanged. Tunny sporting
around us. Paint scrubbing in progress and mate complaining about
quality of paint. A fine, pleasant afternoon with all hands in
good spirits.
Sunday, 13th February. Course still E. Much
sacred song from profane throats today.
14th February. Course and speed change for St.
Vito. Saw light on beam at 11 p.m. Course now E by S and log
reset. Night very clear.
15th February. Course still E by S. Glass says
storm coming off the land. Volcano abeam at 10.15 and rounded
Cape Faro at 1.50. Etna wrapped in cloud. Cape Spartivento at
7.30 right beam. Reset Course and Log.
16th February. Cold wind off Italian shore.
Steering NE Roaring headwind impedes progress across Gulf of
Taranto, but off Otranto at 5 p.m. and into the Adriatic. At 11
p.m. off Cape Gallo with northerly wind in our teeth. Glass far
too low.
17th February. Still strong headwind and very
cloudy. Gargano Head passed at noon. Glass rising. St. Andreas's
Isle on starboard beam at 5 p.m.; no light. Weather moderating at
midnight. Course NW by N.
18th February. Wind still quite stiff at 5 a.m.,
with Italian mainland to leeward. Cloud cleared by noon and sea
calm. Extra twist out of engines. Pilot alongside at 6 p.m. and
moored by 6.30.
19th February. Shore people assured me of good
dispatch. The shipper's agent Mr. Pardo. Cleared customs. Just
before going ashore to look at the sights hailed by the crack
'Rosehill' just coming in. We have the honours.
Sunday, 20th February. No rest. Sabbath broken -
and dirty.
21st February. Took myself sightseeing. Ragged
Gondoliers and desolate palaces. A rather ghostly place, once
beautiful no doubt. Reloading under way.
22nd February.Saw St. Mark's today, Doges'
palaces and Bridge of Sighs.
23rd February. Art gallery today - gods, monks
and brigands. Heard monks at vespers.
24th February. Discharge completed and, I hope,
fairly weighted. Left the 'city in the mud' hastily to make most
of daylight. Passed through the lagoon to the sea and dropped the
pilot at 6 p.m.
25th February. Course SE by SS at ten knots. A
fine morning., St. Andreas again at 1.40, on the port hand now.
Palgrossa Island at 5.40 p.m., and Santa Croce abeam at 7.30
Course straight and all clear. Destination Nikolaieff in Russia,
for grain.
26th February. Off Cape Gallo 6 miles in the
morning. Off Otranto at 10.45 and Ionian Islands in sight to
port. Reset log and course now SSE. Making about ten knots. Crew
busy clearing up the effects of the coal.
Sunday. A moderate gale came up from the S
during the night, but we could see Sapienza, and Matapan was
close on the port beam at 5.15 p.m. Malea at ten o'clock. The
three southerly extremities of Greece today. Course NE by E now.
28th February. Morning brought a NE gale and a
very nasty sea. Wondered about the bearing each time the screw
cleared the air.
Ist March. Glass climbing again, and spirits
rising with it. At 10.30 at night, we cleared the Doro Strait and
found better weather as we headed towards Sigri. Grateful that
engines are still going well.
2nd March. Passed Tenedos at 4.30 a.m. and
crossed the bay in smooth water and entered Hellespont. Saw the
point where the current slackens and Leander swam. and entered
the Sea of Marmora in the afternoon. Anchored off the city of
dogs and mosques and kiosks at 9.15.
3rd March. Town crowded with people and rubbish.
Rags speak of decay. Wondered whether the Sultan was in
residence. We were able to proceed, and not without relief,
clearing Kavak at 6 p.m.
4th March. Sea in turmoil. An experienced crew,
but some stomachs moved. Racing engines made the Chief look
thoughtful. Felt none too well myself.
5th March. The weather abated by morning and
frost took over, with a cold drizzle. Anchored at Odessa in the
evening. The port doctor made a perfunctory call.
Sunday, March 6th. Nikolaieff unapproachable
because of ice on the river. Decided to wait for sun, or change
of orders from the owners. A Sunday rest for once.
7th March. No news at the agent's. We may have
to wait some weeks for the ice to give.
8th March. Mate angry today; everybody is well
employed but he is running short of paint. Has some ambitious
idiot of a clerk at home clipped our orders?
9th March. Paint chipping; awful row. Chief Mate
happy with fresh supply of paint. The skipper has done his best
to please.
10th March. Chipping, scraping and painting as
usual. It was the Czar's birthday today and there was bunting
from every spar in harbour and church bells seemed to be ringing
across the water all day.
11th March. Telegram from the owners. We go down
the coast to Danube to load at Sulina in Rumania. Health bill
obtained and anchor weighed at 4 p.m. Wind a piercing spanker of
a north-easter. Twelve hours to Sulina.
12th March. Pilot took us in at dawn. Shore folk
less anxious about loading than I am. Much dismal talk of rain
spoiling the cargo.
Sunday, 13th March. A day of rest, for which I
was not sorry, cargo or no cargo.
14th March. Northerly breeze, clear, cold and
dry. Mate kept crew at cleaning every corner, ready for millet
seed and barley. Grain started pouring into every hold today.
15th March. Very cold still. Crew scaled a
bunker today. Surprised at no mail for us at the agent's today.
Grain coming aboard in good style. Very oriental-looking dockers.
16th March. Loading goes well but the continuous
cold is most dispiriting.
17th March. We are a sallow, sombre lot, dockers
included. The mate is trying hard not to growl. In the afternoon,
loading began to flag. Is the agent's word worth anything?
18th March. Wind SW, soft and fine, and a
glimpse of the sun. Grain dribbling in slowly. A saint would sin
if he had a skipper's job to do.
19th March. A calm, still day, with sunshine. It
began to look in the afternoon as though we would have to use the
Sabbath for loading.
Sunday, 29th March. Loading finished. Sailed at
3 p.m. Course SW from St. George.
21st March. Intensely cold, but clear at first.
Snow and hail later from the north. Course brought us straight to
Kavak by 6 p.m., while there was still light on the hill.
Received pratique, but heavy snow and darkness made us anchor.
22nd March. Weighed anchor at 6 a.m. in a strong
wind and pushed along to anchor off the city for bunkers. Took a
final look at the place, with its veiled women, bearded Jews,
Greeks and grim Turks. Glad to be on our way.
23rd March. Off Gallipoli at 5.30 a.m., and
Nayra point at 6.30. Passed Tenedos at 10.45. In the afternoon
the log was recording ten knots.
24th March. Zea Island light abeam at 2.30 a.m.
Very clear and bright. Course SWS. Georgios abeam at 5 a.m. and
Belopoulo at 9. The archipelago was smooth off Malea and at 1.30
a.m., we changed course W for Matapan. I remember how the cape
once had no light.
25th March. Strong headwind and sea at first
light. Took a shaking as we went into the storm on W1/2N . Some
moderation by evening.
26th March. A clear day and a fresh breeze and
we were into Malta at 6.40 before the weather got up again. I
think I reproduce my interrogation by the pilot accurately: From
which place you come, sir? Anybody sick on board, sir? Everybody
all well, sir? Nobody dead, sir? Hard a starboard, sir! Who's
your agent, sir? Want coal, sir? Steady your helm, sir! Got any
washing, sir? Let go the anchor, sir!
Sunday, 27th March. The Sabbath again. We left
Valletta, but I suspect we were sold short on bunkers by some
crafty checkers.
28th March. Steering NW by N Pantellaria. Off
Cape Bon at 8.50 a.m., and Carthage just across the bay. Passed
Galita Island at 9 p.m., with the sea quite smooth.
29TH March. Day began clear and fine. Course W
by N. Coast became hazy. North wind became angry and we began to
rock about until we smelt the bilges.
30th March. We went on deck to an east wind and
a deluge of rain. By 6 a.m. it was clear again, and for the first
time in weeks, we felt the sun, at 8 a.m. Time to hand out paint
pots again! Log records 289 (11 knots). Surprised to find tanks
and bilges sound. Algerian coast hidden by mist.
31st March. March ended lamb-like. Watchman
spotted Cape de Gato right on starboard beam at 9.50.
1st April. In Gibraltar bay at 3.40 a.m. for
more coal, but away again at 2.15 p.m. bound for Altona. Tarifa
near at 4.40, and saw Spartel, the last of Africa, an hour later.
2nd April. Wind and course both NW, making a fresh breeze and a
slight head sea. Left St. Vincent astern at 3.30, but ship
labouring hard.
Sunday, 3rd April. Course NE. Wind going down.
Cape Roca near at 9.45 a.m., giving us proof of our faster pace.
No slackening past Berengas. A good Sunday.
4th April. Steering NNE now. Sea quiet.
Particularly good pea soup today. Still off the coast of
Portugal, with north wind coming up again. Saw warships at speed.
Off Finisterre at 9 p.m., but wind now at gale force bringing
showers, and squally.
5th April. Gale still blowing. A very white sea.
Set fore and afters in the afternoon. Wind NNW now and making
only 4 knots. Hard pressed at midnight.
6th April. Barometer rose, hearteningly, but
scud still flying past. SS 'Mezalah' signalled in the afternoon
and asked us to report leaking boilers and loss of speed to her
owners.
7th April. Better speed now about 3 a.m. Wind
veering E, more steady. In the afternoon, saw much outward bound
shipping running free.
8th April. Saw Ushant light at 1.40 a.m., bright
and red. Set course for Portland into head wind. A howling
forenoon with everything sodden. Better towards midnight, when a
few stars appeared.
9th April. A grey day in a sulky Channel. In
Portland at 10.30. Moored to Collins' hulk for more coal.
Bunkering finished and on our way again at 7.30 p.m. Notified the
owners.
Sunday, 10th April. Coastline seemed all towers
and spires. Thoughts of home.
11th April. Wind against us, but a fine day.
Course NEE. A fine afternoon. Even pleasant to take tea. Saw
Terschelling light just on dark. and set course N. A meland light
to starboard at 10 p.m.
12th April. Borkum SE 1. a.m. A fine night.
Steered E and saw Heligoland at 8 a.m. Dodging Neuerk Sand at 10,
and anchored off Cuxhaven at noon. Given pratique at 1.15 and
proceeded up the Elbe, reaching Altona at 6.40. to discharge at
Dolphins. Good to relax at the end of a voyage. Found my wife
waiting for me ashore.
Author's note
From other notes by Jacob, it can be deduced that at one port of
call on this voyage he received news of the death of his
brother-in-law, Andrew Storm, when the brig Magnet of which he
was master went down with all but one hand off the Suffolk coast.
He recalled how he and Andrew had often walked the moors
together, and wrote that his "dear old shipmate, friend and
brother" had been a brave sailor and a successful and
respected master who worked hard for his family.
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