Old Letters

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John S. Sullivan's narrative of his Voyage from Liverpool to Baltimore, Dec. 1879 addressed to his nephew Daniel Sullivan at Indianola, Texas.
_____
On the Atlantic Ocean on Board
of the Barke Giacomina.

December the 25th, 1879

Dear Nephew:

No doubt you will be surprised when you will see where this letter is dated from.

I sailed from Liverpool on the S.S. Barussia on the 20th of November and bound for New Orleans via Corruna and Havana. After three days sailing we arrived at (Coruna). Nothing transpired during that time worth your attention. We had on board sixty (60) passengers and all bound for Texas except myself. We remained at Coruna two days waiting for freight and passengers. The cargo we received there consisted of onions and nuts of different description. We got 75 passengers all bound for Havana, Cuba.

I went on shore on Sunday the 30 of November. I went in to one of the Catholic Churches. It is called the St. Nicholas. It has seven altars. It is beautifully decorated with all kinds of images of Saints and Martyrs both inside and outside. I saw over one thousand Spanish soldiers there, dressed in their uniforms. They look nice.

We started on the night of the 25 for Havana and on Saturday night the 28 the wind commenced blowing stronger and harder. It rose to a strong gale breaking one of the masts and carrying away two of our sails. It kept blowing all day Sunday and Sunday night. And on Monday morning about four o'clock one of the fire men reported that the ship was taking water. At that time the water was within three feet of the boiler and by twelve oclock the fire was extinguished and the ship stopped. All hands commenced bailing out the water and continued to do so all that day and night until twelve oclock on Tuesday when the Captain gave orders to have the life boats lowered. At this time I could not say which of the two was roaring the louder, the sea or the wind. There were seven life boats two of which were broken while putting them into the water.

At this time there was Eight feet of water in the hold, the sea roaring mountain high and the wind blowing a strong gale from the northeast. There were on board the ship 195 souls all told and only five boats left to save the lives of that number.

As the boats were put on the water three seaman were put in each of them. - They were dancing on the heavy sea like a little Bird on top of large tree jumping from limb to limb. At this time the ship was sinking at the rate of four inches per hour with nine feet of water in her hold.

It is now half past four oclock. At this time some of the officers had got on the life boats while the Captain and some more of them were on the sinking ship trying to pacify the passengers by telling them if they kept quiet they would save the lives of everyone on the ship and that themselves would be the last that would remain on her.

But I knew better because the five life boats that were left could not take one-fourth of the passengers. I was as calm as you ever saw me. I left the balance of the passengers and crew of the ship and went up one deck, no one with me but God. Looking at these little boats floating on top of the heavy sea which bursted around them and sounded like the roaring of cannon. I said to myself that there is still one chance left me to save my life and that was, as soon as the boats would return to the ship, to have everything in readiness and try and get off the sinking ship.

I took off my shoes and returned to where all on the ship was waiting for the life boats to return. I said not one word to any person but I got outside the rigging. The ship was rocking dreadful, I took hold of one of the ropes and in that position I held on to the ship waiting with anxiety the arrival of one of the life boats.

I was perfectly reconciled to lose my life, but I was not satisfied to remain on the ship and go down with the balance of the passengers without making the best effort that I could to save my life and if I did not succeed I would prefer to go to the bottom in the presence of them all in trying to save my life than to remain on the ship a few hours longer and go down with her.
I was not there more than fifteen minutes when I saw one of the boats coming towards the ship. At this time there were seven men in her. When she got within twenty feet of the ship the ship rolled towards the little boat. I made a jump and landed in the center of the little life boat without receiving any injury except a small cut on one of my knees.

Perhaps that this is the first time you have heard anyone jump over their graves. Three of the officers of the ship also got on the little boat at this time. It is now after five oclock A.M. Such screaming and hollowing you never heard as there was on board the ship with men, women and children.

We put to sea as soon as we left the ship. It is still blowing a strong gale. We had good sea men on the little boat and they kept her head to the sea and she wouldst ride over these heavy seas like a duck. There were two men always kept busie bailing out the water which was thrown into it by the heavy waves that rolled over our little boat.

We were for three days and nights without any intercession from the sea or wind in open little boat only 28 feet long and 7 feet in width, so you must say that our escape was a miraculous one.

We had plenty sea biscuits but they were saturated with salt water and not fit for use and for my part I did not eat only one and half during that time.

When we left the sinking ship we were 150 miles from the nearest land and where we were picked up at sea by the Bark Giacomina we were only 250 miles. That was on Friday the 5th of December 1879, a day that I shall always remember and adore.

We were taken on board the Bark Giacomina by her good Captain in a dellapidated state as we were both wet, cold and hungry as we were for seventy three hours as wet as if we were to our necks in water. We were only a few minutes on board when he gave each of us two glasses of his best Gemaro rum then he got us to take off all our clothing and furnished every one of us with a suit of good clothes when we got thru changing our toilets.

When we got thru we were again presented with a good cup of coffee mixed with rum. After that we got a good supper and directly after we all shown separate beds, the Captain giving me his own bed which I occupied until I landed at Baltimore. He kept me and two of the officers of the sinking ship in the cabin. He showed me more respect than was shown to anyone on his boat.

The distance where he picked us to Baltimore direct was 2000 miles but owing to bad winds he had to go over 1000 miles out of his course. I need not tell you that I lost everything that I had even my hat when I jump on the little boat, was blown off my head. I tied my handkerchief around my head which was as wet as if it had been dipped in the sea, all the time that I was on the life boats.

Dear Dan I have now given you a partial account of my miraculous escape from a watery grave the best I can. I will finish this letter when I get to Baltimore.
Baltimore, January 3rd, 1880.

I am in first rate health thank God. Give my kindest love to Anny and the children. Say to her that when I left home on the 15 of November 1879 that her mother was in fine health thank God. Also all of her Sisters and families all unite in sending you all their love. Her brother & family are all well. I have no clothing but what I have on me. Anything in that line will be thankfully received. It will be several days yet before I get to Alexandria.

I remain Respectfully your affectionate Uncle

John S. Sullivan