Sharks and Whales - and Halifax: Schooner Days MCXLIV (1144)

by C. H. J. Snider

Canadians After America's Cup - 4

LOG of Vice-Commodore Gifford's schooner yacht Countess of Dufferin seventy-eight years ago, left the vessel befogged off Gaspe, in last week's extract. She had just turned the corner of the Gulf of St. Lawrence into the Atlantic, five days after leaving Quebec, a good passage so far. The time she had made in the light weather augured well for the chances of this first Canadian challenger for the America's Cup. The log continues:

July 3rd—It lifted in the morning at 6 a.m. and we made out the high land of East Point of Bonaventure Island. Made about 20 miles the last 12 hours, a light air from the W. The fog continued until noon. A good breeze sprang up about 9 1/2 a.m. Put out the log. The breeze was SW and we held a SE by S course; At 12 a.m. took in the log and had run 24 miles, carrying all our fore and aft canvas, not much sea. At 4 p.m. took in the log again and it marked 30 miles. We soon after put her about on the port tack and she headed SW. Heavy rain came on at 6 p.m., took in the jib, wind continuing much the same about SE. Reefed canvas for the night.

HO FOR HALIFAX

July 7 continued — We about ship and stood in for the land on the port tack. Pilot did not consider that we could make Liverpool harbor, and having a few repairs and stores and water to get we eased off the sheets and made for Halifax harbor, stiff breeze from the W with a rising sea, yacht making 11 knots by the log. Sighted Chebucto Head Light and Sambro Light at 7.50 p.m. and came to anchor off the town of Halifax at 10 p.m.

July 8—In the morning early I went ashore to obtain Muncie's metal sheathing for the masts, leather for the jaws of the booms, stores, water, fresh meat and coal. A great many visitors came aboard. Put a coat of black paint on the yacht. Dined at 5 p.m. After dinner went in the boat with Boswell, Bull and Jones to visit the Royal Halifax Yacht Club house. The Bellerophon, Dryad and Faraday in the harbor.

(The ships mentioned were Victorian warships, Halifax then being the base for the North American squadron. The "Boswell" was probably the late A. R. Boswell, QC, commodore of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club from 1879 onwards. Dr. Hodder was commodore when Capt. Gifford, vice-commodore, 1872-76, made his valiant effort for the cup. Strachan Jones was the honorary secretary-treasurer of the club in 1876. The late Beverley Jones was then also a member and may have been one of the argonauts.)

OFF FOR NEW YORK

July 9—Weighed anchor at 7 a.m. Wind light from N.E., this wind failed when near the Bell Buoy and catspaws came in from SE. With this light air, we cleared Sambro Light when the breeze turned round to S.W., put the yacht on the starboard tack, her head bearing about S. 1/2 W. Weather very fine, bright sun, a bank of white clouds along the northern horizon. At 10 p.m wind veered round to the E. very light, Eased off the sheets, let her go before it running slowly up the coast. The light of West Ironbound Island abreast of us.

July 10th — At 4 a.m. wind veered round to S.S.W. Very light and sea perfectly smooth. Put her on the port tack, going free about 6 knots. Sighted then American schooner which left Halifax an hour before us about 6 miles astern. She was carrying all her canvas and had hugged the shore 5 miles nearer than ourselves. At noon we were abreast of Thrum Point, Port Ebert, about 72 1/2 miles W. of Sambro Point and 15 miles off shore. Lucas put a rifle ball through a shark about 6 feet long that swam on the weather side of the yacht. It turned over and sank. Wind continued light all the afternoon from the S.W. We tacked along the shore distant from it from 12 to 18 miles. At 7 p.m. wind freshened a little and veered slightly to the S. on the Port tack. The yacht was about 3 points off her course for New York at 9 p.m. We were abreast of Cape Sable about six miles off.

BRUSH IN THE DARK

Wind freshened up to a good breeze, sea getting up, kept the whole of her fore and aft canvas on her—about 11 p.m. passed a whole fleet of vessels. Several at anchor fishing. One fellow on the same tack as ourselves, finding us coming down on him. like the flying Dutchman, came aft with torches made of bark, at the same time running his vessel up in the wind. He hailed "Carry legal lights!" having only a white light forward. About midnight carried away our main sheet traveler, doused the main sail and rigged a temporary one, reefed the sail close, proceeded, the yacht rolling very much the while. Made about 75 miles east of Seal Island.

NO SALE

July 11th—By 6 a.m. the wind failing all the time and veering toward the N.W. at noon fell in with a schooner laying to. Sent our boat to take two bottles of whiskey for fish but they had none and boat came back empty. Wind still continued very light and from the same quarter, yacht on the starboard tack on S.W. course from noon the wind fell to a perfect calm, with ground swell. Sails flapping and booms creaking the calm continued all night. Numbers of whales of small size appeared on every side with small sharks and Mother Carey's chickens.