Thomas Keir diary - 12 February 1864 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]

Friday 12th – Wind very light, going very sloly

Thomas Keir diary - 12 February 1864 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]

weather very fine, in the evening it turned dull
and the /wind\ freshened a little. Our longitude at
noon was about 161°. Expect to sight the Snares
tomorrow. The chain cable was brought up
today and fastened to the anchors. The
taking up of the chain was a shore sure sign
of our near approach to land, which every body
understood, and it created some excitement.

STANDARDISED

Friday 12th

Wind very light, going very slowly. Weather very fine, in the evening it turned dull and the wind freshened a little. Our longitude at noon was about 161°. Expect to sight the Snares tomorrow. The chain cable was brought up today and fastened to the anchors. The taking up of the chain was a sure sign of our near approach to land, which everybody understood, and it created some excitement.

HENRY SCHOFIELD DIARY

Feb[ruar]y 12th f[ine] & Warm

Commenced drawing the cable chain out of hold & made fast to both anchors which was a great day with us. 5 knots per hour. A many birds &c 100 miles from Stuarts Island 160 deg ½ Long. Had a row with Burrell[1] & Hadfield[2] about tea & flour. Dinner boullie & spice pudding, tea bread.

Notes

1. James Burrell was a 20 year old farm labourer from Yorkshire, and an assisted emigrant.  He was in the same mess group as Schofield, as was

2. William Edward Hadfield, a 20 year old weaver from Derbyshire. It seems at this point of the voyage, nerves were starting to fray!

Chainsmiths at Brown Lenox works, Pontypridd, Wales c.1900 [BBC, from Pontypridd Museum]

Chainsmiths at Brown Lenox works, Pontypridd, Wales c.1900 [BBC, from Pontypridd Museum]

Before the invention of anchor chain, ships used hemp rope, which often broke and put lives in danger.

“Ships anchor cable chain link with stud“, BBC: A History of the World.

James Burrell Thomas Keir William Edward Hadfield