Having loaded our cargo of hides and wool at Montevideo, it was now
most imperative that we reach New York before the new duties on these
articles were imposed. If we could get to an American port before the
duties were put on, the owners would be saved a large sum of money.
The usual passage from Montevideo to New York is about 60 days, and we
now had less than that time in which to perform the trip. We left port
late in the day, with a strong westerly wind which carried us well on
our course, averaging 12 knots until we took the S. East Trades. As
these were very strong, we were able to cross the equator in 19 days.
In sight of Cape St. Roque it became very moderate, with pleasant
weather and light, baffling winds, continuing so for six days, which
made me feel most uneasy, as we had but 54 days to make the voyage and
save the duty.
It was now the month of November, and a winter passage often delays
ships for many days even after nearing port. After taking the N. E.
Trades, all went well until within 200 miles of port, when we ran into
a heavy gale from the N. West, with only 60 hours left to perform the
voyage before January 1st, and thus save the duties. I now had almost
lost all hope of getting in port, but trusted that we would yet be able
to drop anchor within the three-mile limit. At 12 noon on the last
day of December we were, by good observations, about one hundred and
ninety miles from Sandy Hook. The wind now suddenly veered round to S.
S. East; we shook out all reefs, made sail, and by one o’clock she was
logging thirteen knots, with the wind very squally and the barometer
very low. These conditions were not at all encouraging.
We now had all hands on deck, and at times were obliged to take in
all our light sails, and when they passed, up they went again, no
time being lost. At two o’clock on the morning of January 1st we made
Scotland Lightship, shortened sail and ran in. As I was not acquainted
with New York harbor, I intended to run in as far as was safe and drop
anchor. The night was very dark and intensely cold, and the barometer
suddenly commenced to rise, and in a few moments the ship was taken
flat aback, caught by the sudden change.
The wind howled from the N. West, and it seemed as if the masts would
go out of her before we were able to change our position. In the
meantime a pilot boat ran up under our lee and shouted out, “Hard
a-port or you will be on the Shoal.” We clewed up all sail in time to
avoid the danger, and having taken the pilot on board felt in a measure
much safer, yet the wind was piping from the N. West all the time. A
large steamer, one of the Knickerbocker tugs, hailed us for a tow, and
said he would take us up for $350. I offered him $300, and he dropped
alongside to pass us his hawser.
His first question was, “What ship and where from?” When I told him,
how he did swear, and said if he had known who we were he would not
have taken us up for less than $1000. He said the owners had sent out
tugs for the last few days hoping to pick us up, but we had missed
them. We now furled all sail, and at 7 a.m. was at quarantine grounds,
and two hours later we were docked. I went at once to the owners’
offices at 40 Broadway, and you may be sure there was great rejoicing.
And they had good reason to rejoice, for I had saved them over $50,000
by making the passage and getting in on January 1st. Isaac Taylor, one
of the owners, made me a handsome cash present, while the present that
Messrs. Vanhagen & Luling gave I will relate later.
I will mention that several ships from South American ports had sailed
previous to my departure from Montevideo, and that we had passed a
number of them hove to the evening before we arrived in New York.
Meeting one of the captains afterwards in the city, a Captain White by
name, he said he thought me very foolish to take the chances that I had
taken and endanger the lives of my crew and also run the risk of losing
the ship and get no thanks for it. I told him I thought life was one
big chance, and the devil could take the hindermost.
And now all these captains have passed on and anchored safely in the
harbor of last refuge, where there are no chances to be taken and no
customs duties to pay.