Day 310. Flying fish and salt horse: a seafaring tale
5th June 1860:
Tuesday 5th. Washed decks. Stowed Jibs F. Top Mast and M Topmast Staysails. One of the men we shipped in Callao is ill, not able to work. Hands employed doing various little jobs to keep the devil out their minds as they say. Sailmaker mending M. Topmast Staysail. 12 AM Hauled down Stern Sails and set them on the Stard Side. Took in Sturn Sails at 2 PM. 8 PM Took in T.G.Sails. Pumps carefully attended. Weather very cold with hail and snow.
We didn’t hear about new crew being taken on at Callao but obviously some men were hired for the journey home. Now one of them is ill and everyone will be wondering if it is a fever and if they are all going to catch it - no place to hide on a ship from a contagious disease.