SKILL IN NAVIGATION.
ENTHUSIASM OF THE SAILORS.
HOME.
During the whole voyage, as I have already stated, the weather had been very uncomfortable. The approach to the American coast is at all times hazardous during the winter. The bold and rocky shore, the intense cold and severe snow-storms, which make the day shorter even than common, are so many terrors for the sailor. You may judge of the anxiety of the crew of the Putnam, when, after a tedious absence of more than a year, they at length, towards the middle of December, 1803, after a long period of stormy weather, came upon the shoal grounds off Massachusetts near Nantucket. The sleet and rain had been driving over the ocean for many days. No sun appeared to guide them by day; no star lighted up the night. Groping, as it were, in darkness, they coasted along up the shore, yet not within sight of it, now throwing their sounding-line upon Nantucket, and soon afterwards upon George’s Shoal. There seemed no end to the storm. At length, on the 25th of December, they had approached, according to Mr. Bowditch’s reckoning, from observation made two days before, near to the outer part of Salem harbor. The night was fast closing in. Mr. Bowditch was observed to be on deck, anxiously looking towards the bow of the vessel, as if trying to see something that would enable him to know more exactly the position of the vessel and the precise course it was running. With clear and decided tones, he gave his orders. The seamen heard him, and obeyed promptly. “There is something in the wind,” whispered one; “the old man[7] is above.” “Stand every man at his post,” is the command; “and look out for land ahead.” Fierce gusts of wind swept over Massachusetts Bay, bearing the vessel irresistibly onwards. The snow-storm beat heavily, and at every moment the darkness increased. At length, for a moment, the clouds of drifting snow-flakes parted, and Mr. Bowditch and his mate, who were watching, saw distinctly the light of Baker’s Island. “Light, ho! on the larboard bow,” was passed from one to the other on board that ship, in which were many almost breathless with suspense. It was but for a moment, and again all was obscured. “I am right,” said Mr. Bowditch; “the direction in which we are now steering will carry us soon into Salem harbor.” His prediction was fulfilled, and it was an extraordinary proof of his skill in navigation. He had had no opportunity for observing the sun or moon for two or three days; yet, so accurately had he marked his position in the ocean at the last time of observing, that, by steering in the direction pointed out by the chart, and observing the rate at which the vessel moved, he had been able to calculate so exactly, that, after seventy-two hours of darkness, as it were, he came up within sight of the light-house almost as easily as if he had been steering in open day, with the object distinctly in view. The old tars could not restrain their expressions of admiration; and as, at nine o’clock in the evening, they dropped anchor in safety from the gale that was now beating with tenfold violence outside of the island, they whispered with one another, so that he overheard them, “The old man has done well to-night.” It was the 25th of December, and throughout Christendom the Christmas festival in commemoration of the birth of the Saviour had been celebrated, and friends had all been gathered. Sadness marked their countenances at one home, from which the husband and friend was absent, though long expected. As the blasts beat through the streets, and as the family clustered around the bright, shining fire upon the hearth-stone, as the wind whistled through the casement, the thoughts of the wife were turned from the fireside to the rough ocean on which her husband was tempest-tossed. Many weary weeks had she watched; but day after day had the sun gone down, and, like Rachel, she could not be comforted. She feared that he was lost. One after another of her friends had left her late at night, and finally she was alone. Suddenly she springs up from her seat, aroused by the sound of quick knocking at the street door. She recognizes the tap, and in a few moments she is hanging on his neck from whom she was destined never to be long separated, until death removed her from him for four years, at the end of which time he was placed by death in quietness at her side.
CHAPTER VII.
Review of the labors, &c., performed by Mr. Bowditch, during these voyages.—Habits while at sea; studies; desire to teach others; kindness to sailors and to the sick.—Discovers errors in a book on navigation.—Origin of “American Practical Navigator;” success of it; industry of Mr. Bowditch upon it.—Investigates higher branches of science.—“Mécanique Céleste.”—Mr. Bowditch reads history.—Learns Spanish, French, and Portuguese languages.—Anecdotes.—Chosen member of American Academy.—Receives honors from Harvard College.
A REVIEW.
HABITS AT SEA.