August 11:

(page torn) We could see the fire (light house) of
Helgoland. The wind rose last night and still came from the west.
At four a.m. the anchors were raised and
we again put to sea. We had to cross... The waves piled... (page torn)

August 12:

The storm raged until seven a.m. and then let up a little.
All night the passengers were very seasick (page torn)...
... of groans, wailing and screaming were heard continually.
Because of the noise below deck no sleep came to my eyes.
My condition was still as bad as yesterday. I was always thirsty,
but had no appetite. During the forenoon the
captain made room for my wife and me aft, near the (captain’s cabin ?)
where we had shelter, for it was as cold as it
usually is in bad November weather. Toward noon the
storm began again, and it rained besides; so we had to
go below again. Now there began for us another plague which
had already begun on the first ?, namely cooties. I
found on my clothes the biggest ones I had over seen. Wind still unfavorable.

August 13:

Wind N.W., blowing hard. The ship still rocked so that we...
and every few minutes the waves broke over the
deck. I was.., and fairly well protected from the waves.
My condition was the same as yesterday---thirsty all the
time, but no appetite. For three days we have eaten nothing.
The others drank so much wine and rum ... my whole supply was braoched,
and I was worried about the casks.

August 14:

N.W. wind. We were now about twenty miles from Helgoland.
Good weather. My illness had improved. I went on deck,
because one could not stand it below. At noon we had....
soup with pork, which tasted pretty good.

August 15:

Wind W. Stormwind. Storm rain, hail. Toward evening the
storm began to rage fearfully, and below everything
creaked and cracked continually. The waves towered high
up and our ship was now in the clouds and now in the abyss.
The storm was sometimes so bad that no sail could be set.
Again no one had any appetite.

August 16:

N.W. wind. The weather was better... We were on the high
sea near Texel. I did not spend all day on deck although
it was good weather; but I was still not quite well. At
noon, rice soup, without meat.

August 17:

N.W. wind,3 but not violent. Weather pleasant. I felt
better. For dinner, pea soup and bacon. In the afternoon
a light lunch. I spent all day on deck.

August 18:

Yesterday the wind was from the east and the weather was
beautiful. But the wind was so feeble that we made almost
no headway. For dinner we had so-called pudding. This
was a mess that upset one’s stomach because it was not
cooked thoroughly. 1n the afternoon the wind became unfavorable
again and the sky clouded over. At night there was music
and dancing.

August 19:

Wind south, fairly favorable. A wonderfully fine morning.
There were nineteen ships, large and small, around us.
Toward evening an English fireship appeared. This was
a sign that we were not far from the Channel.

August 20:

We entered the Channel and could see the coasts of
England and France. At nine o’clock the wind unfortunately
changed again to south. We had to cross over and sail
close to the English coast. The coast consists of chalk
cliffs and looks like freshly fallen snow through which
the earth shows in spots. From the... coast we could see
Calais. The city of Dover we could see very clearly. Toward
noon we could see about 60 ships, large and small. A few
villages appeared, too. The weather was fine all afternoon.
In the afternoon the wind was in the west again and
toward three o’clock became so strong that it developed
into a storm. The sailors had to work... We were in
danger of running aground or of being driven back to
the dangerous North Sea. We could read the captain’s
worry in his face. We were opposite two big light-houses
and an anchoring place. Many ships had already cast anchor.
We were only about half an hour too late, and now we
could not come to anchor. The current set toward the
shore. This was a horrible night, as the cliffs were
so near us.

August 21:

Lord, what a night we had been through! All night the
storm raged and the poor sailors had to work continually. I
was seasick again and had to stay in bed. Twice during
the night I got up thinking we were aground. The sea
was still raging and the waves rose high above the ship.
I was.., when a wave came and drenched me.

August 22:

Last night’s storm was practically a hurricane. In the
steerage, things looked beastly. All night hideous screams.
(In the morning the wind was still contrary and the
storm had not abated. On the deck we were met by waves.
The coffee and tea were so damp with sea water that
we could not drink the;. 0, how our German brothers
(book care of us ?). The pilot said that last night a
wave broke over the deck that washed the captain all
around the deck. The pilot had....and so was spared the
worst of it. Toward evening the wind changed. We were
not much nearer our goal. The potatoes are all gone.

August 23:

The storm is still raging today. My illness has not
improved. For dinner we had.....without meat or fat. They
feed us disgraceful good and one longs for the end of
the journey.

August 24:

North west wind. Pleasant weather. We could see twelve
ships, and it is a pleasure to have company about us.
This evening....

August 25:

Now the Isle of Wight is in sight and we have traveled
half the Channel. Nice, bright weather. Wind north west.

August 26:

Wind north west, but very weak.

August 27:

North east, but so weak that we make little progress.
The food goes against one more and more. English coast
in sight. On the French coast we could distinguish
some forests.

August 28:

Good weather. Northeast wind. At six p.m. we left the
Channel and came into the Atlantic......and our ship
rolls badly.
Wind north east; therefore favorable. We made good progress.


August 30:

Wind 2 We made considerable headway.

August 31:

Last night a terrible storm broke. The wind, fortunately,
was favorable, so that we could keep the course. The ship
rolled so that no coffee and no dinner could be cooked.
The big Bail tore in the afternoon. Toward evening some
meat was cooked.

September 1:

The wind was favorable last night, although the storm
decreased meanwhile. At seven o’clock in the morning
the rain had stopped, but the sea was still very rough,
and the rolling of the ship was as bad as ever. The air
has already become noticeably milder, as we were now
forty-four degrees north latitude. We were opposite
the bay of Finisterre and twenty miles from the Spanish
coast. Tropical birds and a small swallow accompanied
us. A little bright-colored bird flew on our ship and
stayed with us for several days.

September 2:

Wind south, fairly favorable. Fine weather. I forgot to
tell that in the cabin are traveling H. Aron with his
son and ...daughter....Krimelbein from Varel ? They
never speak a word with me. We saw a Nordkaper,he
must have weighed two hundred pounds ?

September 3:

Wind the same. Nice warm morning. The evenings, nights,
and mornings are very pleasant. We have now come about
a hundred miles and must go two hundred miles
more before we reach the trade winds. I am always longing
to be at the end of the journey, for nothing appeals to me.
The disgusting hard tack ? the sour coffee and tea, the
miserable dinner did not agree with me at all. My physical
strength is falling off rapidly, and I am learning from
experience that the mental powers diminish too.

September 4:

(In the steerage we could not stand it any longer)--(Crossed out)
Good favorable wind, so that almost all the sails were
filled. There is some pleasure in seeing the ship glide
over the smooth waters. At ten a.m. we met an English brig.
We sailed close by one another and spoke to each other
through the megaphone. On the high seas it is customary
hat ships then they pass close to each other speak and
exchange (information)...At ten a.m. we met two small
brigs. The captain spoke th them but received no answer.
It was, generally supposed that the ... was broken.

September 5:

Wind favorable, pretty strong. All sails were set. I
simply can not stand the hardtack any more. We soak it
now and bake it again in the ....which tastes passably.
Incidentally the bread prepared in this way is probably
not very wholesome.

September 6:

Wind favorable, fine weather. We are now thirty degrees
north latitude. Birds fly about us continually, especially
petrels. Every day things happen that make one want to
weep or laugh. There is a passenger by the name bf Brücking
a queer creature, with his bride. The latter seems to
be unfaithful to him, and the little chap took this so to
heart that. he seemed to have a fit of raving and sat on
deck all afternoon bawling, whereby he aroused the pity
of all bystanders. We sometimes receive food that is
quite inedible. Among other things....which I find it
impossible to eat. In the first place the ... is only
half peeled ? , in the second place it is cooked to a
soup which is three fourths water in the third place it
is...., in the fourth place we are suppose to eat it without
fat, without meat, without... Heavens! What stuff they
give us to eat! How I wish were ab the end of the journey !

September 7:

Fine weather. Wind still favorable. The days keep getting
warmer. So far we have not had too much heat, for the constant
cool east wind cools the air noticeably. The evenings
are very pleasant. Sunrise and sunset have been exceptionally
beautiful these days. In the west golden mountains
rose high in the sky, and the whole sea was a sea of fire.
The sun went down at six o’clock and we had to lie around
on the deck the whole evening. A wonderful sight was the
starry sky that shone down upon us so prophetically. If I
were an astronomer I should have ample leisure to make
observations every evening. What a fine life the cabin
passengers lead! They can spend the whole evening in the
lighted cabin and devote themselves to their work.

September 9:

We had a regular calm. The day was rather hot. Today
there was a quarrel between Mrs. Hertel and the bride of
Brücker Every day there are scenes.

September 10:

Fog and some rain. The wind changed in the morning, that is
from northeast to east and to the crew we have already
reached the trade winds. We have aiready seen a few
flying fish.

September 11:

Thirty two degrees, in line with the Island of Madeira.
Vie were two hundred miles from the last island. The cook
caught a rather large fish, but as no one but the boatswain
knew it, no one would eat it, because it is dangerous
to e at unknown fish, because it is said that there are
a few places on the ocean floor that (cause the fish
to be poisonous ? ). Wind pretty strong. Good weather.

September 12:

Wind pretty strong. Endurable weather. Flying fish appear
in shoals fleeing from their enemies.

September 13:

Wind end weather as on the preceding day. Somewhat less
wind.

September 14:

Almost dead calm. The oldest Abrens girl has been sick
for several days; they think she has typhoid fever.

September 15:

Very little wind; fine weather.

(No date; sequence not clear)

This day will remain forever in my memory, and the thought
of it will always fill my heart with deepest sadness. What
happened was a very sad death .....Ahrens, a .... girl of
eighteen, had to die in the flower of her youth, and
breathe her last on this ship. She died at two o’clock
in the afternoon. The flag was lowered to half mast, and
this further increased the sadness of the situation.
To die on land is terrible; but most terrible to die
at sea, where the body must be lowered into the cold waves.
I wept a silent tea;, and raised my head to God the ever-loving,
who rules the fate of man with a wise hand. The loss
that the old deaf and dumb father has suffered in this
child is beyond all measure. He depended on this daughter
as on a mother, for she had to manage the whole household.
The old man is really to be pitied, for what is he to do
with his two small children and without.... (page torn)

(page torn)

... dressed up and masked, with a shaving outfit consisting
of a sword and a big ( scrub brush ? ), and announced
themselves as Neptune. Then some of the sailors were soaped
and shaved, and during the process doused with twelve
to twenty buckets of water. Than all tbe sailors doused
each other, and then the dousing was extended to the passengers
until everyone on deck was soaked. Soon the passengers
began to throw water too, and everyone present was drenched.
I was the only one spared, for the small pox ware fully
developed. This impromptu bath lasted about two hours.
The appearance of Neptune is only an excuse for the sailors,
who usually received rather substantial gifts. I. Kinmuller ?
gave one dollar and the captain six bottles of wine.

In the afternoon Neptune went around among the steerage
passengers to collect whatever they would give.
All the sailors had a jag. The wind became rather strong
toward evening. I slept on deck for the third night. About
twelve-thirty I received the....with Nolten and Slutter.

September 23:

Rather strong wind; fine weather. A quarrel in the morning
about the (bread ? ). Toward the evening the passengers
gathered together. The captain, informed of this, fired
several times during the evening. This seemed to have a
decided effect on the conspirators, and everything became
quiet.

September 24:

Good wind, but occasional rain. Among the passengers there
is by no means peace and unity, as they swear at each other
violently at intervals. We saw a big .... flying fish
we see every day.

September 25:

Good wind, rather bright weather. We were now twenty
degrees north latitude, So far we had held toward the south.
Now we steered west and toward ? west longitude ? In
the afternoon
we saw briggs which were steering the same
course as we were. When we had come near enough we sailed
towards each other to speak. It was an English brigg which
bad been at sea twelve days longer than we had and was
bound for Kingston Jamaica to take on a cargo of rum. It
must have been sailing about two degrees north latitude
farther than we. It had two Passengers aboard who looked
like merchants. it is a great pleasure to interrupt the
continuous monotony and see oneself accompanied on the
ocean by other ships. Musicians on both ships began
to blow clarinettes, and a passenger on the other ship
brought out a flute and began to play it, but our music
drowned theirs out.

September 26:

Nice weather..a little rain. The cooties bother us unmercifully.

September 27:

This morning the sky was covered with dark, stormy clouds,
so that it was like night. At eight o'clock it began to
rain hard and kept it up until noon.

September 28:

Pretty strong wind. Nice weather. I kept looking toward the
west, hoping to see land, but nothing visible.

September 29:

Rather windy. Fine weather.

September 30:

Wind and weather same as yesterday.

October 1:

Wind not strong. Gloomy weather. Life at sea bores me
terribly, for nothing breaks the empty monotony.

October 2:

The weather is beginning to be very warm. Today we saw
a big black bird. Green moss in great quantities floated
by and was taken as a sign that land is near.

October 3:

Strong wind, fine weather. In the afternoon we could see
two ships. The pilot said we would see more ships. Out
of the big.....all ships come together, This was a sign
that we were almost across the ocean.
We could still see the two ships, but they were pretty
far away. Green moss, sugar canes .... floated by, and we
must really be near land. Wind good, weather fine.

4

With what joy I was awakened this morning, and what
feelings arose in me when I was told by a sailor that
the island of Santo Domingo was in sight, which we
approached quite close. We saw the .... high mou.ntains
covered with forests. At ten A.M. we were nearer, and
could distinguish high and lower mountains with beau-
tiful shrubbery and lush green vegetation. I sent up a
fervent prayer to God, that He had brought us so far,
for now we could not be far from our goal. My heart was
filled with such joy at the sight of this island, and
columbus himself surely could not have felt more joy than
I. We sailed all day along the coast of. Santo Domingo,
but could see nothing but long, pointed cliffs. Too bad
that we could not stop a while to see the magnificent
behind the mountains. All afternoon the wind was
weak, but toward evening it became stronger.

5

Wind favorable and strong. Weather fine. We were
still near the island, but could see nothing but bare
mountains with many cliffs. Toward evening the wind was
very strong. At 6 oclock we saw the last off the island
of Santo Domingo. It was a mountain covered with rather
high bushes. Here was also the entrance to the harbor
of Port au Prince.

6

Today, again, I got up with joy, for on the right
hand the mountains of the island of Cuba were visible.
Only a feeble wind swelled our sails. We sailed close
to this island. 0 how glad I was that we were getting
ahead, and would soon be in a haven of rest. In the
afternoon we saw a small brigg, which luffed and came
close to us. She raised her flag, but we (paid no
attention) as, according to the pilot’s statement, there
are supposed to be pirates? in Cuban waters. The pilot
told the story off a ship from Bremen which...
were attacked off Cuba. We saw also a small sail near the
coast.

7

We were still steering toward Cuba and according to the
sailors we shall be here for three or four days longer. In
the afternoon we had anly a feeble wind, and in the evening
dead calm. Two cute little birds flew on our ship.

8

Fine weather. Calm, The heat was very great - greater
than I bave ever felt before. We could net see the island
of Cuba all day. The calm lasted until about 8 P.M. Then
came black rainclouds and with them a storm that raged for
several hours. A strong wind blew all night.

9 Oct.

Fine weather. Strong wind. The island of Cuba not visible.
We are sailing very fast; it seems to me we must soon be in
New Orleans. Today a bird of prey, like a cucoo, came on
our ship and ate one of the little birds.

10

Rather strong wind. This afternoon we could see three
small islands off Cuba.

11

This afternoon we could see the end of the island of Cuba.
Fine meadows with shrubbery here and there were visible.
This view of the island is very picturesque. At 6 P.M. we
had reached the end. Until now we had been steering west.
At 10 P.M. we turned N. Soon after, we entered the Gulf of
Mexico.

12

Wind not favorable. We made little progress today.

13

Wind the same. At 6 P.M. a storm came up, but to our dis-
advantage, for we couldnt keep on the course. The rolling
of the ship was extraordinary. The storm raged all night.
Wilhelm got frightened.

14

The storm had not abated much, and I was afraid of sea-
sickness. In the afternoon the storm let up and we made good
speed.

15

Wind favorable, fairly strong. We are already at 27 degrees
and should arrive in New Orleans in a few days. In the after-
noon we saw many birds.

16

We made good time during the night. At 6 oclock we saw
a pilot cutter sail toward us and this was a sign that we
wer not far from land. Soon the pilot came aboard. He was
a well-dressed man, pale-looking, who seemed very cold in
his manner. At three P.M. we ran into green water,
In another half hour into yellow water,
and then we saw land, and the lighthouses at the mouth of
the Mississippi. At 6 we were there, but could not get
over the bar and had to remain outside, but were driven
back a good bit by the contrary wind.

(the diary ends abruptly here)