October 3 - 6, 1862

Remarks on board Bark Solon Atlantic Ocean

Friday October 3rd 1862

Had light wind from NE steering SSE. Employed at work on the rigging.

Lat 12 36 N Long 23 11 W

Saturday Oct 4th

Had moderate wind from NE steering SSE. Bent the Fore top-Gallant sail. And made potatoe rum.

Lat 11 00 N Long 22 07 W

Sunday Oct 5th

Had light winds from NNE and calms. Steering SSE when we had a breeze.

Lat 10 56 N Long 21 31 W

Monday Oct 6th

Head light airs and calms lowered for Blackfish twice. The second time the Mast Boat got fast and then I got fast. And had shocks of the Boat pulled off. And Mr Faller1 had to take my line and after he run around with him some little time the iron broke2. And we lost him. It was so dark that we could not see him when he came up. Joe ????3 got a damned good blessing from me on account of his old Boat took Mr. Faller’s along side and hoisted him [in].

Lat 10 30 N Long 21 14 W

1 The crew list does not have the name “Faller” on it. He could have been a latter addition to the crew.

2 In Blackfish (pilot whale) hunting, the iron was attached to a long, coiled line that could surge violently under load; when the whale sounded or changed direction in darkness, the strain and chafe could cause the iron to part or tear free, abruptly ending the fast.

3 First name Joe is easy to read but last name is hard to decipher. There were 2 men named Joe on the crew list Joseph Silva and Joseph Dexter. Notice that one man is given the formality of “Mr” while the other man Joe was not referred to as “Mr.” Could be another indication of the crew hierarchy.