Autobiography of Capt. Edgar D Trefry  

The  Seafaring  Life  Of

Captain Edgar D. Trefry


The following contains interesting and entertaining true stories written by a Yarmouth Sea Captain, Captain Edgar D. Trefry at the age of 83.  They tell of his early yearnings of sea life, climbing the ranks to Captain, troubles with the ship's crew as well as difficulties in rough weather conditions and more.
A special thanks goes to his great grandson, Dunham T. Swift for his generosity in sharing this great story with all of us.

In the year 1861
From my early boyhood I had always a strong desire to become a sailor. The fact that two of my brothers were captains of ships,  and I  was constantly hearing a good deal of the life at sea, fed this desire, until at the age of fifteen I persuaded my eldest brother, who was then in command of the Brig "JOSEPH HUME"  owned by William Lovett, of  Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, to let me go on a voyage with him.  He strongly protested, stating that he did not want to see a young brother of his going through the hardships of a sailor's life that he had experienced.

But though he  told me  many  tales  of  a very discouraging nature I could not give up my hope of one day arriving at the stage when I might reach the dignity he had attained of becoming Captain of a ship.

So at last he consented, feeling sure that one voyage would be sufficient to cool my ardor, and before many days at sea I wished I had taken his advice, for I was so seasick that it brought a serious  attack of homesickness and that combination I felt sure would prove fatal.

However I survived, and we arrived in Jamaica all right. There we loaded with logwood for New York. On arrival there, it was now late in the Fall of the year, as we seemed so near home I was taken with an attack of homesickness, which became quite serious when I discovered that a small vessel was about to sail for Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, my home town. So I hastily bade my brother good-bye and took passage for home, fully satisfied that life on the ocean wave had no further charms for me. 

Through the Winter I went to school and forgot all about my ambition to become a sailor, and even forgot how seasick and homesick I had been.

In the Spring of 1862 the hard work on my father's farm set me thinking --"My older brothers are Captains of ships, and all they have to do is to watch other people work, and why should I stick at this kind of job, working in the dirt all the time?" 

My stomach had become quite settled again-- and I had entirely recovered from my attack of homesickness --when a new ship was launched, and I heard the Captain was looking for a crew, and would be glad to take anyone who could steer a ship. I knew some of the men who shipped as sailors, and they were as green as I was, so I signed up for the voyage to Ireland.

The Captain was an old, hard boiled sailor who had no sympathy for anyone, but I knew I could tough it out--and I did.

The ship was the Barque "MARGARETA", and the voyage ended at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and from there I went home, quite sure that this time that I had  enough of the life of a sailor, though I did not let anyone know that part of it, but just braved it out to my young companions.

All that winter I went to school, thinking I would learn a trade; but when next Autumn came, my brother, who I had first sailed with, and who was then Captain of the full rigged ship "ELIZA MCLAUGHLIN", wrote to me saying if I had decided to follow the sea I could go with him. In that large ship I felt I was a real sailor, and could even smoke a pipe and laugh at the thought of seasickness, though I couldn't quite shake off the homesickness. However I shipped for the voyage. My brother had just married and was taking his wife with him, and my new sister-in-law was a good friend to me. She is still living at the age of ninety-one years, and I am trying to write this story at the age of eighty three years and six months.
 

After a few voyages I was articled as Able Seaman, and feeling pretty chesty in a full rigged ship. But the sailors would not recognize me as Able Seaman unless I could go on shore and get drunk with them, so they made it pretty unpleasant for me at times, when they came aboard late at night and disturbed my pleasant dreams of the "girl I left behind me". But later on they found it was not healthy to disturb my slumbers, especially when they looked in the mirror in the morning and wondered how they got those "shiners".

Later on, when on a voyage to the Mediterranean, I got an order from the Captain to bring my kit aft, and he told me I was to be "Bos n", which means Third Mate. That was my first step up the ladder, for which I was most surprised. Here I felt I had got through the rough part of sea life without getting drunk, or learning to swear, and homesickness was fading away. I was now learning to give orders to the sailors. Of course being in the first mate's watch brought him a step higher, as he gave me the orders to take to the sailors.

Often when the Captain was taking an observation of the sun his wife would send the figures to me to work up, and I sent back my answer, though not always correct, but after a time I accomplished it, and this gave me the desire to study navigation in earnest, and before I became First Mate I was a good navigator -- before having gone to school on shore, and through this got on much faster. Of course many sailors were not ambitious and had no ideas outside the forecastle and a good time while in port, their popular song being "When my money is all gone, I'll go to sea for more."

One incident stands out quite clear in my memory. It was at Genoa. I fell in the ship's hold and was unconscious for about four hours. This experience helped to remind me to watch my step in the future.

After three years my brother left the ship for one voyage, and the mate took charge, and I was promoted to Second Mate, and was as surprised as when I was taken out of the forecastle.

That voyage with the new Captain was not a pleasant one. It was winter and we encountered very heavy gales all through the Winter. During one heavy storm we lost our rudder--also lost one of our seamen overboard and he was drowned.

We were obliged to steer the ship by tackles, so made for the nearest port, which was Queenstown, Ireland, where we got a new rudder and put to sea again bound for Boston. On our arrival there ended a very disagreeable voyage.

My brother came there and took charge of the ship again, and it was a great relief to have a Captain in command who was at all times sober, which we had not seen since during the last voyage, for after reaching the top of the ladder he had let drink become his master. The last I heard of him he had committed suicide -- which has been the sad ending of many seafaring men -- and many a good ship has gone to the bottom through strong drink, for in time of danger it is the first thought of the man who is addicted to it, and instead of steadying his nerves, it makes him incapable, and he and his property come to grief.

I decided to leave this ship when my brother did -- and after I had served four years -- starting as an ordinary seaman and had now become Second Mate. When the Captain left the ship I left also to go home to marry the "best girl on earth", and I fully intended to remain at home until my brother's ship was ready for him; but the Captain who was taking charge of the "ELIZA MCLAUGHLIN" in my brother's place heard that I had served four years in her as Second Mate. He came to see me and urged me to go with him as Mate. I refused his offer; told him I was just married, and intended to stay home for awhile, as I had been away four years. But it was that experience that he wanted. Then he asked me to go with him from Boston to St. John. Well! At last I consented to go that far.

The ship was chartered to load deals at St. John for Ireland. The first information he wanted from me was "how many tons of  ballast we would require".  I told him three hundred. He said "We have not far to go -- only from here to St. John -- and two hundred should be sufficient for only a few day's sail." 

It was a beautiful day when we sailed from Boston, and after we left Boston Light behind us the Captain was busy in the cabin looking over papers, and I went below to write up the log, leaving the Second Mate in charge. Before I had finished I noticed the ship listing, and I rushed on deck to find that we were in the grip of a tremendous squall, and the light sails going in ribbons and the lea yard arms in the water.

I shouted to the man at the wheel to "hard up the helm", but the ship had listed so far that the rudder was useless. I grabbed a hatchet and jumped for the mizzon rigging, calling to the men to follow, and cut away everything in shape of sails. They soon stripped the yards of their sails with their knives, and then did the same to the main rigging. Then I went forward and managed to get some of the foremast sails to draw, which helped to get the ship before the wind, and as she paid off and began to right up, the rudder took effect and we were soon running before the wind. This gave us a chance to trim the yards, and clear away the wreckage.

All of that trouble, and the loss of a suit of sails, was lack of good judgement in regard to sufficient ballast -- also to the Second Mate not reporting the approaching storm.

However, we arrived safely at St. John, where I was supposed to leave for home.

But the Captain wanted me to stay and take account of cargo, until he could get another Mate. I thought it not more than right, and consented. After a week had passed I asked him if he had secured a Mate, and he said "No". I said "The ship will be loaded before another week." He gave me no answer, though I was counting the days to the time when I would be free. Then he began to persuade me to go with him one voyage, as I knew the ship so well, having been in her four years, and he a stranger. He also said he could do more for me than my brother could. He could not find another Mate, and his wife was to go with him. 

When I remembered I had not thought of being promoted to First Mate for several years yet, as I was only twenty-two years old, also that my wife would be proud of my promotion, perhaps it would be best for me. The Captain wrote my brother how active I was when we were "hove down" off Boston Light and he advised me to accept -- and I did, and began to look ahead to the next promotion, which would be the top of the ladder that had looked so high when I started.

Well! I found myself at last, at the end of that voyage, also the second and third. 

When we arrived at Providence, Rhode Island, over a year had passed. I decided to go home and have a rest. My brother was then waiting for a ship which was being built for him, and which would be ready in about four months, and he said I could go with him. So I told my Captain I wanted my discharge. It happened to be the nearest port to my home of any we had called at on the last voyages of this ship.

The Captain gave me great recommendation for my work, especially for the time when we experienced that storm after leaving Boston, when the ship was thrown down in that heavy squall. I did not order the sailors aloft, but went first myself. In a time like that a sailor has a right to disobey orders to go into danger, but they dare not disobey an order to follow their officer. The Captain knew the danger more than I did, and he showed fear. He could not see any hope of bringing the ship on her bottom so we could have use of the rudder, therefore I did not get an order from him. He was too old a man to do what I did, so he gave me the credit of saving the ship, and when I left he gave me a letter of recommendation.

On my arrival home the first to greet me was my dear Mother, with tears of joy in her eyes; and then my loving wife. But the best of all was a pretty baby girl playing on the floor, who I quickly had in my arms. Just then a thrill came over me. "Can this be possibly another dream, and I am to wake up thousands of miles away and listen to the wind whistling through the rigging of a ship far out to sea? No, thank God, this is not like that, and I am so happy. Home was never like this to me before."

About that time there were many ships being built, and the owner of the one which my brother was to take had just launched one called the "WILLIE", to be rigged as a full rigged Brig. As there were quite a number of vessels to be rigged just then, and riggers were hard to get, the owner asked my brother if he could recommend one. He could not -- but thought of me, and I knew I would like a chance to stay on shore for a while, so suggested that I might do it. The owner immediately came to see me. As it was sixty miles from my home, he suggested that I could take my wife there, and it would give her a holiday, and we could be together, and so it was arranged.

When we got there, I found the ship at the wharf, with spars and rigging alongside, but not a seafaring man. All the ship carpenters available were working on a larger ship which was being built for my brother. However we managed to get men enough, and all went well, and in two weeks was fully rigged, and I expected to go home for a real visit.

But the owner asked me if I would go as Mate with my brother, who was going one voyage more in the "WILLIE" while waiting for his new ship to be finished. He was going to St. John to load for Ireland and then to Liverpool to load supplies for the new ship that was being built.

I was very disappointed at having to change all my plans again, but could not refuse a big ship owner, if I intended to follow the sea. And then I could see he was pleased with my work, and here was my opportunity to make good. So I had to see my wife leave for home alone, and I sailed away for another three months. Of course, as my brother was captain it was pleasanter for me than if a stranger had been there.

We went to St. John and loaded deals for Dublin. We had one very heavy gale, and run before it for three days as the sea was running so high it was not safe to "heave to". One heavy comer came over the stern. I was directing the man at the wheel at the time the sea broke over the stern and carried me to the fore part of the ship, where I barely escaped being washed overboard. I was hurt but managed to get back on my hands and knees, and for a few days a wrenched back reminded of the little escapade. By paying strict attention to the steering for three rather long and tiresome days, however, we weathered the storm, and in due time made Dublin, our port of destination, to load supplies for Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, which would take us to our home and loved ones again.

Our cargo from Liverpool was chains, anchors, and other supplies for the many new ships building there.

We left Liverpool in October, and made good use of all favorable winds. We encountered no very heavy weather, and arrived safely in Yarmouth harbor, and as the tide was against us were obliged to let go the anchor and wait the next tide. The Captain was taken ashore, and was soon on his way home, twenty miles away. We docked ship when the tide permitted, and it was not long before I, too, was on my way home, only four miles, where I arrived about ten P.M., but was obliged to tap on the window and give the pass-word before I could get in.

Next morning I was off again to my work to make ready for discharging our cargo. Later in the day the Captain came. Everything went well through the day, and at night my brother, the Captain, said he had a big surprise for me. It was that the owner had told him that he had selected the Captain to take charge of the "WILLIE" before she was half rigged, and the man was myself. It was a great surprise, and I could not sleep that night for I intended to refuse the offer.

I told my brother that I could not accept, Winter was approaching with its storms, and if anything happened it would be my downfall. He could tell him that I very sincerely appreciated the owner's offer, but felt I must refuse. However, the owner came to me himself and smoothed the way and said that if anything happened he would stand back of me, and I would not fall. So I accepted, and he left me with a hearty handshake and wishes for good luck, and I went home to tell my wife that she was a Captain's wife, and that terrible ladder that had looked so formidable at the start had been climbed without a slip. Now if it comes, "great will be the fall thereof". 

My first voyage as Captain was the greatest thrill of my life. My brother remained in command until the "WILLIE" was loaded and the crew shipped. The owner had shipped the Mate, and when I first saw him he was sitting on the far hatch and all the sailors sitting around, telling stories and laughing; and I quickly saw what I was up against.

As my brother left for his home he said "Don't let the owner drive you to sea tonight, for there is sure to be stormy weather." I was feeling a little blue when the owner came and said he had ordered the tug boat to take us out. I told him the wind was ahead, and all indications were for a bad storm, but he said "It will turn to rain and shift to the westward, and you will have a fair wind out of the Bay". He was partly right, but not until I had experienced one of the worst gales, and highest seas, the Bay of Fundy could send to break in a twenty-three year old boy.

Before the wind shifted I was very near the lee shore, and just about ready to cut away the mast and let go the anchor when God shifted the wind in time to answer my mother's prayers -- for she never failed to pray for her boys who were exposed to the dangers of the deep. It was pretty hard for me at that age -- with not a soul to look to --and the Mate perfectly useless. But now I can see clearly that God was Captain and I was Mate, and we sailed that way the rest of my life, though it was not always clear to me in those days.

I was very successful throughout the three years I was Captain of the "WILLIE", and when I left, the Mate took her for a voyage, but when I was expecting her return the owner told me she had put into Liverpool totally dismasted.

As he had no other ship he could give me at that time, he took me to A.C. Robbins, of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, who wanted a Captain to take the "CHARLES GUMM" up the Baltic to sell her. Mr. Lovett said he would have a ship for me when I got back. I asked Mr. Robbins how much I must get for the ship, and he said "Just sell her. Don't bring her back".

I sailed from Charleston, S.C., loaded with naval stores for a port in Prussia, and on arrival there began discharging cargo -- also advertising the ship for sail. My first price was two hundred pounds sterling. I sold her for $1600. When I got back the owner told me he was very much pleased, for it was more than double her value.

Then he told me the "BESSIE CROSBY" was on her way home, and I could rest a week or two, and then take her. I joined her, also in S.C., and found her all loaded. I noticed that the ship was trimmed two and a half feet by the head, instead of about one foot by the stern. I would not like to say that the former Captain did it to play a trick on me, though it looked very much like it, as I never had known a Captain to allow a ship to be trimmed by the head. The Mate, who remained with the ship, told me the "BESSIE CROSBY" was the slowest ship afloat, so I felt pretty blue, especially with that trimming two and a half feet by the head. A large fleet of vessels were leaving port at the same time we were, and no doubt would be out of sight ahead in two hours, and I was inclined to be pessimistic. But greatly to my surprise we out-sailed the whole fleet.

I said to myself "God had revealed a secret to me, and I will always remember that this is the right trim for this ship."  We had arrived in Liverpool in nineteen days, outsailing many ships on our way.

I spent the most pleasant four years of my sea life in that ship -- getting home occasionally and taking my wife and one of the children with me part of the time. We had good officers, who kept strict discipline with the crews, where a squabble is liable to occur now and then.

Once we were threatened with mutiny and for a time it looked unavoidable. But I had two able officers, and was no dumb-bell myself in those days, as I had gotten hardened up while Mate of the "ELIZA MC LAUGHLIN", where we had two of the roughest mutinies anyone would care to witness. But we came out on top each time. After it was over the last time I overheard one say "Well, Trefry can fight his weight in wild cats" -- and they did not try it again.

Well, I will tell you how that unavoidable mutiny came out. I had shipped my crew in Liverpool, England, bound for New York. I was always careful to pick a crew of clean looking men if possible; but frequently you will find in the lot what some call "Captain of the forecastle" -- who is really the bully of the whole crew.

After leaving Liverpool we encountered very bad weather -- head winds and gales for three days. Many ships put back the first day out. At last I was obliged to put in a small harbor. After coming to anchor I told the men to go below and rest to be ready for shift of wind. It was not long before they came aft, and asked for a boat to go ashore to get some things they needed. Of course I refused, as they had a month's advanced pay. A little later they came again, and their leader said "Captain, we will do no more work unless we can go ashore."   I told them I would give them until twelve o'clock to think over what it meant to refuse duty. At twelve the Second Mate called them out -- the Mate and myself waiting on the deck. I said "Well, boys, what have you made up your minds to do?"  Their leader said "We will do no more work unless you let us go ashore", and , noticing the handcuffs said "Captain, you haven't men enough to put me in irons". I replied -- "If I can't put you in irons myself, alone, you may all go ashore." That pleased them and they all laughed at the idea. I put on a prize fighter's face -- passed my revolver to the Mate, saying "If any man interferes, use it!" I was a pretty good scrapper in those days myself, and was not afraid. In less than twenty minutes hard squabbling I had him in irons, and told the Mate to take him aft to the sail room.

After I got done puffing, I talked to the rest of them, and told them they were foolish to let that fellow get them in trouble. Then I said "Now all of you who will continue to do your duty take that side of the deck. They all went but three, who thought they would be loyal to their leader. They came and put their hands for the hand-cuffs, but before dark asked to have them taken off. After warning them of the law in the biggest words I know, I read it to them. I also told them that the one who was leading them would remain in irons until we reached New York, when I would give him up to the British Consul.

That night the wind shifted and we got under weigh, with a fair wind out of the channel. One of the officers went in the sail room for something, where our prisoner was, and he asked what all the noise on deck was about, and was told we were "Sailing out of the channel -- all sail set and a fine day". He said "What! have the men gone to work?" "Sure,"  he replied. He was surprised, and said "Tell the Captain I want to see him". So later I went in and said, in a pleasant way, "Well, Jack, what's wrong with you?" He snapped out to me "Take these irons off; I don't want to be painted any blacker than the rest." I spoke as sharp as he had. and said "You started the trouble and you will not start any more for me. Stay where you are ‘till we get to New York". Then I left him. Later he sent for me again asked in a very different way to be free. I said "I have all the help I require", and left home another long night.

Next morning I called on him and said pleasantly "Good morning, Jack". I could see his heart was broken, and mine was near it. He said "Captain, if you will take these irons off and if I don't prove it to you as good as any two men you have, don't pay me any wages."  He was so humble I couldn't hold out any longer, and left him saying "I will think it over". At dinner time I went back and talked to him. I said  "Did you think I was foolish enough to let you all run away with a month's pay?"  He said he had not stopped to think of that, but he knew he was wrong and he was sorry. I said "Well! if you are sorry, and I have no more trouble with you, or any of the crew, on your account, I will not enter a charge against you on arrival in New York".  I took the handcuffs off, and he proved as good as his word, was always the first to answer orders, and everything went along lively.

On arrival in New York I went on shore to enter in Customs, and on my return found every man gone except Jack. I said "Well, Jack, I thought you would be the first man to leave." He came up to me and said "Captain, I will never leave you until you discharge me." He was a good able seaman, and I was pleased.

On leaving New York our Second Mate did not turn up in time, and I had to leave without him, one officer short. After we got out to sea, I told the Mate to send Jack to me as I thought I would make him Second Mate. The Mate liked Jack, and was pleased. When he came I told him to "bring your kit aft. I want you to take the Second Mate's place."  He was so surprised he could hardly speak.

After about a week he came to me and said he would rather go back in the forecastle, as one of the men made it so unpleasant for him. I said  "What man is it?" He pointed him out. I said "Keep your courage up. I have a remedy for that. At twelve tonight we will ware ship. It will be very dark and stormy. The Mate and I will be on the main deck. You give that man a sharp order, and if he speaks back, don't be afraid, but jump on him, and if you cant beat him up alone we will see you come out on top."  It worked all right, and he did not require any help, either. After all was clear, this man came aft to me and said "Captain, do you allow your officers to treat your men like this?"  I pretended surprise, and said "Who did that?" "Your Second Mate", he replied. I sent for the Second Mate and spoke as if I was cross, saying "What cause had you beat this man like that?" He replied "He cheeks me every time I speak to him, and refused to obey orders." "Well", I said, "that  is as good a cause as I want -- that will do." Then I said to the chap -- "So you thought you could give back answers to your officer, did you? Just because he was younger than you are. I suppose you are like the fellow with the gun -- who got shot because he didn't know it was loaded. Now go and wash yourself, and don't come to me with a face like that again. You treat your officers right and they will not hurt you." So Jack took courage, and when he gave orders to the men he didn't do it as if he was afraid he would offend them -- and everything went along O.K.

Some may think that kind of treatment unwise, but if one man got away with giving the officers back answers it would not be long before they would all do the same -- so it is best to make an example of one rather than lose control of all. I always treated my men well -- I never swear, and pleased to say it now in my old age. I would rather fight in self-defense than swear, and have done it many times. Show me a man who uses profane language and I will show you a coward. He could put up a big bluff with his tongue, and some might think it was loaded, and he would get by with it.

During the four years I was on the "BESSIE CROSBY" there were many bright sun shiny days between the storms and dangers of the angry seas, and I took pride in making things look as much like home as possible for the benefit of my wife and children, who were often with me. We had some tumbler pigeons on board. Every fine day they would fly away, but always return to the ship at night. We also had a lovely collie dog. He couldn't speak exactly, but could make us understand what he wanted to say, and he understood everything we said to him, and was always ready to pull on a rope to help the sailors, as he thought.

It is quite impossible to bring to memory all that happened on that ship during the four happiest years of my seafaring life -- and surely God was with us. One very dark and stormy night, one of the sailors fell from the main yard overboard. I was in the pilot house when I heard the cry "Man overboard !" I ran aft and picked up a coil of rope, which was the main brace, and threw it astern with all my might, though I could see nothing in the darkness. It struck the man and he caught and held it with a death grip. I shouted for all the hands and we pulled him to the stern, and he cried out "Captain, I'm slipping !"  I said to the men, "Will anyone volunteer to be lowered to put the rope around him?" One said "I will, Captain, if you will tend the rope." We lowered him, and the bravest of all the men went over the side and rescued the drowning man. It was all done nearly as quick as I can tell. When he landed on deck he was very nervous. I gave him some brandy and put him to bed. He was quiet for awhile, but later crying out in his sleep. Now what can I say? I did not see things in my younger days as I do now at my present advanced age, but it looks to me that a Power beyond human power worked through us that night. The ship was sailing through the water in a very strong wind and a very few seconds delay in throwing that rope would have meant failure.

Another thrill that comes to my memory while on this ship:  This time it was a fine day and all sail set, bound for Quebec, Canada. A strong breeze and a smooth water -- the land in sight. I was walking the deck, enjoying a smoke, when I heard a "Man overboard !"  I sprang to the stern with a life preserver, at the same time shouting "Starboard watch back the main yard. Port watch put the boat out."  Instantly all the crew was at their work, and the man came to the surface near the stern. I dropped what we call the "Booby" hatch with a life preserver right beside him, which he quickly grabbed. Before we could stop the ship's head-way by backing yards and getting the boat to him he was a long way from the ship. I went up the rigging and directed the Mate, who had four men at the oars -- how to steer to reach the man, and to take him in at the stern of the boat, lest he might capsize the boat and all be in danger.

All went well and the man was brought safely on board, none the worse for a good soaking in salt water.

The Mate was a great favorite with my little daughter, and during the excitement her mother was crying, and the child said to her "Don't cry, mama, the Mate will get him in the boat. She appeared to have no doubt of the Mate's ability to accomplish anything.

There are many incidents that occurred while I was Captain of the "BESSIE CROSBY" that might be interesting but I will close this chapter of my life with one more, which came as a great surprise and the last thing one would expect on a sailing ship over fifty years ago.

We were on a voyage from New York to Bremenhaven, Germany, and as it often happens on leaving port, obliged to ship a man in a hurry. This time it was a Second Mate. He looked to be one of the most hard boiled packet rats -- as we call them -- and was recommended as a good experienced seaman. But he was the most profane man I ever heard speak. H e seemed anxious to please me and was very attentive to his work and knew how to do it. I told him one day that I was pleased with his work, but that profanity had to stop; that it was a mean, low practice. He looked surprised. I said "Did you ever hear me swear?"  He said "No, Sir". I said "Well, I don't want you to on this ship." But he did not stop it, and I spoke to him again in a different tone. He was a great reader, and my wife always sent books from the ship's library to the men. They were mostly religious books. One morning, sometime before we arrive in Germany, the Mate told me that when he called the Second Mate at 12 P.M. he was on his knees praying. We did not think much about it, though I did notice that he had stopped swearing. Later he spoke to me about it and said he had given it up, that through my reprimand, and the books he had read, that had been sent from the ship's library, he had come to see himself in a different light and was trying to live differently.

In the latter part of my sea life the sailing ships were passing out, and steam ships taking their place. The "BESSIE CROSBY" was sold and I went home for a rest. But in a few weeks I was persuaded to take another ship -- the "COLORADO" -- an old ship -- just for one voyage. She had as many owners as she had years to her credit, and was sadly out of sailing gear. She had an old, patched up topsail bent for a mainsail. Had loaded in St. John, N.B., with deal, and carried a heavy deck load. While she was tied to the wharf she sat on her bottom, but as we cast off to go to sea, she fell over on her side, rail under water, not ballast enough under the cargo to keep her on her bottom. We were obliged to rig life lines fore and aft, to keep on deck. After the first gale of wind, which lasted three days, we had no more trouble with the heavy deck load, for the lashings gave way, and a few combers relieved us of our deck load, and the ship came up on her bottom.That was the only time in my sea life when those heavy combers were welcome aboard. It did the work in a short time, but was not pleasing to the insurance company.

We arrived safe in Liverpool and discharged the remainder of the cargo, and reloaded for St. John, N.B. There I left for home.

The next ship I took charge of was called the "ELIZA EVERLINE", and owned by John A. Hall, of Boston. I was recommended by A.C. Robbins, the owner of the "BESSIE CROSBY", to take her to the Baltic and sell her. Our port of destination was Stockholm, Sweden, where I was to advertise her for sale and commence unloading. Soon after the cargo was delivered I received an offer for the ship and had little trouble in closing the bargain, which was a fair price.

Then I was stricken with a serious attack of homesickness, and trains and boats could not go fast enough for me.

The last ship I was Captain of was the largest and most valuable I had had command of -- the Bark "BELVIDERE", owned by Mr. Shubel Dimmock, of Windsor, Nova Scotia. Her former Captain was my brother, R.P. Trefry, and he was about to start on a voyage to Belfast, Ireland, and I was to go over with him and take charge at Queenstown of another ship which would soon arrive there. I stayed with my brother while in port waiting the arrival of the ship I was supposed to take command of, but as I was about to leave, he was taken ill -- had a stroke of paralysis -- so I cancelled my engagement and took charge of his ship, and brought her home, after arranging it all with his owners. My brother recommended me to his owners. and they asked me to take charge of her, for my brother never went to sea again, nor ever fully recovered from that stroke, though he lived some years after.

I had command of the "BELVIDERE" about three years. Of course every Captain brags about his ship being the fastest sailer. I remember loading with lumber in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for Liverpool, England, when another ship was loading for the same port , at the same time, and with the same cargo, for the same party. The Captain of the other ship was boasting about his fast sailing ship, and what a driver he was in carrying sail to the limit, which gave the ship chandler we were dealing with the impression that the "FLYING DUTCHMAN" had come to life. As it happened, we were both loaded at the same time. He sailed one day and we sailed the next, and the "BELVIDERE" arrived three days ahead of him. But what pleased me most was that while we were in port I received a nice letter from the owner s son, who was at that time at school in Halifax. He said that he met the ship chandler, who told him about the two ships sailing about the same time, bound for the same port, and wondering which would arrive first. My owner's son bet twenty dollars on his father's ship. So he was surely pleased, as well as myself. We had made the passage in 18 days. I had no idea a race was on, and would not have expected to win, for after we got out the harbor my Mate took very ill, and I had to send him ashore, and as it was not safe to remain outside the harbor long enough to send for another I put to sea for the safety of the ship and cargo, which was most unpleasant for me, for I had to take his place and my own as well.

While in charge of that ship I made the quickest passage of my life, and the longest one. That long passage was about the year 1883, as near as I can remember -- the hardest year ever reported in my life and the greatest number of vessels lost. I was two months on that passage. Many ships put back dismasted, and many were never heard from. We sighted two ships bottom up within six miles, and never a day but we saw parts of the woodwork of ships floating about us. For thirty days we encountered the most severe gales and heavy seas of my experience.

In those days steamships were not plentiful, but the few that crossed the Atlantic bound westward had long passages of twenty-eight and thirty days, and with many shipwrecked crews they had taken off disabled ships. With all the danger and slow progress, never did the thought come to me to put back as many did, and about a week before I arrived my wife saw a report in the paper that the "BELVIDERE"  was no doubt numbered with the lost. Later the news flashed to my brother from a lighthouse that a ship was sighted beating in -- which they thought was the "BELVIDERE" . A boat was sent off to make sure, and at midnight my wife received a wire that we had "arrived -- all well".

When I arrived at my brother's home in Bridgewater, I knew by their greeting that they had given me up for lost. They had been reading of the great loss of life and shipping -- which I knew nothing definite about. But that wonderful reception I shall never forget, nor the greeting of my own dear ones next day.

As Spring advanced, the winter and it's dangers that we had passed through were soon forgotten and my wife came to go with me for the next voyage, which was a wonderful remedy for homesickness, for the cabin soon took on the appearance of a home again with her there.

I loved my home, but all the best part of my life I was deprived of the love of my children at that interesting age when they are learning to walk and to talk. I have tried to make the ship like home for them, when they were with me, but the best I could do was a poor substitute, for home cannot be built on a sailing ship that must depend on the winds for progress, and nothing but the sea and sky to see.

There is much more of my "life on the ocean wave" that I might tell, though it may not seem as interesting to others as it is to me now as I live it over in my thoughts at the age of eighty-three. I find it a pleasant memory to recall in the quiet hours of the evening of my life.

In closing my story there is one more thing that is very clear in my memory; leaving Liverpool, England, bound for Philadelphia my wife and youngest daughter, about two or three years old were with me. It was in the winter time and we encountered many heavy gales, but our good ship, properly handled, gave us but little anxiety through the passage, and as we were about nearing the land and expected in a few hours to come to anchor at the Delaware Breakwater suddenly came up a very thick snow storm, which made dangerous to try to enter the harbor, and was obliged to put the ship about, heading off shore we carried on sale heavy in order to get off shore to give us sea room, in case of a gale on shore, but that night the wind increased to a very heavy gale from the northeast and the sea running high. Nothing more could be done but drift. Later on we commenced sounding the depth of water, being less every sound. I had my chart on the cabin floor, on account of the rolling of the ship. I was up and down to my chart every time we sounded. At last we only got twenty-five fathoms. It was near midnight. At last I told my wife that unless the wind changed inside of one hour there was no hope for us. She said "I noticed you were very anxious all night."  She went into the after cabin where our little daughter was sleeping peacefully, free from care of any danger. I then went on deck. The men were throwing the lead often. When I got the depth of water I went again to my chart. While I was figuring on my chart the Mate shouted "Captain, the ship is all aback." I sprang to my feet and shouted "Call all hands. Square the main yard."  I found that the wind had shifted to the westward off shore. It was quite a little time before I could leave the deck, getting the yard trimmed and sufficient sails set, to go below to tell my wife that all the excitement she did not know about was a shift of wind in our favor. She really thought it was the end of this life. It was after midnight the wind shifted, and towards morning the sky began to clear, and at daylight the face of the sky appeared to say "Be not afraid. I am with you".

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THE       END

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