Books by "William Caius Crutchley"
3 books found
In "My Life at Sea (1863-1894)," William Caius Crutchley presents a captivating memoir that chronicles his adventures and observations as a mariner during a transformative period in naval history. Through vivid prose and keenly observed details, Crutchley captures the essence of maritime life, offering insights into the culture and challenges faced by sailors of the late 19th century. His narrative weaves personal anecdotes with broader reflections on societal changes, maritime technology, and the geopolitical climate of his time, making the work a rich tapestry of historical context and personal experience. William Caius Crutchley, born into a maritime family, was deeply influenced by the seafaring traditions that enveloped him from a young age. His extensive travels across the globe, alongside his encounters with diverse cultures, profoundly shaped his worldview and literary voice. Crutchley'Äôs experiences not only highlight the realities of naval life but also reflect his philosophical musings on adventure and the human spirit in the face of adversity. Readers are invited to traverse the choppy waters of Crutchley'Äôs life, engaging with a narrative that is both enlightening and entertaining. This memoir is essential for those fascinated by maritime literature, as well as anyone seeking to understand the poignant connection between life at sea and the broader currents of history.
My good sailor friend Captain Crutchley has asked me to write a foreword to his autobiography. It is a pleasure to comply. The author began his life at sea in sailing-ships, in the age of the Black Ball liners, the Baltimore clipper-ships, and those perfect specimens of naval architecture built in Aberdeen for the China tea trade. Captain Crutchley tells of the hardships of the sea. He gives stirring descriptions of the performances of the ships in which he sailed. His narrative may perhaps be briefly supplemented. Sir George Holmes, in his book on ancient and modern ships, quotes many examples of record passages. In 1851, the Nightingale, in a race from Shanghai to Deal, ran on one occasion 336 knots in twenty-four hours. In the same year the Flying Cloud, in a voyage from New York to San Francisco, ran 427 knots in one day. The Thermopylæ, 886 tons register, built by Messrs. Steel, of Greenock, sailed 354 knots in twenty-four hours. The Aberdeen clippers of the 'sixties did marvellous work. Under sail, the Ariel, Taeping and Serica started together from Foochow on May 30, 1866. They met off the Lizard on September 6; and on the same day the Taeping arrived in the East India Dock at 9.45 p.m., and the Ariel at 10.15 p.m.-a difference of half-an-hour after racing for over three months on end.
My Life at Sea
by William Caius Crutchley
Early in the year 1863 there was brought into the little harbour of Margate a vessel called the Figaro of Narbonne, a small craft with a cargo of wine. She had got into trouble on one of the many outlying sandbanks which make the entrance to the Thames a problem of considerable difficulty for any vessel not thoroughly qualified to meet any emergency that may arise through wind or weather. What the precise cause of this accident was escapes my memory, but whatever its origin, it was instrumental in sending me to sea, for it brought me into close contact with a London merchant, Mr. Trapp, who was interested in her cargo and who had come down to supervise her repairs. This merchant was also a shipowner, and had been at sea during the French wars in the early part of the century. He was good enough to tell me many stories relating to privateering and the customs of the sea, to all of which I listened greedily, for I was born with the sound of the sea in my ears and from my earliest recollections had made up my mind that the sailorÕs life was the only one worth living. Unfortunately this view was not shared either by my father or my mother, both of whom had set their minds upon making me a civil engineer. My head master was of the same opinion as myself as regards my future, but we reached the same conclusion by somewhat different roads, as will be seen. I scarcely think I was tractable as a school-boy. I can distinctly remember that from the age of ten until I was fourteen I was always the Òawful example,Ó and my impression is that the cane was administered thrice daily with great regularity. At the age of fourteen there was a serious difference of opinion between the head master and myself; he suggested that my conduct in class was beyond his endurance, and I, considering his was also objectionable, expressed my view by launching a book at his head. When I turned to make my escape, there was no escape for me; I was headed off and cornered by masters lower down the room. And face downwards on a desk I both heard and felt the best arguments that can be used in such circumstances. When I got home, these arguments were only too palpable, and my indulgent parents brought my career at that school to a summary conclusion. Nevertheless, I bore the old boy no malice, for he was a good judge of a human boyÕs nature. When he asked me one day what I was going to be, I replied, ÒCivil engineer,Ó to which he retorted, ÒA soldier or a sailor is all they will ever make of you,Ó and it must be confessed that it was a fairly accurate forecast, though the prophecy was evidently not intended as a compliment to either army or navy. After that episode it seemed to dawn upon my mind that it was time to learn something, and I was put as a private pupil with a man whose memory I shall always respect (afterwards Leetham of Thanet House), for he had the great gift of raising his pupilÕs enthusiasm for the subject he was teaching. We used to start quite early in the morning, before breakfast, take our time in the middle of the day for recreation, and again tackle the work in the evening. It was in one of the mid-day recreations that, happening to walk down the lower pier, I met my old friend the shipowner. I soon made up my mind that I must go to sea, and realised that here was the instrument by which my desire could be accomplished. A steady siege was at once commenced.