(Nautical) Phillips, Joseph W. An ALS written from Valparaiso, Chile on May 17, 1849 on Phillip's way to San Francisco.

"AT 1 O'CLOCK ON THE MORNING OF THE 15TH OF JANUARY 1849 WITH A STRONG NORTH WESTER AND AN UNCLOUDED SKY WE TOOK OUR DEPARTURE FROM THE DELAWARE BREAK WATER AT 12 O'CLOCK THE CAPE HENLOPEN LIGHT HOUSE WAS DUE WEST 12 MILES."

(Nautical) Phillips, Joseph W. An ALS written from Valparaiso, Chile on May 17, 1849 on Phillip's way to San Francisco. Phillips had left from Philadelphia and the letter records his experiences at sea between January 15th, 1849 and the time this letter was written.

Letter in full:

Valpariso – May 17th 1849

Dear Father

We arrived here yesterday after long & tedious passage of more than 4 mos and am happy to say in good health and spirits having met with no accidents worth mentioning. The excitement here is very great the gold fever saying to the same extent as in the United States; there could be had any amount of freight at 25 dollars per ton. We take from this place 3 first & 5 second cabin passengers, also 15 tons grain making 1290.00 Dolls recd at this port for freight & passengers. I suppose Eafe and Dan are anxious to try there fortune in california and I am sorry they did not accompany me; but it is best they should wait until my arrival at San Francisco and then I will be able to give you an account of the state of the country and the prospects for business, I will now endeavor to give you an account of the voyage up to this place. At 1 o’clock on the morning of the 15th January 1849 with a strong north wester and an unclouded sky we took our departure from the Delaware break water and at 12 o’clock the Cape Henlopen light house was due west 12 miles. And as I stood on deck watching the few stretches of coast still looming here and there in the distance I keenly felt the reality of my departure and could not but remember that I was separating myself from all the social and intellectual enjoyments of life. For more than a fortnight we suffered much from seasickness, during that time had constant squally weather from NE accompanied with rain snow and hail, the little brig was close hauled upon the wind the heavy head sea, beating against her blows and washing over the whole forward part of the vessel; while we poor mortals confined to the cabin and being unused to the constant rocking of the vessel were so knocked about that our heads seemed ready to drop from our shoulders. We fell in with the NE trade wind Feby 6th, and as the weather was clear and all pretty much over their sea sickness, things began to appear bright and cheerful. I had now got my sea legs on could walk the deck with a firm step, the smooth water and mild sky to which we were rapidly transported soon caused us to forget all the discomfort and weariness of the past. We continued running before the NE trades until we were in 5 north latitude when we were _______. Here in the tropic we lag with the sun nearly over out heads and scarcely wind enough to keep the vessels head in the right course. This certainly was not a very animating life; still what with fishing for dolphins and bonetas, watching anxiously for wind which sometimes came in the shape of cats-paws time slipped along. After being becalmed for more than a week and getting well scorched; we were once more favored with a good breeze and were not sorry to be moving. We crossed the equator sunday 25th Feby in Long 21.55 and in a few days we fell in with the SE trades, nothing now occurred to disturb the monotony of our lives until march 7 when in Latitude 20:31 & Lon 33.50 a sail was discovered on the Lee-bow all eyes were strained to catch a view of the vessel as we gradually neared her. She proved to be the ship Trescott of mistic, bound for San Francisco, We continued in company about 24 hours and frequently so near each other that we had no difficulty in conversing with her passengers, which were mostly young men of the true Yankee breed. As we sailed rather better than the Trescott, we gradually hauled ahead of here and by the 9th she was entirely out of sight. On the morning of the 3d day after leaving the Trescott a sail was discovered on the lee bow and we bore away for her, hoping it to be a vessel bound to some port in the United States, whereby we could forward letters to our friends but we were sadly disappointed for she turned out to be a French brig bound to marseilles next day march 13th had heavy gales from SE saw a sail to windward bearing down towards us it proved to be an English man of war bound to Rio. I never beheld a more sublime spectacle than she presented as she rode gracefully and triumphantly through all the contortions of the storm dashing beds of snowy foam far around and leaving a broad wake behind. Great quantities of sea weeds floating in the water and numbers of Albatross haglets and cape pigeons, which were constantly flying about the vessel, proclaimed an approach to the coast of Patagonia our course not lay towards Port Desire where we intended stopping for water, but we were constantly beset with contrary winds and consequently our progress was slow and tedious, March 20, when in Lat 41.31 and Lon 51.41 we encountered a severe gale from the W which continued blowing with great violence until the 25th during the gale had much rain & hail and for the first time since leaving Phil’a lay low to under close reefe main top sail. Owing to the westerly winds which prevailed and retarded our approach to Port Desire the captain concluded to continue our journey with out stopping; April 3d at daylight saw the island of Staten Land on the Starboard bow, a desolate looking spot with its high overhanging mountains bare broken and just with rocks and ice. We lay to under shelter of the island for 3 days waiting for a favorable wind to begin our passage round the horn April 7th resolve to wait no longer, and with south west wind (which was any thing but favorable) continued our journey. sunday. Apl 8 this day commenced clear and ended with hail and snow, saw two sail a brig on our carboard beam and a ship supposed to be the Trescott both steering our course. April 9 sun was clear wind from NE until 8 o’clock P.M. when it changed to SW and increased to a violent storm. The hail & sleet seeming almost to pin the poor sailors down to the rigging sea running very high lay to under close reefe top sails 10th. During a part of this day we were hove to but at 2 oclock PM it moderated and the wind came out at north, we now continued on our course, all sail set except the top gallent sails and at sun set could see Cape Horn on the starboard bow and had every prospect of a speedy passage round. April 11th at 5 o’clock this morning it commenced storming from Nward before the sails could be taken in it increased to a perfect hurricane the passengers were called out to assist and on hurrying upon deck I saw a true specimen of Cape Horn rain, hail, snow, & sleet were driven with all fury against us, the force of the wind was greater than I had ever seen it before and there was no such thing as turning a face to windward. The little brig was scudding under bare poles at the rate of 15 miles an hour and it was as much as two men at the helm could do to manage her. As no sail could stand the force of the wind, we were obliged to lash canvass in the shrouds, by which means we succeeded in laying her to on the starboard tack. Previous canvass in the shrouds we attempted to bring her to under mainstay sail, but before it was half way up the stay it was blown all to pieces and nothing left but the bolt rope. All this time the sea was rolling in immense surges and white with foam and since we had hove-to our brig rolled so as almost to send here yard arms under water and drifted off bodily to leeward. At 4 o’clock PM it began to moderate and in a few hours the storm past away and we had a beautiful moonlight night, but here was an end to our fine prospects for during the storm we were driven more than 70 miles to the south east of the horn. April 12th and 13th clear had a good run to the westwards, which brought us within sight of the Cape but it seemed it was not done with us yet, for on the 14th a violent storm arose from SWard we were once more driven to the eastward, but we had the consolation to know that we were not the only ones for we saw a ship & brig in the same predicament. 15th This was a bright clear day with a fine breeze from the north saw a great number of white porpoises and several whales, there were also thousands of Cape pigeons, albatross and haglets constantly flying about the vessel collecting in groups in the water. I caught an albatrofs with a baited hook which I floated astern upon a shingle it measured from point to point of the wings when extended eleven feet.

16th. Today had rain and hail with a good wind from SE and by 6 Oclock P.M. were 30 miles west of the cape. But we had several hundred miles of westing to make and beset as we with contrary winds and contending with the mighty elements we did not reach the Lat 50 & 79 until the 27th when we considered ourselves safe round the horn. Our course now lay north and we hoped in a few days to be in fine weather but we were much mistaken for we had constant head winds with frequent rain squalls and were obliged to beat the whole way to this place. We found 16 American vessels in port from the US and bound for San Francisco. With love to all the family and friends I remain your dutiful and affectionate son

Joseph W. Phellips.

P.S. Alfred is well and in good spirits. He has gained about 15 lbs in weight. My gain is 12 lbs. We leave here on the 22nd it is quite likely you will receive a letter dated San Francisco about a month after the reception of this.

The ship TRESCOTT, which Phellips mentioned was from Mystic. Built at Medford, Massachusetts, 1825. 341 43/95 tons: 111′ 6″ x 26′ x 13′. Two decks, three masts, square stern, billet head. Previously registered at New York, New York, no. 149, date not given, but probably 1845. Registered, Stonington, no. 17, August 25, 1845.

Home port, Mystic. Re-registered, Stonington, no. 3, January 23, 1849.

One small tear to pp 5-6, partial losses to several words, 1 bifolium and 1 leaf sewn together, very legible, overall in vg cond.

Relevant sources: Mystic Seaport Museum.