Ann West • 28 november 1831

• Ann West (1801/2-1842) was een Britse huismoeder die in 1831 met haar gezin naar de Verenigde Staten emigreerde. Ze hield een dagboek bij over de bootreis. Hieronder een fragment over een storm.

28th
An alarming night. Most tremendous gale from the west. Feared the children would roll out of bed. Thomas put two of them to me, and went to the others. Mrs. Blanchard fell out of her berth, and Mr. Manchester fell on the table, and broke it to pieces, and hurt himself so much he is not able to be on deck. All laid except myself. Have been paring some potatoes in hopes of fire by and by, to cook them. We dare not eat, ourselves, nor give the dear children what they want , for fear we should be much longer, and have none. For the winds and waves are continually against us. When it is calm, the wind, what little there is, is fair – as soon as it changes ahead, it blows hard. But thank God we are able to bear up with tolerable spirits at present. But we live in hopes of better days. No fire. A little gruel at the cooks. It is pitiful to hear the children asking for dinner, and we can give them none. What we have, cannot be cooked. At three o’clock this afternoon a most alarming wave rushed on deck. The water came in Christopher’s berth. Knocked the Captain down, and drove him such a distance that we thought he was gone overboard. Bruised his leg. He dares not spare the time to have it bathed. The chief mate being unable to come on deck. One man was driven with such violence, that forced him in the long boat. He clung to a rope, to save himself from a watery grave. The gale continued, fit to rip everything to atoms. But thank God, all safe at present. All the crew are becoming much worn out, continually pulling and hauling ropes night and day. Not enough to eat, and nothing to drink.

29th
We went to bed at six. The wind abated at nine. Had a tolerable night. Morning calm. Children quite merry, talking of what they "shall have when they get to New York." Amelia says "if she does not have some roast goose, and apples, she shall come back again." Every day when we cook at all, we cut about one quarter of a pound of ham, in small bits, and boil with potatoes. We made this morn, enough for two days, for fear we may not be able to cook tomorrow, but Bob robbed us of half. We had very little for breakfast. Only two meals a day.