CIRCA 1916 HANDWRITTEN DIARY MEMOIR 21 YEARS AT SEA PIRATES WHALER ESKIMOS RARE
Item History & Price
Up for auction is a fantastic diary, or memoir of a life at sea written by a Swedish American Peter Adolph Moore. Moore has one of the most remarkable life stories I have come across in sometime.This memoir was transcribed by Jennie Andrewetta Moore Lietz one of Moore’s daughters in 1916. I believe she must have translated (perhaps from Swedish) his letters, and diary from the 1840’s -1850’s. She than transcribed his material in this journal.
I estimate 100 handwritten do...uble sided pages bound in a red leather covered journal. She writes a dedication page to her father and mother and remaining family members on the second page. In addition this is a memoir of her mothers life and includes excerpts from her own life as a child. What you will receive is three lives of a family bound together as one in this fascinating journal.
In regard to Peter Moores ( Muir ) He states he was a sailor for 21 years before he finally settled down. He went to sea in 1840 over that time he traveled to almost all continents of the globe. He would learn to speak five languages, and become a whaler amongst other occupations. One of the most fascinating entries ( 10 double sided pages) takes place in 1857.
Moore signs up for a whaling expedition to the North Pole for two years with a Captain Parker. Parker was known as an “English Whaling Master “ based out of Hull England. While on this adventure Moore describes life aboard ship and at sea. He meets Eskimos ( Inuit ) natives writes about their domestic life, The Northern Lights, capturing whales, whale fishing, and Greenland.
He also does a stint in Spanish Navy describes surviving several severe storms, near shipwrecks, and sighting a large unidentified sea animal. This a sea monster yarn of sorts off the coast of Spain, but sounds like there may be some truth to his story. There is another tale of a made dash off the coast of Africa to escape “ Sea Pirates “ He also writes of time in Cuba during a major cholera outbreak on the island.
After retiring as a full time sailor He and his second wife emigrate to the United States , and than migrates across the Western United States to become a Reverend. He finally settled down in Washington State where he passed away at the age of 75 in 1894. This diary or memoir is so full of material that I have hardly scratched the surface. I am sure I have missed many details since I just skimmed through her entries regarding her mothers life, and entries about living in Washington State in the 1890's.
Diary entries: Keep in mind just excerpts from much longer entries. Any questions feel free to ask.
1840 - “The call of the Deep” - encounter with sea pirates off the coast of Africa.
In 1840 I went to sea. I hired out to Capt. Lundgrien of the Schooner "Cories?" sailing from Gefle Sweden and destined to Marseille France. From there we sailed to Rio De Janeiro Brazil South America we were there four months while we where near the Africa coast we saw a schooner coming after us, which we discovered were sea pirates we set all the sails we had got in readiness our four small cannons and some rusty old fashioned fire arms and part of the men with sabers but what were they compared to the Equipment the others had we were fortunate that darkness overtook is s we tacked with the wind and took another course and they lost sight of us in the dark . When morning dawned we saw no trace of them and we were glad.
1847- Sighting a large unidentified sea animal off the coast of Spain.
In 1847 I sailed with Capt. Akeuson as second mate from Lsefla to London with cargo of timber we were in London three months. We went from there to Newport England and loaded hard coal and from there to Marseilles where we were six weeks from there to Port Verdes France and loaded wine from there we set sail for New York. A stormy voyage under ? And Spanish coast. We had a calm one moonlight night we sighted a gigantic sea animal that appeared to be forty or fifty feet long as thick as the largest log. His speed appeared to be four miles an hour and the noise in the water sounded like a hail storm then he disappeared and we were glad.
1850 - Death of first wife
Was home the winter of 1849 and 1850 In February my wife died I mourned the loss of my wife so much that I decided to remain at home and give up the life of the sea, but the doctor declared I must sail and get my mind off my sorrow.
1857- Adventures in Greenland - whaling expedition to the North Pole with British Whaler Capt. Parker
In 1857 I sailed with Capt. Parker on the ship Isabella we left Hull October of the same year to discover the North Pole and explore and the capture whales to pay expenses. We enlisted in September to prepare ourselves for the two years trip.. We left Hull the middle of October all with good courage to plow the ice waves but when the farewells game to those who had wives and children and those who had lovers their curate failed and even I with a sigh to heaven once had a wife who gave me many dear farewell kisses but she now lies peacefully in a dark grave but her soul is in the heaven home. Many children asked their fathers when will they return they replied “ God knows my child”
We were a crew of ninety six men including the officers The commands were like those on warships and all in their places we were seven Swedes four Norwegians and twenty Englishmen and the rest from the North of Scotland. They were all experienced sailors on the Arctic Ocean.
Second Mate on deck
There was change of watch and only five mins to dress and get ready some had dreamed of their sweethearts some had swell heads and too late to dress for the change and some did not understand the commands and they were lashed on their backs. A Swede by the name of Thuriqueist was one o them that was lashed. He said in Swedish “ This certainly is delightful dreams “ this smarting on the back “ The officer answered in broken Scottish “ What you say ? What you say ? “ His answer was not very elegant the crew had been divided into two watches forty seven men to each watch. Doctor and Captain free.
The course is now set for Cape Farewell, Greenland we encountered a severe Northeaster snowstorm we had bought expensive clothing in Hull. We received two months wages in advance so that we might buy good clothes and high boots. There was one of the crew who had squandered his money instead of buying a rain jacket he bought a fiddle it was his turn in the look out mast to watch that we did not sail into anything or any other vessel the time was an hour for each man.Wave after wave broke over him and he was soaked and frozen. He cried Northeast storm have mercy on me! “ Have mercy on me !” One of the commanding officers heard this he went to the front of the ship and scolded him and said in broken Scottish “ serves you right “ serves you right “ take the fiddle and put her on your back “
Layover in Greenland for the winter
We continued our course North we met one iceberg after another and the cold increased more and more Between the twelfth and fifteenth of November we sighted Cape Farwell, Greenland's southern most point.We lay over here through the dark winter season we could do nothing but keep our guns harpoons and lances clean, We went ashore and had a good time with the Eskimo men and women. A part of the young people were half breeds Danish and Eskimo and spoke Danish so we Swedes and Norwegians understood them.
Their domestic Life- descriptions of Eskimo life
A part of the people live in snow covered homes clothed inside with bear and sealskin a little opening to enter.We had to creep in on our stomachs there were sometimes three and four families living in one snow house. There was an unbelievable stench others had houses that appeared like a pile of stones with the same kind of openings and furnishings as the others their fire place was made of a big flat stone cut out some they burned dried sea moss.
Their weapons were rifles, bows , and arrows, lances, and harpoons they were very skillful in using their harpoons their boats were made of skins long and narrow only room for one man with one oar with blade at both ends. They go out to capture whales with these small sealskin boats or “ Kayak” as they are called they have a harpoon with a fine lone or string and a large blown up fish bladder. When the harpoon is thrown into the whale, than they throw out the line and bladder and the whale can go where he pleases when the whale comes to the surface to get air, another one throws a harpoon the whale can go several days before it dies. The Eskimos dress is made of sealskin jacket, pants men and women dress nearly alike they are not a cleanly people.
Capturing Whales & surviving 11 days lost on the ice.
The first we sighted was an outside port form Hisco- it was on Palm Sunday. We were ordered out nine boats six men in each boat. The first boat set the harpoon in the whale after twenty minutes had elapsed another was set in it was to early in the spring and too much ice the whale dragged us our to sea father and father and we did not want to drop our prey. Finally there arose a storm from the Northeast and the ice drove us out into the wild sea and at last we had to cut the rope and leave the whale.
The storm and ice drove us further out and out of sight of land. What could be done! We had to commit ourselves to the hands of God. The Capt. and the crew had gone up a high mountain and with their field glasses in hand had sighted us. The Capt. wept. We were out in the stormy sea eleven days. We had only three days provisions we worked day and night dragging out boats on blocks of ice and hot ashore about twelve miles from our ship tired wet and hungry. We could not walk but crept the rest of the crew are out searching for us every day they finally found us on their sleighs we were sick along time, but we had a good Doctor on board the ship.
I estimate 100 handwritten do...uble sided pages bound in a red leather covered journal. She writes a dedication page to her father and mother and remaining family members on the second page. In addition this is a memoir of her mothers life and includes excerpts from her own life as a child. What you will receive is three lives of a family bound together as one in this fascinating journal.
In regard to Peter Moores ( Muir ) He states he was a sailor for 21 years before he finally settled down. He went to sea in 1840 over that time he traveled to almost all continents of the globe. He would learn to speak five languages, and become a whaler amongst other occupations. One of the most fascinating entries ( 10 double sided pages) takes place in 1857.
Moore signs up for a whaling expedition to the North Pole for two years with a Captain Parker. Parker was known as an “English Whaling Master “ based out of Hull England. While on this adventure Moore describes life aboard ship and at sea. He meets Eskimos ( Inuit ) natives writes about their domestic life, The Northern Lights, capturing whales, whale fishing, and Greenland.
He also does a stint in Spanish Navy describes surviving several severe storms, near shipwrecks, and sighting a large unidentified sea animal. This a sea monster yarn of sorts off the coast of Spain, but sounds like there may be some truth to his story. There is another tale of a made dash off the coast of Africa to escape “ Sea Pirates “ He also writes of time in Cuba during a major cholera outbreak on the island.
After retiring as a full time sailor He and his second wife emigrate to the United States , and than migrates across the Western United States to become a Reverend. He finally settled down in Washington State where he passed away at the age of 75 in 1894. This diary or memoir is so full of material that I have hardly scratched the surface. I am sure I have missed many details since I just skimmed through her entries regarding her mothers life, and entries about living in Washington State in the 1890's.
Diary entries: Keep in mind just excerpts from much longer entries. Any questions feel free to ask.
1840 - “The call of the Deep” - encounter with sea pirates off the coast of Africa.
In 1840 I went to sea. I hired out to Capt. Lundgrien of the Schooner "Cories?" sailing from Gefle Sweden and destined to Marseille France. From there we sailed to Rio De Janeiro Brazil South America we were there four months while we where near the Africa coast we saw a schooner coming after us, which we discovered were sea pirates we set all the sails we had got in readiness our four small cannons and some rusty old fashioned fire arms and part of the men with sabers but what were they compared to the Equipment the others had we were fortunate that darkness overtook is s we tacked with the wind and took another course and they lost sight of us in the dark . When morning dawned we saw no trace of them and we were glad.
1847- Sighting a large unidentified sea animal off the coast of Spain.
In 1847 I sailed with Capt. Akeuson as second mate from Lsefla to London with cargo of timber we were in London three months. We went from there to Newport England and loaded hard coal and from there to Marseilles where we were six weeks from there to Port Verdes France and loaded wine from there we set sail for New York. A stormy voyage under ? And Spanish coast. We had a calm one moonlight night we sighted a gigantic sea animal that appeared to be forty or fifty feet long as thick as the largest log. His speed appeared to be four miles an hour and the noise in the water sounded like a hail storm then he disappeared and we were glad.
1850 - Death of first wife
Was home the winter of 1849 and 1850 In February my wife died I mourned the loss of my wife so much that I decided to remain at home and give up the life of the sea, but the doctor declared I must sail and get my mind off my sorrow.
1857- Adventures in Greenland - whaling expedition to the North Pole with British Whaler Capt. Parker
In 1857 I sailed with Capt. Parker on the ship Isabella we left Hull October of the same year to discover the North Pole and explore and the capture whales to pay expenses. We enlisted in September to prepare ourselves for the two years trip.. We left Hull the middle of October all with good courage to plow the ice waves but when the farewells game to those who had wives and children and those who had lovers their curate failed and even I with a sigh to heaven once had a wife who gave me many dear farewell kisses but she now lies peacefully in a dark grave but her soul is in the heaven home. Many children asked their fathers when will they return they replied “ God knows my child”
We were a crew of ninety six men including the officers The commands were like those on warships and all in their places we were seven Swedes four Norwegians and twenty Englishmen and the rest from the North of Scotland. They were all experienced sailors on the Arctic Ocean.
Second Mate on deck
There was change of watch and only five mins to dress and get ready some had dreamed of their sweethearts some had swell heads and too late to dress for the change and some did not understand the commands and they were lashed on their backs. A Swede by the name of Thuriqueist was one o them that was lashed. He said in Swedish “ This certainly is delightful dreams “ this smarting on the back “ The officer answered in broken Scottish “ What you say ? What you say ? “ His answer was not very elegant the crew had been divided into two watches forty seven men to each watch. Doctor and Captain free.
The course is now set for Cape Farewell, Greenland we encountered a severe Northeaster snowstorm we had bought expensive clothing in Hull. We received two months wages in advance so that we might buy good clothes and high boots. There was one of the crew who had squandered his money instead of buying a rain jacket he bought a fiddle it was his turn in the look out mast to watch that we did not sail into anything or any other vessel the time was an hour for each man.Wave after wave broke over him and he was soaked and frozen. He cried Northeast storm have mercy on me! “ Have mercy on me !” One of the commanding officers heard this he went to the front of the ship and scolded him and said in broken Scottish “ serves you right “ serves you right “ take the fiddle and put her on your back “
Layover in Greenland for the winter
We continued our course North we met one iceberg after another and the cold increased more and more Between the twelfth and fifteenth of November we sighted Cape Farwell, Greenland's southern most point.We lay over here through the dark winter season we could do nothing but keep our guns harpoons and lances clean, We went ashore and had a good time with the Eskimo men and women. A part of the young people were half breeds Danish and Eskimo and spoke Danish so we Swedes and Norwegians understood them.
Their domestic Life- descriptions of Eskimo life
A part of the people live in snow covered homes clothed inside with bear and sealskin a little opening to enter.We had to creep in on our stomachs there were sometimes three and four families living in one snow house. There was an unbelievable stench others had houses that appeared like a pile of stones with the same kind of openings and furnishings as the others their fire place was made of a big flat stone cut out some they burned dried sea moss.
Their weapons were rifles, bows , and arrows, lances, and harpoons they were very skillful in using their harpoons their boats were made of skins long and narrow only room for one man with one oar with blade at both ends. They go out to capture whales with these small sealskin boats or “ Kayak” as they are called they have a harpoon with a fine lone or string and a large blown up fish bladder. When the harpoon is thrown into the whale, than they throw out the line and bladder and the whale can go where he pleases when the whale comes to the surface to get air, another one throws a harpoon the whale can go several days before it dies. The Eskimos dress is made of sealskin jacket, pants men and women dress nearly alike they are not a cleanly people.
Capturing Whales & surviving 11 days lost on the ice.
The first we sighted was an outside port form Hisco- it was on Palm Sunday. We were ordered out nine boats six men in each boat. The first boat set the harpoon in the whale after twenty minutes had elapsed another was set in it was to early in the spring and too much ice the whale dragged us our to sea father and father and we did not want to drop our prey. Finally there arose a storm from the Northeast and the ice drove us out into the wild sea and at last we had to cut the rope and leave the whale.
The storm and ice drove us further out and out of sight of land. What could be done! We had to commit ourselves to the hands of God. The Capt. and the crew had gone up a high mountain and with their field glasses in hand had sighted us. The Capt. wept. We were out in the stormy sea eleven days. We had only three days provisions we worked day and night dragging out boats on blocks of ice and hot ashore about twelve miles from our ship tired wet and hungry. We could not walk but crept the rest of the crew are out searching for us every day they finally found us on their sleighs we were sick along time, but we had a good Doctor on board the ship.
