A tale of five mariners bold or the log book of the Hattie B. by "Bertie Lambkins"
Philadelphia: July 15-30, 1894. Pocket diary 3½" x 6", 73 pages written in ink in a neat hand; 2 small pen & ink drawings at the beginning and the end of the journal; leather cover with some wear at extremities but the binding is sound. Together with 7 cabinet-size photographs, each identified on the verso: George B. Taylor, Walter E. Terry, John E. Latta (2), Harrison W. Latta, and Theodore A. Mehl (2). Recounting the adventures of five young men from Philadelphia who formed a club called the "Turk's Club" and who set off on an adventure along the New England coast aboard the sloop Hattie B. out of New York. The names of the five as listed on page one are: Archibald Ferguson Reddie, Frederick Howard Mehl, Theodore Ashmead Mehl, John Ewing Latta, and Heberton Lee Williams. They were all born between 1868 and 1870, making them in their late twenties at the time of the cruise. They were from upper middle-class families and included coal and lumber dealers (the Mehl brothers), a merchant tailor, and Reddie, at the time an "artist" but later the head of the Public Speaking Department of the University of Oregon. Heberton Lee Williams was to achieve future fame as the designer of the Campbell's soup can label. Campbell introduced its highly recognized red-and-white label in 1898. According to corporate lore, the company's treasurer at the time, Heberton L. Williams, was inspired to drop the then black-and-orange labels in favor of the colors of Cornell University's football uniform after attending a Thanksgiving Day game between Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia (see: "Campbell Collecting Pieces From Its Past For A New Museum," by Charles V. Zehren, Inquirer Staff Writer. May 26, 1987). The journal (not actually a log) is humorously written and opens with "On the eventful fourteenth of July 1894, there was seen at the Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, four youths of sportive mien, surrounded by interested friends and a stack of luggage, their faces pictures of happy contentment, due to the throwing aside of all cares and the possession of opulent pocketbooks ... Leaving Philadela (sic) on the Limited express played whist enroute, arriving in New York, chased across the town to East River and boarded the steamer Manhattan of the Mains Steamship Co for Cottage City... "After a hearty dinner we wound our way to the wharf and were delighted to find that the celebrated sloop Hattie B had just arrived. Met the captain, a typical yankee skipper with a curious dialect peculiar to the natives ... The first procedure on board the sloop soon as she was under way was to make ourselves look as tough as possible in this the success was astounding ... Went ashore and laid in a stock of provisions, then took an oar apiece and pulled for the sloop, found her anchored in Little Harbor, Woods Hole, with everything in readiness for the night and Capt Carney at his post almost starved no doubt, after shipping the stores we proceeded to get supper under discouraging circumstances, everything was new the boat the store and the cook. Theodore assumed charge of the culinary department, the fire goes out, and the water refuses to boil but after two hours of effort supper was announced ... The dory drifted quite far out in the bay without our knowledge until we noticed a fog coming up--with an effort reached the sloop just in time to escape it. The spectacle of the gang turning in for the night was amusing, such an innovation, all slept in our tough clothes and sweaters. Fred in the cabin, Theo and Arch on the deck under the awning with cushion for a mattress and a down quilt for covering..." The group visited Boston, New Bedford, points around Cape Cod including Hyannis Port, Vineyard Haven, then down to Rhode Island; Block Island and Newport. "The entrance to Newport was superb a harbor could scarcely be more picturesque. Arrived in port at 3:15 PM and anchored to a wharf, the cook struck tonight so we donned our full dress uniforms and went ashore early to satisfy our curiosity and greedy appetites ... Later we ventured to inquire the price of that meal-$6.00 a piece, Holy Smoke! but one must put on style at Newport ... The Turks flag on our sail seems to attract considerable attention, it looks either like a private flag or some ensign. Tis amusing to watch the officers on board some of the palatial yachts in the harbor trying to make out the flag apparently. Owing to the suspicious character of our flag we always arm ourselves to the teeth at night when tied to a wharf for fear of river pirates and other vagabonds. Theo sleeps with his bowie knife under him but judging from the difficulty in rousing him to build the fire in the mornings it is doubtful an intruder could clear the deck without disturbing Theo. Bertie has a trusty revolver at hand but should purchase a barn float down the stream and it became necessary ... the chances are the bullet would go right over the barn with the very best intentions..." The voyage ended up with stops in New Jersey and then back into New York via steamship. Item #54548
Price: $700.00
