Book Snippets!

alexachipman · 11-02-2009

Post teasers of bits you worked on that day. I'll start with my ultra boring history NaNoWriMo project:

Boston was one of the main areas for post-colonial trade, and Joseph Barrell was among the wealthiest merchants in the fledgling nation. He had many projects, including “merchant ships…fishing craft, whalers, and coasters” (Scofield 38). Inspired by Captain Cook’s voyage, Barrell had gotten it into his head to send an expedition to China. Without the internet and easy ways to purchase articles from around the world, the colonies had to be content with what came into their ports. This meant that tea, silks and other exotic goods were in great demand. The same was true of China, for they were enamoured of sea otter furs from the Northwest Coast of what later became the United States.

alexachipman · 11-06-2009

Unfortunately, relations on the flagship were still strained, and when Captain Gray and Mr. Coolidge the first mate went for what should have been a calm dinner on the other ship, it did not end well. The captain of Columbia, Kendrick, ordered his men aft, and sent Robert Haswell to see to it. Gray must have inwardly groaned when sounds came of a scuffle and blows being struck. He and Coolidge no doubt went with the other officers to see what the matter was and found a sailor swearing and covered with blood, an equally irate nineteen-year-old Haswell and first mate Ingraham shouting them both down. As is usual in such situations, everyone had a different story. The sailor, John Liscomb, claimed the young officer had dragged him by the collar, then punched him for no reason. Haswell said that Liscomb had refused to obey orders and used such terrible language that there was no choice but to strike him. The first mate of Columbia was moved by the poor sailor who was bleeding and took sides against the second mate. In the heat of the moment, Kendrick used all the foul language at his command to berate Haswell, who described it as, “language to horrid to be repeated,” (Voyages 12) and began landing angry blows with his fist on the young man, who grabbed the captain’s arm and forced him to stop. Kendrick stepped aside and bellowed that if he ever saw Haswell on the quarter deck again he’d blow his brains out with a pistol. Turning to the horrified officers present, the captain shouted that if anyone saw Haswell disobeying the order they were to knock him over the head with a handspike. The young officer was sent to clear out his cabin and a bewildered Mr. Howe was told to occupy it instead. Haswell stormed off to pack his baggage and no doubt took time to enter some choice complaints about Kendrick in his journal. Shocked Captain Gray and Coolidge returned to the Lady, no doubt glad their own sloop was better ordered than the flagship and grateful for some peace and quiet.