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From Pools to New York in 1881
A 130-YEAR-old diary that charts the journey of a Hartlepool-built ship to the USA has been found in a charity shop.
Chris Weaving was handed the logbook by a relative who picked it up in a Help The Aged shop in Reading, Berkshire.
The journal was written in 1881 by a William Shirley Day who was setting out on a journey on the Elpis ship from West Hartlepool to New York in the USA.
The iron steam ship was built at the town's William Gray and Co shipyard in 1878 for Ropner and Company.
It was launched in 1879, but reported missing at sea in 1903.
Chris, a 56-year-old teacher and keen historian who lives in Reading, said the diary covers a journey from Hartlepool to New York and then overland to Texas.
The mother-of-two and grandmother-of-three said: "The diary itself is most interesting. It's a huge book and absolutely amazing.
"The writer describes beautifully a trip from West Hartlepool to New York and travels on to Texas.
"I have no idea what he is going to New York for. But it recounts about a month in his life including a couple of weeks at sea and then a few weeks by rail to Texas."
The starts of the diary reads: "October 1st, 1881. Left West Hartlepool at 8.30am for New York in the 'Elpis'. Weather fine – sea calm – wind S – rather foggy.
"Steamed very slowly for two hours on account of the fog. Saw several sail and steam ships.
"No one ill so far and after dinner turned in for 1 hours – dozed off occasionally.
"Thought of home and lazily ruminated on the near future. Went on the bridge and saw, accompanied by a melodious 'Home Sweet Home', 'Goodbye "Sweetheart' and 'The Anchor's Weighed', the beautiful night. Sea calm, moon and stars shining – North Star just over the foremast – wind low from NW.
"Turned in at 9.45 and slept pretty well. Propeller's noise rather unpleasant – but did very well altogether."
The diary also describes travellers experiencing sea-sickness, which William overcame with a drink of brandy, and a tale of him beating the ship's captain at two games of draughts to win one shilling in 40 minutes.
William was born in Water Orton, in Birmingham, on July 15, 1858, and died in Bournemouth in 1893. But it is not clear how he came to travel from Hartlepool.
Chris, who is trying to complete William's family history, is keen to return the diary to his family.
If anyone can help Chris return the diary, or knows any more information about the book or the journey, they can email christine.weaving@btinternet.com.
Do you have a picture of the Elpis? Can you shed any more light on the ship, or the history of the vessel? Contact the Mail newsdesk on (01429) 239381 or email mail.news@northeast-press.co.uk
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Weather for Hartlepool
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
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Cloudy
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