1st day on board – 27th September 1878

“We started from the Blackwall pier

(East India Docks) at 1.30pm & after a short farewell & a pleasant little trip we arrived at Gravesend at 3.45 where we stopped for the night. Arthur & I went on shore for a couple of hours to see his father off & to take our last glass of bitter & after a very good tea & supper (combined) prepared by the cook we all turned in at 11.15 thus bringing our first day on board to a close.

During the night

we managed to catch a few cockroaches

of which there  seem to be any quantity. As yet there are no signs of seasickness”

first day on board hand written diary entry

Above is an image of A.Whelen’s hand writing telling of the cockroaches. 

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