Letter from
John Alexander Hutcheson Fraser (1876-1939) aboard the "Stronsa".

Stronsa

Lat. 45 S, Long 148 E

13 May 92 ended 24 May 92

My Dearest Mother,

As you will see by the latitude and longitude, we are south of Tasmania. We have made a very fine passage except the last three weeks when we have had continuous gales. I hope all are quite well at home. Has Andrew Ross arrived home? Had Katie come home from Switzerland. You have had all the news so far as Friday 12th Feb., 8 am at which time the last pilot left; bought some fish off Pilot boat. 15th Wind rising fore topgallant sail split. 16th Saw some porpoises. 18th Rough under 3 lower topsails and fore topmast stay sail. 24th Sighted Norwegian barque and signalled her. 25th Very rough sea broke into berth chests running about under two lower topsails and fore top mast stay sail. Two hens washed overboard. 27th Walker has got over sea sickness and so has Marshall. Neither Balintine nor I have been the least sea sick; not even squeamish. Fine clam day; cleaned berth out for first time; it was very dirty. March 9th Sighted Swedish barque bound for Algoa Bay. Got N.E. trades. 11th Saw flying fish. Crossed line about 25 W. 14th Got S.E. trades; potatoes were stopped. Spoke French mail boat at 7.30 am. 24th Got up heavy weather sails. 29th Saw albatross and Molly hawks. April 1 caught an albatross and let it go again. Saw some stormy petrels. 5th Heavy rain and dew. 7th Main royal split at about 5.0 pm. 8th Had a few songs in the second dog watch. Sunday 10th Porridge and boiled mutton for breakfast; fresh soup for dinner.

Monday 11 Lat 40 S Long 13 E. Took in royals at 4 am. Main top gallant carried away; under 3 lower topsails and inner jib. 15 th Got porridge and a hot cross bun for breakfast; fresh meat for dinner; had a holiday. 17 Took in the royals at 7.30 pm. Sea gone down; set royals; lovely day. 21 Got porridge for last time. 22nd Saw cape pigeons. 23 Taken in royals, outer jib and mizzen top gallants. Fore top gallants carried away. Glass going down fast; under topsails and inner jib, fore and mizzen topmast staysails. Wind rising. 25 Very rough; under lower topsails and fore course; water up to the ankles in the berth. 26 Still very rough; water in berth. 27th Heavy swell on water in berth. 28 Wind gone down; steering SE by S½S. Got tin of mutton from captain. Wind rising. 29 Hove to under fore and main lower topsails; sea very high; lot f water in berth. 30th Hove to under main and lower topsail. At 3.30 pm had to throw overboard two rain water tanks; lot of water in berth. May 1st Great deal of water in berth. Lat 44 S, Long 85 E. 2nd Rough all day; water in berth. 3rd. Still rough; water in berth; under topsails. 4th Got tin of fresh meat from captain; water in berth. 5th Fine; dried out berth; first time dry for a long time. Lat 44 S, Long 109 E. 6th Fine; under all sail; Lat 44 S, Long 112 E. Going 11 knots at 6 pm. 7th Came on to blow this morning; shipped a sea in berth. Fore and main upper topsails carried away and mizzen lower topsail. Blowing hard this morning. Fore sail, fore lower and main lower topsails set; lots of water in berth; Long 128 E, Lat 45 S. 9th Sea going down; water still in berth. 10th Wind rising; water in berth; Long 132-49 E. 11th Rough; blowing a gale; under 3 lower topsails and fore sail; lot of water in berth. Long 138 E. 12th Heavy hail shower; water in berth. Long 144 E. 13th Fine day; berth fairly dry for a wonder; finished running the (something left out) begun to run north.

[When you see "water in berth" in my log, you must understand that my chest is lashed down to the deck well. To show you how much water there was in the berth, when the ship rolled the water would splash up the side of my chest to within 2 inches of the key hole. I had very often to wear soaking wet things. That kind of weather is the weather that wears out oilskins and seaboots and it was so cold sometimes, that the ropes were frozen. I am going to buy 3 flannel shirts and a pair of Bluchers (that is a pair of boots). Hannah saw them in Paisley's; they will cost 9/- or 10/-. I am going to get 2 dozen things; that includes drawers, singlets, shirts etc. The cost of washings like all colonial things are very dear; washing costs 3/- a dozen so it will cost me 6/- and then we will be in 5 weeks; that means one more dozen]

14th Started to scrub ship and get her ready for port. 15th Lat 40-56 S, Long 152-2 E at noon today; under a plain sail; splendid day; lovely sunset; our long night on deck, namely from 8 to 12 and from 4 to 8 on deck, very calm; going about ½ knot a hour. [When are you going to Dalnashean? Remember me to the yachtsmen. Has Charlie Macdonald passed 2nd mate yet? Who have they got for mate on the yacht this year? I hope they are all quite well at Appin. I hope Grannie and Grandpapa are quite well. How are Fraser and Alister Macgregor? Tell them that I asked for them] 16th Very fine day; Lat 40-42 S Long 152-8 E. 17th Very heavy lightning last night; came on to blow about midnight; water in berth; course N by W. 19th Under 3 lower topsails and fore sail. New maintopmast stay sail blew to ribbons. Tremendous sea came on board which washed away the meat safe and smashed it to atoms; bent the poop rail; carried away the hen house and bridge; stove in port boat and moved the starboard life boat; wet all our bunks. Lat 37 S, Long 152 E. Great deal of water in berth. 19th Sighted land at 6.30 am this morning; 97 days since we saw the last land, namely Land's End; cleaned berth out.

20 Entered Sydney Heads today; anchored in Athol bight to discharge powder; lovely day. 21Discharged powder this morning ; towed up one of the creeks and made fast to the wharf at 1.30 pm; went ashore that night. Got your letter and enclosures; got a letter from Han. We sail from here to "Frisco" then home to Liverpool. Will be in England, it is expected by the end of April or May next year. Tomorrow night I am going ashore to buy a pair of blucher boots and 3 flannel shirts and I am sending my washing of 24 things. I hope you will get the newspaper I sent giving the account of the "Stronsa". The captain is a short thick set man; sea captain of the old style; quite uneducated; the mate is a rough middle class Irishman; the 2nd mate is a gentleman's son; not bad when he is cool but very hot tempered. Sydney is a very dear place for some things and cheap for others. I will write in a week or two when I get a letter from you. Thanks very much for your letters. Excuse pencil but it was begun at sea and ink is not safe there.

I remain your ever loving son

Ian Fraser