Life of George Mansbridge
Born at Bantry, Bantry Bay Ireland
on the 21st February 1849
This text is as written by him except for artificial breaks so the reader can catch breath. (KE 2020)
The time he left his birth place he cannot tell: but at eight he was working in the White Star Sail and rigging loft, at the age of 12 he was bound apprentice on board the Full rigg Ship T.E. Lemon of Liverpool where he made Several Voyages to different parts of the world, at the age of 17 year he had finished his apprenticeship and received his indenture, with a good recommendation for Seaman Ship ability. I remain still in the ship and was made boatswain and Sail Maker, which position I only made a voyage to Coquimbo S. lb. coast America, I was recommended to Captain Wigans as a good navigator and shipped with him on board the Barque Live Yankee bound to Pudget Sound. Port Madison, I now was about 18 years of age, on arriving at Port Madison the owner of the sawmill and likewise owner of the Live Yankee gave me charge of a Logging Steamer, about 50 tons, this Job I held for about six month when I had to leave in a hurry for giving an Indina [sic] a bottle of wiskey [sic] which was against the Laws of the U.S. I managed to get to Sanfrancisco [sic] and ship on the Schooner Fayaway as Second Mate bound on a sealing hunting we arrive of Robin Island Okotsk Sea and what with bribing the Russian Soldiers we made a good voyage, any way after arriving back at Sanfrancisco [sic], we agreed to try it again and left on December 27th 1868.
I was now nearly 19 year of age. On our arriving of Robin Island again we found the Russian Soldier had left, but we had arrived too early for the Seals to have haul up so we went away on a cruise to another Island, but on returning back to Robin Island we found a Schooner belonging to the New Alaska Commercial Fur Company, who gave us to understand that there was no seal to be taken of the Island by us, and no bribery would do to help us, so we went away and laid over under the main land and at night went over in our boats we done this for five or six nights when one night we found the Schooner gone, so we made a big dash the next day and got about 500 skins on board but the weather was getting bad we tried to get under way but in doing so we struck a reef, and knocked our centre board cassing to pieces we got her of and beach her on the Island but we had to leave her in a hurry as the seas was breaking over her we all got on shore about 10 P.M. and agreed to keep a good watch to see if the boats would wash on shore,
but at day break the only thing we found wash up on the beach was a pair of rubber boots and one oil drum two paint pot and a box of tobacco [sic], and the Schooner Ship of the beach in deep water and here we are 14 of us nothing to eat, all we could do was to clean out the oil can gather eggs plenty of sea bird on this island and make soup of seal meat, well we had fine day of this when the fur company Schooner arrive back, who gave us the good news that they had been away to report us to the Russian government who had sent a Russian armed Schooner to look for us and that he would have to keep us prisoners on the Island until their arrival, he being a country man of our an American we though he was very kind and told him we would not forget his kindness if he would only lend us his boat so we could get over to S ---- but this he could not think of but he sent us some bread and beef and coffee and we had another night thinking what kind of a mine the Russian Government would want us to work in, and wishing the Schooner Captain would only send his boat on shore in the dark with only two or three men in it only just to see how we were getting on, how we would use that boats painter to lash there three men up and a few of us would get on board batten the cabin and fore castle down leave a guard, on board bring the boat on shore, take the remainder on board and sail for part unknowing,
but that boat did not come on shore that night but at daylight here was a sail in sight coming from the northward and heading --------- the east end of the Island well we began to wish each other good by as we did not no what kind of a Sailing Schooner the Russians had sent after us but when she rounded the east point and saw our gaurden up went the Stars and Stripes, well she brought to and sent a boat on board the Russian Schooner and two boat coming over to the Island on landing we found she was a whaling Bargue the Fanny, and that they had called on their way down to Hakodate to give leave to their crew and discharge their oil, but they though a few seal skins would help pay their expense on shore, well we were not long in telling them about the Armed Schooner and they got a few skin and us in the boats and back on board the “Fanny” were our friend protested against our leaving or the captain of the Fanny giving us a passage to Hakoa but we wished him good bye he saying that as soon as the Armed Schooner arrived he would tell her were we was gone to in fact he was so kind that he got under way and went in search of the other Schooner,
any way we arrive at Hakodate and was taken charge of by the U.S. Consul 16 day August 1869. I forget to mention our friend the Schooner captain name it was Cooke whom I have met at Nagasaki. Several time Since and who told me what a narrow escape I had as he fell in with the government Schooner that afternoon and that they both gave chase after us, but they knew if we once got through the Straight of ---- it would be all up and they could not touch us, well I treated the old man kindly twice, once I made him that, is I treated him with whiskey till he was well full and has his Schooner was on the slip and I was living there I was to see him home at that time there was no road but a by path I manage to leave him has he was such a trouble to get along at the back of some …..went back to the Police box in Mamanohira got a Police Man and a rigsha [sic]who took him to the police station and gave him a night Lodging, I use them to stop his talk about his nearly having me in jail as if he did I would start and tell them how I did get him in jail. I will now finish and commence my life in Japan.
Arriving at Hakodate as before said 16 day August 1869 we were sent to Yokohama, but Captain….of the Pacific ….”Aerial” asked myself only to remain out and join the company, the other 13 was sent home to Sanfrancisco [sic] by the U.S. Mainster Charles Long by myself shipping on board the “Aerial” as quartermaster in which ship I remain until June 1870 I was then transferred to the U.S. Golden Age as quartermaster in Oct 1870 I was made third officer and remained in the Ship until 1872 when she was laid up in Shanghai to receive new boiler, I was then appoint by Captain Lane Seyberan of the Company as Second officer of the S.S. “Relief” but did not expect the job. I refuse on account of the chief officer. I was then appointed to the S.S. New York as third officer but only made one voyage as Swain (now Captain Swain) was promise the job when he return back from Sanfrancisco [sic] on his arrival he … me and I had to go on shore or go quarter master of the S. S. Gregorian which I refuse and shipped on board the Sailing Bargue Auldause as Second mate and left for London it must have been the latter part of September 1872 as we were lying very close to the S. S. America when she was burnt down in ….. if I remember right was on the night of the 8 of September 1872, how ever [sic] our ship boats rescued several of the crew mostly European who had got in the paddle wheel, well here I am on the broad ocean again in a wind bag we were 4 months getting to the cape with bad food and rain water and short allowance at that in place of 3 quarts of water per day only 3 pint was serve out meat we could not eat all we had for the last month was one of biscuit and 3 pint of water per day, on arriving at Cape Town I was taken on shore with the scurvy and place in Green Point hospital where I attended for 3 week. I then joined the three masted schooner Rose Bud bound to New York from New York were sail for Liverpool were we arrive all safe and me back in the old country again. Latter part of January 1873 after being away from home 7 year, I found my father and mother quite well and all my brothers and sisters doing all right, Father was head diver of Birkenhead dock association, he wanted me to join but on account of age I could not do so as the rules is you must be 25 year of age and been at sea for 6 year and you must dive at least 2 years as an able Seaman so to sea I went again and left Liverpool on board the S.S. Kwang crew bound to China and Japan, as a quartermaster this have been in the beginning of July 1873 but any way here was a bust up on the 8th August 1873 the ship came on shore at Prunder Filbuck, in the Gulf of Aden, and our ship was looted by the native, it would make a big novel for me to write the whole history and what had to go through for the next 4 week, but it will be enough to say I remain by the ship after the Captain and crew had gone away in the boat, has the native was taking charge of every thing [sic], well they was not gone one hour before the Sultan arrive and as soon had the whole ship to my self [sic] except some men left as a guard to keep the native away, shortly afterward I saw a lot of European on shore and one coming of in a boat, this was a passenger from the Steam Ship Signator*** who had been rest*** a few days before a little farther around the coast and who was going home on leave from the Bombay Inasia*** Venice*** this man could talk the native but well, well the end of it was that the sultan would allow all the crew of the S.S. S’s*** to come on board to work beside*** would supply natives to assist to get the ***providing I would sign a contract to take the Ship to Sanuban*** with four of his *** on board and there pay them for *** well we did not succeed as the day afterwards we *** her about 100 feet out and expected in two tides more to have been afloat but a Typhoon struck us and we parted in 13 pieces in the two stoke hold is where she parted, well rest I was on shore and pick out by another nice gentlemen with 3 other of the ***crew to kindly follow him about 30 miles and way it took us all day to *** there with but a short spell on the way, and way we got there and was *** with, well I do not no [sic] what they call it but it from bean an sea weed and fish ground together and the native think it a grand*** dish, well I was very hungry but I can assure you a little of that went a long way the next morning we had to take turns to grind Bean and corn two of us, the other two had to go about two mile and bring fresh water well who day it was to bring water they had to go in time and bring about 6 gallons in a skin at a time this water was to supply our dear *** master and his house hold his harem I mean with water and the food we ground was of course for his many lawful wife you must not think he trusted us by our Self no for I am afraid his bean, rice and wheat flour would have been tampered with, well we had three week of this when this gentleman was sorry he had not treated us like himself I mean to say as a gentlemen, as the Bombay Marine Ship hove in sight fired a salute to let him no [sic] they meant business and they at once sent 4 boats loaded with soldiers after us, well when we was all mustered together there was eight other in the Same Town and Village 12 off us well we was sent to the Ship and the Soldiers marched off to the other Villages and the next day all the S. ---- crew being found or given up two of the chiefs was taken on board and our board money and expenses was paid, and the ship sailed for Aden. Arriving in Aden the captain asked me to join the Bombay Marine Service showing me there was the same chances of promotion as in the Merchant Service so I ship as Quartermaster, but only remained about 3 months when I was order home for the court of inquiry arriving home beginning December 1873 and was order to remain until I was called on. So I started with a Salvage crew lifting a Ship in the river Mersey and work with them till April 15 1874 when I was called to London for the inquiry this being over I spent a week at school and pass examination and was granted a certificate as 2nd mate and ship on board the Hankow paddle steamer for Shanghai as third officer and sailed 1 May 1874 arriving June 25th 1874.
I may here mention that I receive a Letter of thanks from the British board of trade and sign by Thomas Gray Secretary as well as one from the board of underwriters for have stop by my ship until all hope of saving her had passed.
I now come to the 4th July 1874 arriving in Yokohama. I join the Pacific mail boat Golden Age as quartermaster but was to have the first chance for promotion this I soon got and remain in the same ship until they were sold to the Mitsu Bishi Mail Steam Ship Company. I was asked then by Captain Lane and M. Hart Agents for the Pacific Mail S.S. – to work in their coal depot I accepted the job and remain till April 1877 when I join [sic] the Mitsu Bishi Company S.S. “Hiogo Maru” as third officer Captain Christisen and remain with him until after the rebellion was finished, I then joined the Yokohama Salvage Company, almost being employed by the Mitsu bishi Company around their ship and mooring. During this time I superintended the rigging of the Barge Kanaguara Maru and the Awagishuma Maru). In June 1878 I again join the Mitsu Bishi Company on board the S. S. “Hiroshima Maru” (late Golden Age) as third officer, was some time afterward appointed second officer barge “Kunokuni Maru” where I stayed 11 months when I was transferred to “Sumida Maru” but only remain till I arrive in Yokohama when …second officer “Kokonoye Maru and myself was ordered to change ship I only remain two months in the “Kokonoye Maru” when I was transferred to the three mast schooner Awagishima Maru. I kick against this as I wish to remain in steamer but I went and remain three months only, when I asked for a steamer and was refused. I had two choices either to remain in the sailing ship or go in the stove department on reserve to assist the company superintendent, (Captain Burdis but I was afraid of the job and left the company, for about 6 months and at the stranded ship Kokonoye Maru I was again asked to join the store department and to assist under superintendent Captain Walker and to assist him and attend the diving work, this at the time the Akitsushima Maru was stranded.
I accepted the job for the sum of 100 yens per month (30 yens per month board money) or live on board the Hulk Saikio Maru and as a gratude when working away from Yokohama five yens a day extra and that according to the length of service in the company my wage was to be raise the same as if I was on board of a ship, but I was transfered to Nagasaki in June 5 1884 and arrive in Nagasaki June 10th 1884 where I have been employed By the Mitsu Bishi Dockyard & Engine Work as Foreman Rigger, Sailmaker, Diver, Salvage master, a pilot, Foreman of Shear Log Department and outside Laborer are what you may call a general handyman. My wages is at present 230 yens.
Yours Respectfully up to date
G. Mansbridge
31 December 1900