slept a good while and on again going on deck the Orkneys were well in sight. And the way through them very devious. It would indeed require a man who knew them well to guide a vessel through them in the night. We arrived at Kirkwall at about eleven o’clock A.M and started at 1.45 P.M. the wind blowing heavier than ever but being in the lee of the islands we had pretty smooth water. However when the Pentland Firth was opened the vessel rolldt and stachered like a drunken man. This did not last long as we soon got under the lee of Caithness and in due time arrived at Wick where we remained till I got wearied and went to bed. When I awoke next there was a change indeed but very much to the worse. Before this we might be said to have had a tolerably good passage but now the tossing was more than ever I saw it in the Queen [a previous ferry] and the smell around me was quite sickening. So it was not very long till I also gave up what I had put down and then I was all right and went to sleep about five o’clock in the morning and awoke to hear the wind blowing as hard as ever but the vessel having now gained the lee of the shore was in tolerably smooth water and so it continued till we reached eleven o’clock A.M. on Wednesday but did not get in on account of the tide till the P.M.
On a small ferryboat, probably the 15-knot paddle steamer St Magnus, all aboard were aware of what was going on. The bridge must have been just above the saloon. After a trip in 1869 David Hobart reported3
Friday night was very dark & we nearly ran down a vessel off the coast of Aberdeen. There was an awful roaring & shouting to back the engines & port the helm – helm hard to starboard & so on which were mingled with the shrieks of the ladies in the cabin who thought something terrible had happened or was going to happen. However, we steered clear of her in spite of rain, fog and darkness held on our way till we came to Aberdeen where we landed about two o’clock on Saturday morning.
Arthur Irvine may have been travelling with other Shetland men. In his letter4 to his mother from Glasgow he mentions A. Tait.
Dearest Mother,
I arrived here safely today. I went to Moore and he said that if I would wait a week he would get a ship for me. I am very tird and therefore cannot write much but I will write when I get a ship. If I do not get one tomorrow I will perhaps go to Liverpool with A Tait. If I do get a ship it will likely be for eight months and then I will be home. Give my Love all I have not written to Granny but you can tell her that I am finely write immaditely to the Sailors’ Home Glasgow.
I remain your loving Boy
A Irvine
Don’t put C in the adres
Like many a 15-year-old boy he was concerned about appearances, and didn’t want anyone to know that his middle name was Craigie!
A fortnight later he was still awaiting a ship in Glasgow, and resisting the many temptations of a sailor’s life.5
My dearest Aunt [probably Elizabeth Gifford of Busta, his mother’s 38-year-old sister],
I am sorry that I have not written to you before but I put it off till I should get a ship. I find now that it is all very fine to be at home and speak about the sailor’s life but it is different to try it. Dear Aunt I find now that it is all true that I was told about the sailors although I have not yet been at sea The wickedness of a sailor’s life on shore here is awful Last night a steward on board a steamer came here paid off with £30. He went out and came in with only £2 & without his coat & that is the way why a sailor can’t have money but by God’s strength I sall never do that I have had Many temptations since I came out here, but I have resisted them from the first and now I find that it is easier I have been twice every Sunday at the sailor’s chapel since I came.
Kind love to Granny, Uncle, Mrs M and the children and tell them that if I am spared to come home I shall bring them something nice Write next post both you and granny
I remain your loving nephew
Arthur C Irvine
My adress is Mr Burgess Seamens Bordings 34 Brown Street Glasgow
By July 1867 Arthur was well into a voyage aboard the barque Emerald and, writing6 to his sister Mary Jane, a year older than him, was voicing his distress at the failure of his family to write to him and at the heavy demands of the work required of him while in the port of Genoa. The absence of letters from family and friends has for centuries been a problem for seafarers, and on several occasions John Isbester was distressed when letters expected after a long voyage failed to reach him. In Arthur’s case the problem was probably caused by his failure through inexperience to provide full addresses or to take account of the time required for mail to travel home and then out to the next destination. But there can be no doubt that he was frequently in the thoughts of his mother, sister, aunt and grandma! If there were any prospects of work to be found ashore he wanted to be informed. He had also decided that his name was Al or Alle.
My Dearest Sister,
What is the reason I have got no letter? I have written twice and received no answer. Is our people angry with me or what? I am sick tired of this place and ship and seeing the Shetland lads geting letters from home and me geting none.
Private Make dear sister would you write to Constantinople and tell me if I should come home in winter or what are people is thinking about me? I know that there is something up, else I would have had a letter. If any of them is dead it is gust [just] as good for me to know it now as after but if I don’t get a letter in Constantinople this is the last they shall ever have from me so I must close for want of time tell D to write Love to all I remain your loving brother
Al
Adress to all on board the Barque emerald to the care of Hild & Mathers, ship brokers Constantinople
Private Dearest Sister
I have forgot to tell you something If you see any opening on shore about the time that I come to England for this is hurting me I can agrie fine with the sea work, but this harbour work would kill a horse Write me about 3 weeks and tell me.
Alle
It reads as though he and his fellow sailors were being used to do heavy work, discharging or loading the cargo. One letter which he never received, because it was never sent, was from his mother and sister. It provides a reminder that the laird and his family lived on a working croft, planting potatoes and oats, and were aware of much of the local gossip. In 1867, when Arthur was on his first voyage, his mother writes:7
Strom Bridge Whiteness Shetland 3rd May
My own darling boy,
We were all glad of your letters last week. I hope by this time you are getting on with your voyage & I hope you have fine weather. We have fine dry days now with north wind. We finished our oats on Friday and set some potatoes on Saturday. Andrew Garrick is finished. Annie sends her love to you. That is the only one of them we have seen. Kate writes that she wishes you had come to see her
After giving news of nine family friends and neighbours, she continues:
Now I think I have told you all the news Mary Jane will finish this to you with much love to your dear self I do hope you are taking care of yourself and not fighting with anyone dear darling boy do write soon. your own Mother WM Irvine Stromebridge
