INCREDIBLE STORIES FROM THE WORLD OF SHIPS, BOATS AND SAILORS

ROBERT SMALLS WAS A SLAVE THAT SEIZED A SHIP

DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND DELIVERED IT TO

THE NORTH. HE WAS LATER PUT IN CHARGE OF THE

SHIP. AFTER THE WAR HE BOUGHT THE HOUSE HE

WAS A SLAVE IN AND BECAME A CONGRESSMAN

QUARANTINE IS DERIVED FROM THE LATIN WORD FOR

"FORTY". THIS IS THE NUMBER OF DAYS A SHIP

TYPICALLY HAD TO WAIT TO DOCK BECAUSE OF

THE PLAGUE

IN THE ROYAL NAVY THERE IS A SUPERSTITION THAT

WHISTLING ON-BOARD CAN CAUSE BAD WEATHER.

THE ONLY PERSON TYPICALLY ALLOWED TO WHISTLE

IS THE COOK (BECAUSE IT MEANS HE'S NOT

EATING THE FOOD!)

DURING THE BATTLE OF SAMAR IN WORLD WAR II,

THE USS JOHNSTON CHARGED A MUCH BIGGER

FORCE OF JAPANESE SHIPS. IT DID SO MUCH

DAMAGE THAT WHILE IT WAS SINKING, SOME OF

THE JAPANESE SHIPS SALUTED IT

IN 1784, A JAPANESE SAILOR NAMED CHUNOSUKE

MATSUYAMA SENT OUT A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

FROM HIS SINKING SHIP. IT WASHED ASHORE IN 1935

NEAR THE VERY VILLAGE WHERE HE HAD BEEN BORN

IN 2013, CHEF HARRISON OKENE SURVIVED

UNDERWATER FOR 3 DAYS WHEN HIS SHIP SANK.

APPARENTLY HE TOOK REFUGE IN AN AIR POCKET

WHERE RESCUERS EVENTUALLY FOUND HIM

JEANNE DE CLISSON WAS A FRENCHWOMAN WHO

BECAME A PIRATE IN THE 1300’S TO AVENGE THE

DEATH OF HER HUSBAND. SHE SOLD HER LAND TO

BUY 3 SHIPS AND THEN PROCEEDED TO TERRORIZE

FRENCH NOBILITY ALONG THE COAST

WHENEVER MERCHANT SHIPS WERE STOPPED BY

PIRATES, QUITE OFTEN A NUMBER OF THE MERCHANT

SAILORS WOULD JOIN THE PIRATE CREW

IN 1628, THE SWEDISH WARSHIP VASA SANK. IT WAS

RECOVERED IN 1961 NEARLY 100% INTACT. IT IS

THE ONLY SUCH SHIP WE HAVE FROM THE 1600’S.