SUNDAY, 10th December, 1871.—Lat. 44° 48′ S., long. 27° 57′ E. Courses S.E. ½ E., S.E. Winds west, N.W. Distance 315 miles. A.M., heavy gale, high cross sea; ship labouring and straining heavily; decks at times completely flooded fore and aft. 1 a.m., main topgallant staysail stay carried away. 7 a.m., continuation of gale, logging 16 knots. Heavy sea struck ship on starboard quarter, washing starboard lifeboat out of davits, completely flooding main deck and washing away main hatch-house. 9.30 a.m., gale moderating, made all plain sail, still logging 16 knots. P.M., moderate with high cross sea; decks completely flooded; have logged 16 knots during last 16 hours.
On Friday, 29th December, the westerlies were so strong that the _Thomas Stephens_ had to be hove to for 4½ hours, the gale being preceded by six hours’ calm with fog; the log reads as follows:—
FRIDAY, 29th December, 1871.—Lat. by acc. 45° 21′ S., long. 129° 7′ E. Courses N.E., E.N.E., E. by S., N.N.W., N.E. Winds variable, calm, N.W., west. A.M., light variable airs, thick foggy weather. Watch hauling up cable. 10 a.m., strong breeze, dull cloudy weather, logging 12 knots. 3.30 p.m., strong gale, handed topgallant sails. 4 p.m., gale still increasing, handed upper topsails, courses and jib. Brought ship to the wind under lower topsails. Heavy sea running; decks completely flooded. 8.30 p.m., wind veering into S.W. Wore ship off before the wind. 10 p.m., set foresail and upper fore topsails, logging 10 knots.
On Saturday, 30th December, the gale still continued and the log book records:—
Lat. by acc. 43° 57′ S., long. 134° 27′ E. Courses N.E., N.E ½ N. Winds W.S.W. A.M., strong gale, high sea. Shipping a quantity of water over all, logging 13 knots. 4 a.m., set upper main and mizen topsails. 7 a.m., set topgallant sails, weather moderating, logging 12 knots. 10 a.m., heavy sea. Decks at times completely flooded. P.M., strong gale and heavy sea. Shipping a quantity of water over all, logging 13 knots. 10 p.m., gale increasing. Handed fore and mizen topgallant sails, logging 14 knots. 10.30 p.m., handed main topgallant and mizen topsail. Midnight, strong gale and high sea; have logged 14 knots during last six hours.