John Y. Nicholson
Daily Alta California, San Francisco
January 15, 1875. Transcribed by Sandi Bordelon.
(Note: Obituary notes John J. Nicholson)
The feeling of increasesd lonliness and sadness, from the loss of old and valued friends, has been acutely realized by many of us, upon learning the death of Captain John J. Nicholson, on the 3rd of January, 1875.
Captain Nicholson was a native of Alexandria, Virginia. He was bred to the sea, and at an early age became a master mariner.
For twenty years he commanded merchant vessels in the trade from the Capes of Virginia to New Orleans, and thence to Liverpool, and discharged his duties as Captain, with so much ability, prudence and watchfulness, that one was never called upon to prefer any claim for insurance loss, either total or partial.
In 1850, Captain Nicholson commanded the Steamer Philadelphia. Subsequently, he was Master of the steamer, Unicorn.
In 1851 he had charge of The Pacific Steamship Company's depot at Benicia.
For a long time past, Captain Nicholson was in poor health. During the past ninemonths he was confined to his bed by asthma and dropsy, to which he finally succumbed on the 3rd of January, 1875, at the age of 66 years.
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Breverton's Nautical Curiosities: A Book of the Sea
Breverton's Nautical Curiosities" is about ships, people and the sea. However, unlike many other nautical compendiums, the focus of this book is on the unusual, the overlooked or the downright extraordinary.
Thus, someone most of us do not know, Admiral William Brown, is given equal coverage to Admiral Nelson. Without Admiral Brown releasing Garibaldi, modern Italy might not exist. And without the barely known genius John Ericsson designing the "Monitor," the Confederacy might have won the American Civil War.
You will be stimulated as you read about the remarkable people - explorers, admirals and trawlermen - who have shaped our world. The sea has had a remarkable effect upon our language. We hear the terms "steer clear of," "hit the deck," "don't rock the boat," "to harbour a grudge: and the like, and give little thought to their origins. In the pages of this book, the reader will find the roots of "bumpkin," a "brace of shakes," "born with a silver spoon," "booby prize," "above board," "bombed" (in the sense of being drunk), "blind-side," "the pot calling the kettle black," "wasteres," "barbecue" . . . Other colourful terms, which have passed out of common usage, such as "bring one's arse to anchor" (sit down), "belly timber" (food) and "bog orange" (potato) are also included, as well as important pirate haunts, technical terms, famous battles, maritime inventors and ship speed records.
"Master Under God"
Captains exercised absolute authority at sea and so were dubbed "Master Under God" by early insurance writs, agreements with ship owners and passengers and the Board of Trade.
The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag state policies.
All persons on board, including officers and crew, other shipboard staff members, passengers, guests and pilots, are under the captain's authority and are his ultimate responsibility.
On international voyages, the captain is responsible for satisfying requirements of the local immigration and customs officials. Immigration issues can include situations such as embarking and disembarking passengers, handling crewmembers who desert the ship, making crew-changes in port, and making accommodations for foreign crewmembers.
Customs requirements can include the master providing a cargo declaration, a ship's stores declaration, a declaration of crewmembers' personal effects, crew lists and passenger lists.
A complete and indispensable guide to more than 100 knots. Whether you want to tie lines together, lash oars in place, attach the foot of a sail to a boom, or extend a towing line, the knot you need, with variations for specific conditions, is here. The uses, advantages, and disadvantages of every type of knot are clearly explained. The author explains how to tie each one, using concise, step-by-step instructions. Illustrated.
