John Eckstein, a resident of Germantown, a middle-aged man
who was in entire sympathy with Spangenberg's plans for religious work
in Pennsylvania, resolved to accompany him on his trip to Georgia.
They sailed from Philadelphia on the 22nd of May, 1737,
and had a long and very trying voyage. The Captain and crew were evil men,
given to cursing and swearing, and more than once they threatened
to murder the two passengers, whom they called sorcerers, and accused
of bringing the continuous head winds and frequent storms upon them.
Seventy-seven long days the voyage lasted; twice they sailed southward
past Cape Hatteras, and twice were they driven back to north and east,
taking weeks to recover the distance lost; and the Captain finally discovered
that not only were the elements against him, but his helmsman was slyly
hindering their progress all he could, for some malicious purpose of his own.
To the mental strain of the long journey was added physical discomfort,
for firewood gave out, so that no cooking could be done, and for a month
the crew lived on hard tack, dried cherries soaked in water, and raw fish, --
dolphins caught as need required.
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