This was in the latter part of November or the first of December, 1880. It was now time for me to be mustered out, and I notified the captain of it. 'No,' he said, 'I did not think you would leave me here. When we get rid of this lumber load we are going to take on coal and go home to Norway. I would like to have you go with me home.' I said, 'No, now I have had enough and more than enough of the Baltic and the North Sea. I will quit here, and go to the west coast of Scotland, and find a ship to take me to warmer climes. I ahve nearly perished from frost and bad weather.' Well, if I absolutely must leave he could not prevent me, but he did not like to discharge me here. Under such circumstances, I did not know whether I dared to ask him for a letter of recommendation or not, but I was surprised how ready he ws to do so. He gave me a good sendoff. Then I went with him to the mustering office for discarge; thanked him for all favors, and for good comradeship, and bade him farewell.
Then I went to the railway station, and bought a ticket for Greenock, Scotland, where I arrived next day, and found a place to lodge.
Later I heard the 'Olivier' had taken on a load of coal and, on the way to Norway had sprung a leak, and had to return to Leith in sinking condition. When the load was taken off and the ship inspected, it was condemned, and it never came back to Norway.
When I think of those fearful days in the Finn-bottom, Baltic, Kattegat and the North Sea, it appears to me now as an unpleasant dream, and I wonder how I came out of it alive. Three times on the point of shipwreck in one month, yet come out safe, wile 120 other ships went down in those waters at that time. And the one I was in did not get any further than the Firth of Forth before its days were ended, while now I was here in Greenock, safe and sound. Providence plays its part in the lives of us all, whether we see it or not.
I Greenock I found old 'Cito', of Mandal, which Ihad helped carry across the Atlantic on my arms, on a six weeks voyage from Wilmington, N.C. to Hamburg. I went on board and talked to the boys. It gave me serious and sad thoughts when I remembered the frightful days and nights I had spent in her. It was dreary and depressing as I looked into her dark and gloomy forecastle, and I was glad to get off and on shore again. She went from there to a little town by name of Tron, where she took in coal, for some city in the Mediterranean. Later I heard that eight days after she left Tron she came into Flamouth, for repairs. I pitied the men who had to sail in such floating coffins. The owners should have been prosecuted for such ships.
There seemed to be no ship in Greenock that I liked to sail in. For a day off, I took the train to Glasgow, and came back to my lodging next day. After a few days I was told a large English ship, lying there, was about to engage a crew. So I took train again to Glasgow, and found this was a large English steel hull, four-masted, going to Australia. This dod not exactly suit my plans. But, there would be a new adventure. I had not been in Australia, and it would be interesting to see that land also. And to sail in an English four-master would be a novel experience. I was told to speak to one of the officers, which I did, and found all places filled. That was that. But on the way back to Greenock, as I thought it over, I was really glad I had not found a place on that ship. There was one at home, who waited for me; and a voyage to Australia now, as common sailor, taking a whole year, would ahve been small advantage for me.