LOG OF THE "DEMETER" Varna to Whitby
On 16 July mate reported in the morning that one of the crew, Petrofsky, was missing. Could not account for it. Took larboard watch eight bells last night, was relieved by Amramoff, but did not go to bunk. Men more downcast than ever. All said they expected something of the kind, but would not say more than there was SOMETHING aboard. Mate getting very impatient with them. Feared some trouble ahead.
“On 16 July mate reported in the morning that one of the crew, Petrofsky, was missing.”
We later (24 July) learn that Petrofsky disappeared after he went off watch, so it would have been longer before his absence was noticed than if he went missing while on duty.
“Took larboard watch eight bells last night; was relieved by Abramoff…”
Since he relieved the captain, Abramoff is probably one of the two ship’s mates. Since the first mate was Romanian, and Abramoff is a Russian name, he would be the second mate. Later, he volunteers to sail the ship single-handed (“steer and watch”) so the crew can rest for a few hours after they have all been fighting a storm for four days (28 July).
Crew remaining on 16 July: Captain, cook, first mate, second mate, four deck hands (8 out of 9)
Posted by: Most Significant | July 16, 2021 at 05:18 AM