April 13th. Commences with pleasant weather, and continued so during the early hours, nothing of importance occurring. At seven thirty P. heavy squalls of rain came on, accompanied by thunder and lightning. The storm raged up to midnight. Since no awnings or boom covers were spread, tarpaulins placed over the hatches, or allowed to be, the berth deck was a trough for the water, and caught it all; the watch below (poor lads) with no hammocks slung to turn into, or permitted to have, got no sleep; neither were their comrades on deck any more fortunate.
Cruise of the U.S. Flag-Ship Hartford – From the Personal Journal of Wm. C. Holton.
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