The Crusade of the Excelsior

Set against the backdrop of August 4, 1854, off Cape Corrientes, the narrative unfolds on a weathered barque approaching the Mexican coast. The ship, battered yet tidy, reveals signs of a long journey, with a lost spar and empty davits. As dawn breaks, the ghostly peak of Colima emerges, and the Pacific's power builds. Amidst the cold light, the only visible activity is a figure meticulously scrubbing the quarter-deck, hinting at the presence of cabin passengers and the complexities of life at sea.