America’s Last Emperor: Broderick
Chapter Four
December 14, 1849
The pace of activity was hectic for Norton once the Genesee was run aground. The ship was stabilized by chopping down both of the masts of the brigantine and wedging large beams cut from the masts between the mud and the boat on either side of the rudder. At high tide small boats could float right up and unload with the Genesee’s deck davits. The deck was currently awash with laborers building a shed over the open deck, which would keep the stored goods dry. It was coming together — on his inspection visits to his lots, he mused that the wooden house on deck might have looked a lot like the Biblical ark of Noah.
The Genesee was one hundred thirty two feet long including the forespar. Coincidentally, one side of Norton’s fifty vara plot at Fremont and Howard, where the Genesee was run aground, was one hundred and thirty two feet long. Through the alcalde, Norton managed to get the city behind building the Fremont Street wharf and make it far easier to unload and cart goods across town to the stores Norton planned to build on his land at Jackson and Battery.
For the past few days life had settled into a steady routine for Norton. First was waking and breakfast at the Jones Hotel. He’d decided to stay there for a while, and…
