How America got its name

Further Info

This story was made at a weekly digital storytelling workshop with a Brunel theme for staff and volunteers at Bristol Industrial Museum, inspired by the life and work of Brunel. The stories were created both in formal sessions and in staff members’ spare time with support from Ruth Jacobs, Sarwat Siddiqui, Andy King, Chris Redford and Phil Walker, between Nov 2005 and Feb 2006. The project was supported by Bristol’s Museums, Galleries & Archives.

Transcript

In 1497, John Cabot, originally from Genoa, set sail from Bristol to search for the continent of Asia on the far side of the North Atlantic Ocean.

[Sound of rippling water]

For weeks they sailed westwards until they encountered the now notorious fog banks of Newfoundland which would then have been called “not-yet-foundland”.

Sailors from Ireland, Scandinavia and even deep sea fishermen from Bristol may already have been there, but that is nothing to do with this story.

Fog-bound, becalmed, food running low, water going bad, the crew wanted him to turn back. Cabot refused, determined to reward his Bristol backers with a successful discovery. But just as the crew were turning mutinous, the lookout called out “Land ho!”. Cabot burst from his cabin and rushed forward, exclaiming [Italian accent] “It’s a miracle!” as he passed two of the crew.

[Bristolian accent] “Where d’ee say w’em to?” [where did he say we are?] asked one of them. [Bristolian accent] “Sounded like Americal”, replied his mate.

[Plop and rippling sounds]

Credits

All media not otherwise credited created by the story author, or permission obtained, used under copyright licence.