The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-13
by q zine breeze. we expect to cross the Line in

the cabin, can hear the sound of merriment from |
the deck but another sauall accompanied with rain,
short time all were again on deck. also went no,
but stad only few minutes, and then went To bed. |
wel;h rarebit, which was manufactured from |
porter, port wine, cheese, nutmeg, butter, &c., |
and Of the excellence OF which great expectation
were formed, caused great disappointment to the |
epicuresns, for as they were bringing it to the alley
for cooking, the bearer of the precious freight |
tumbled, and the rarebit was lost for ever.
s. THURSDAY, Jan. 6-This was a very wet |
morning. got q complete drenching. I pre-
ferred getting q wetting on deck to remain.
ing between decks to be almost suffocated
with the foul air. 1t is in wet weather on board
ship that the India nbbers and Mackintoshes are
serviceable. What shout is that3 "Sail ahoy !" |
And now the rain, though falling in torrents is for
gotten and all hasten to get view Of the approach
ing vessel. She is bearing right down upon our
bow, and it is evident the two ships will pass within
short distance Of each other, and the anticipated
pleasure OF sending letters to friends aud home Is
moment is to be lost. And now what hurrying |
to and fro, and what demand for pens Ink, and |
paper sealing wax, waters, and envelopes! All is
hurry and confusion for little while and now all
are busiy engaged In inditing words OF love, and
hope, and promise, to relatives aud friends, by the
tickering light of q few lamps which barely serve
to dispel the darkness. / added few lines to the
letter had written some time before, and hurried
newspaper together with cabbage stalk, to enable
me to throw on the deck Of the strange vessel if
she came near enough and In the event Of our cap
tain not sending boat alongside. But to the NOR
LITIGATION OF all, myself included, found that no
boat would be launched nor was it possible to throw
letters on board as the strange ship was too distant
The captains communicated by speaking trumpets;
the other ship proved to be an English merchant
New York. Her captain promised to report 10 New
York all well on board the Scargo. She carried the
red ensign Of England at her gaff, and as the two
captains, with their speaking trumpets waved an
oAS f,ron hoo~f niuon for
England" by the gold seekers Of the Scargo, who
for the ost part hail from Canada and are, indeed
wild set. The weather for the remainder of the
day was very fine, but our progress very slow. We
now be expected if we do not catch the
s. E. trade winds, which blow about this
time in those ATTITUDES For the rest of the day
the passengers brooded over their disappointment,
horizon where the Englishman was slowly fading
from their sight,
When Ger the silent seas alone,
For days and night we've chez rless gone,
oh, they who've felt it, know how sweet
Some sunny morn sail to meet"
SATURDAY, Sth.-This morning broke clear and
bright, and gave promise OF warn day, which
indeed it proved to be; the heat would have been
cool sea breeZes The thermometer At IL O'Clock stood
in the shade at 80. This evening was spent by the
passengers in dancing, which they kept up to late
hour; ibut as there are females to Join them it is
rather an uninteresting affair." There but three
unmarried young women and three elderly on board.
l slept this night, for the first time, on deck.
SUNDAY, 9th.-This was very dark and gloomy
morning; we had some excitement however. for
tilne. young shark was discovered early in the
morning, following the ship. large hook was inn
mediately got out aud corresponding piece of pork
put through it. Three or four feet Of iron chain was
attached to the hook, and strong rope again to the
chain, which was thrown over the STERN and in less
than minute the shark was making love to it,; he
caught the bait, but had not swallowed when the
person pulled up; the shark was drawn little out
Of the water, but Immediately fell off This bait was
again lowered, and the shark wiser than before,
but doubly voracious, swallow ed it in gulp; he was
drawn on deck amid the shouts of the few who were
up at that early hour It necessary to give him
wide BERTH for his vain efforts to relieve himself
from his csptors terrible he was dragged for.
ward and IN few minutes from his capture he was
gazed upon by every man, woman aud child on
board. He measured about six feet but Was quite
young. In an hour after his death he was cooked,
and distributed all over the ship, that the curious
might eat, and have it to say they partook of shark
has sessd Ss
have taken possession of the deck from end to end;
they never had clear berth before; shelter from
the heat sought in vain; not piece Of awning or
cover overhead, from the bow to the stern; the
at the wheel has an umbrella strapped to his leg,
which partially protects him. We are lying as i'm
movable as log on the waters; the childrens noisy
play is husbed; not breath seems to stir the istess
sails; not q patch of cloud in the blue sky; not
ripple on the broad sea- The deep repose Of nature
has infected the living mass on board, and the
slightest sound disturbs not the monotony Of the
hour
On the evening of the next day, although still
some distance from the equator, the sailors re-
solved to observe the ceremony usual crossing the
line ofshaving with an iron hoop, and using tar in
instead of SOAP ALI on the ships books who had not
before crossed the hne-some half dozen of the pas
sengers-had to feel uncomfortable when this
was known, tor they were marked out as worthy to
be the principal subjects in the time h0n0red custom,
homo irf hoiv octv Int hoh ooch
than in the observance" About o'clock, P. NJ,
went forward and saw the preparations. On my re-
turn aft informed the doomed ones Of what going
on forward. They were struck with terror; some hid
themselves and some spoke warmly of resistance at
the same time trembling at every shout One six foot
and upwards chap, of the name of Muchall, was for
weeks aware OF the honor intended him and my report
frightened the wits out of him. he spOrted solitary
moustache-n nothing more-and this hirsute append
age the dearer to him, it ourished alone; he
sought counsel OF me, supposing that was in like
predicament with himself. l advised immediate
docking, and thus by anticipating the object Of the
intended ceremony, prevent it altogether for it was
selection of moustached individuals tina Neptune
proposed to operate ON. In his terror he accepted
my friendly suggestion and do wn to the cabin, amid
rcars OF laughter, led my victim. BY this time the
sailors had commenced operations on the cooks and
walters, and the cries and shouts of the Neptuneites
and the noise and uproar OF resistance added to his
fears. In q short time, with the aid OF pair of
scissors and rusty razor, the first we found, sue
Ceeded in making HIM cut one Of the most ridiculous
figures ever saw. All the time of the operation
mastered my inclination to laugh; but when I got
fairly through ran upon deck to indulge my ideas
of the ridiculous, in giving vent to my long suppress
ed laughter, in which l was loudly joined by all
Muchall came on deck in minute or two after look
ing the very picture of victi Of joke and the
sailors themselves joined in the laugh and annoyed
him no farther. The tarring and shaving of the
wsiters and cocks still went on, for as none Of the
passengers had any particular sympathy with shem
the sailors were encouraged to carry on the fan,
VI Vvn naQF nnsfIV nnO nf nv Annr
twice before his knife was taken from him-the
waiter had not room, luckily, to use it effectively,
and the sailor was but slightly hurt. Another
from the captain, but il was unavailing; he was
dragged along the decks to the forecastle despite of
his cries and struggles where he suffered the torture.
Having gone over the ships hands, they came down
to our cabin for fellow of the name of Earrings
WORTH but he having expected them, was armed with
large dirk knife. Their object in threatening some