Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-08-16
MisreIInaaons.
Visiting the Great Eastern.

Visiting the Great Eastern.
The furore to see the big ship is increas-
ing towards the close of the exhibition, and
excursions of country cousins" are pouring
into York. On the 24th the Times says
the total number of visitors to the Great
Eestern was 10000, and reporter who
came down on the steamer Thomas Pow
ell with an excursion party of 500 from
Poughkeepsie, thus amusingly describes
the scepes outside and on shipboard.
About eleven o'clock, we drew near the
Great Eastern. In the distance her vast
hulk loomed up like huge black WALL
Sundry smaller steamers were taken for
her, and one old lady told Elizur Jane, as
we passed the ship Saudusky, to "Look at
the pesky critter, quick" and then vowed
she thought it was not SO "muck efter al" !"
When we drew up close to the steamer,
the rural mind became confused, the eyes
expanded, and after a while the tongue
cleave to the roof of the mouth. "Bill
Wilson, just look at that" "Upon my
word," Gmpressively) "Just mind its big
ness" ''Tain't iron, know" ""Now, moth
er, who's rightg isn't that as long as our
barns high?" a"Well of all the big things
I ever saw, that's the biggest" and so on
ad infnitum. With the crowd we pushed
toward the entrance, with ticket in hand,
surrounded by wondering, talking curious,
pushing, registering, thousands, amongst
whom our little band made but a small,
though virtuous leaven. In we went, and
at the very first glance detected in the
1ista group of dancers, who, to the air
of "Pop Goes the Weasel" were enjoying
themselves hugely. As we -ascended the
deck most remarkable scene presented
itself to our unaccustomed eyes. Walk
up and down the spacious area were men,
women, and children, of all shapes sizes
and colors. Arm in arm two lovers gazed
at each other rather than at the ship; seat
ed on bench, German matron dispensed
with liberal hand to her swarthy husband
and their Teutonic brood huge Jumps of
bread and slices of Deutsche .Schweizer-
kase; up and down and all around looking
in at doors, peeking in at windows, peering
down through gratings, and peeping into
holes generally, went the hot, tired and Gu
rious crowd, wandering not unlike that
venerable "Goosey Gander," of whom
Mother Goose makes such honorable meu-
tion in book of poetry. Stumbling on
man who sold US one of Fountains capi-
tai "Guide Books" We managed to make
an intelligent tour of the ship. During
said tour we met with many queer people,
heard strange sayings and saw uncanny
sights. In an unguarded moment we loan
ed our Guide to stranger who has not
yet returned it. Down a narrow stairway,
we attempted to go. Up that narrow
stairway others tried to come. Conse-
quently there was tussle, squeezing, a
ramming and jamming, and 1 regret to
say it, on the part of not "a few there
was also damning. "Don't come up"
yelled the down goers; "there are only
few more of us, and then you can come
up" "Oh, get out" said an up-comer,
"there amt none of US at ALL" "Mary
Jane, hold down your Dress" said an anx-
ious mamma. "Tommy, be careful OF your
clothes; take your hands off them eily BAN
nisters;" cried a watchful papa. "Derned
eff I'd come ef I'd known 'twould ha'
been so hot" said a lusty, browsy, red
checked country-girl to her attentive friend
from the Jerseys. -"Well, now, amt that
yere bully?" said little ten year old to
his sister as together they looked at the
immense piston-rod. "Yes, Robert" she
replied; "but how can we ever get up
stairs?" And sure enough, such getting
up stairs was never before seen or iniagi-
ned. We turned from these people and
went down another pair Of stairs, then down
another, and then down another. Here
there was wicker door, on which was
printed, "No admittance." We went in,
and the door shut with slam. There was
no handle en- the inside, and we could by
no means open it. So we moved on.
The low ceiling compelled US to bend our
head; we went on and on, turned to the
right into narrow passage, which was
quite dark, kept on, brought up standing
and could 60 no further. The air was
close and smelt skunky, the walls semed
damp and chilly; how to get out I didn't
know. I attempted to retace my steps, but
soon became involved in labarynth of
passageways and byways. What shall be
done? Call? No one could hear. Wait
for some one to come. Probably no enc
would appear in week. We laid our
head against what appeared to be door,
and felt like initiating Jacob, and lifting
our voice to weep. Suddenly the appa-
rent wall moved, and sudden lunge we
found ourselves on the iron dock, and then
we knew we had been leaning against the
door through which we had surreptitieusly
passed. We will not in our thankfulness,