Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-09-04
AN OCEAN LETTER.
FROM DAN DE QuILLE.

'-
FROM DAN DE QuILLE.
ft On BOARD NoRru STAR, !
.-s o., Sunday. Aug. 9th.
Editors Gasettea--At noon, August Sd
VIC got under way-after the usual amour,
pushing, swearing and crowding. We have
but few over 200 passengers, think, though
do not know our exact" numerousness. ,
The Opposition did not send out boat or
the third; this is one reason of our having
no more passengers. believe they send out
vessel on the 23d, when the fare will be
about $l5 lower on both lines than the rates
paid by passengers for this trip on the North
Star, but | would prefer paying little more
to going in a crowded vessel. There were q
few humorous incidents connected with on,
departure from New York, but I can scarce
do them justice with my present opportunity
for writing; as the motion of the vessel is
rather unpleasant, and the zephers of the
Atlantic appear particularly fond Of sporting
with my portfolio and its contents. I can
only say that there was particularly rich
quarrel between porter and two old v women
about the charge Of 800 per trunk made
by the former for getting aboard the luggage
of the latter; all in Erin's swate brogue.--
Two pairs Of lovers made themselves partic.
ularly conspicuous by standing locked in
each others arms at the head Of the, gang.
way plank for half an hour previous to the
departure of the boat. And the kissing they
did-great heavens They glued their lips
together as tight as three cent postage stamp
would stick to school girls first love letter
rolled their eyes heavenward and held their
grip till quite black in the face. The scene
to tell the truth, was rather disgusting thar
tender, and attracted the attention of thu
whole Of the passengers.
Just as the plank was about to be drawn
a German woman made her appearance. lead.
ing two small children. Leaving her chill
dren on the pier she rushed aboard to bid
farewell TO her husband; but before she
found him, and unnoticed by her, the steam.
er was under way and had got some two hun.
dred yards from the wharf Now she saw
her situation, and a scene cnsued. On tie
shore, among strangers stood her two little
girls, ali in plain sight, while she Gas she firm
ly beleved) was an involuntary passenger
for California. ",Oh, Gott! mine kinder,
mine kinder!" she screamed as she rushed
to and fro frantically-Ah, Gott der kin.
der!" 1t was hard to prevent her from
throwing herself overheard. However, il
was soon discovered that five or six others
were caught in the same way, and the ma.
chinery was stopped till shore boat came
alongside and took them all off. After all,
had they known it, there was not the slight.
est danger Of any Of them being forced to 60
out to California against their wishes. The
owners of the line are not so ready to take
passengers free of charge; on the contrary,
the ship is carefully searched for stow .aways
as soon as she starts and all persons found
without tickets or money are sent back by
the boat that takes of the pilot, outside Of
Sandy Hook.
When off Hatteras we had terrible storm
mot one Of the smal-size squalls frequent
in that latitude, but real, regular, ocean.
sweeping storm. / never saw anything like
it and think few aboard the vessel had ever
had any previous experience Of the kind at
any rate | have seen none who have ever
seen such storm. Many of the passengers
betook themselves to prayer. The waves
looked like the.conical hills of the Washos
mines, and it seemed as though in darting
down their steep slopes We must inevitably
plunge into the unfathomable depths of the
lashed and angry sea. At times the winds
to stoop in all their mighty strength
to the level Of the ocean and gather up and
carry along with them the SUBMITS Of all the
tossing peaks Of brine. At such times moth
ing could be seen but greyish-white mass
of spray; SO dense and 50 heavy with sheets
of water that it vas hard to. tell where the
ocean ended and the sky began-in short the
heavens and the sea seemed pretty thorough
y amafganated, to use mining term. Our
ship had aboard over six hundred tons Of
freight, to say nothing of the mails, express
matter, and her coal, being the heaviest load
she ever carried. A large amount OF butter in
barrels was slowed forward and sunk her
bow 50 Nw that the sea rolled for some time
continuously aft to her Wheel houses instead
If riding the waves the waves we-e riding
ner. This being our situation the captain
set the hands, and some passengers who vol.
lnteered at work throwing overheard the
outtenApd . lot Of government shells slowed
n the bows. Being thus lightened we kept
ner head square to the wind Though out Of
bur course) and 50 rode out the storm. Now
hat it is all over can say that storm st
yea is good thing to sec, but once will do.
D. the straining, the vomiting and visions Of
starting eyeballs one sees when ship is toss.
ing in storm and the nauseating and VII
ainous smells-bah
know Of nothing moro internally disa-
yreeabls than being cooped up with an indis-
criminste horde Of mon, women and child.