Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-07-20
written expressly tor ne psytOa EmpircI
THE VOYAGE HOME,


Lord Bacon says, "it is a strange thing tina,
in sea voyages, where there is nothing 10 be
seen bat sky and sea, men should make dia-
ries The remark convinoes me that ut the
time be wrote It, he either had been to sea 90
often that he had forgotten his early impress
sons in regard to it, or that he had never
been 20 sea at ell With pe, the ocean has
always been an object Of the highest interest.
In early life the most interesting parts Of oil
books Of travel we're those which told me Of
voyages, and now, after a summer Of travel
crowded fnll of pleasures, the reminisoenoe Of
the sea are among the very pleasantest that
memory holds. The monotony Of a six months
voyage in a sailing vessel would doubtless
more than satisfy ones enthusiasm for salt
water, but trip across the Atlantic in
steamship nowadays is such an Insignificant
matter in point Of time, and is accompanied
with so few Inconvenience and dangers. and
so many comforts and pleasures that to one
who can hear the motion of the vessel, It is
rs a holiday excursion-to one who cannot,
however, it is apt to be quite otherwise, espe.
eially in the month Of October.
AS we passed swiftly seaward out of the
river Mersey, which is the hsrbor Of Liver
pool, the sun came out for moment from be.
bind a thick veil of clouds, and lighted up the
landscape so that Europe bade as farewell
with beaming smile, and the sea laughed
and danced about us, as il glad to bear US
once more upon its bosom. We stood upon
the deck and watched the reeeding shores and
the blue mountains of Wales at our left re-
GREETING somewhat the many pleasures on this
side Of the Atlantic which we we're leaving
untssted, but still N ore occupied with thoughts
Of home, nearer to which we we're brought By
every pulsation Of the hot and mighty heart
of onr gallant ship In three or four bours
We we're of Holyhead where bare and jagged
rocks, rising abruptly from the water, frown
forbiddingly upon the passing mariners, who
wariIy bear away from them as far as posi-
BILE This was the scene, four or Eve years
ago, of the most awful shipwreck of the pres
ent century. The steamship Royal Charter,
from Australia to Liverpool, was driven
against these rocks by western wind, and
with all her freight of precions human lives
went to the bottom of the sea within sight
and almost within hail of the land After
escaping the perils of long voyage, when
every heart was beating high in hope of meet
ing loved ones on shore at the end Of four or
Eve hours, at the very threshold of their
homes, 400 men, women and children met
their awful doom. As we rounded the point,
and turned towards the south, we ran into a
storm which made furious effort to drive US
also upon the rocks, and the spray dashed in
heavy masses upon the decks, but it gave over
soon, having accomplished nothing more Sc
rious than sending scores of pale, disgusted
creatures groaning to their beds
The most of the next day, Sabbath, we
spent in the harbor Of Queenstown, ireland,
awaiting the arrival Of the mail which leaves
London at o'clock every Saturday evening.
Alta o clock we we're out again upon the ocean,
aud the thick clouds which were piled up high
and dark against the western sky, notified US
that there was rough voyage before us -
Before midnight, the storm burst upon US, and
for seven days and nights it ragged almost
} without intermission. Squarely into our faces
/ it came, contesting our onward progress with
bitter violence, but the sturdy vessel pressed
steadily forward as If it we're endowed with
human life and instincts, and found stern
Joy in encountering and overcoming opposi
ton.
Monday morning sprang out of my berth
as usual, and FASTENED to the upper deck, and
seating myself by the tall, red smoke-stack
which is the domestic hearth Of a steamship
: there watched the raging waters, and the
a graceful hesving of the ship and tried to
? imagine that it was all very fine and altogether
| enjoyable. In short time however, became
y conscious OF the fact that my olfactories were
i offended by the villianous combination oi
, perfumes which arose from the machinery and
the pantry, and disgust, strange, ineffable
u and overwhelming stole over me. | could fnd
J, nothing satisfactory in the white-capped waves
= the ship, the people, the taste, sound or smell
of anything, and a most awful undertone o
emotion notified me that was in a very un.
certain and precarious condition. and &c
e making one desperate plunge reached my
I berth, 10 rise no more for two days, During
that time, although escaped the severe ago
u nies of the fearful epidemic, life was endur
il able only when in a state Of reeumbency, and
!, was we'll qualified intelligently to under
ID stand the suffering that was visible or audible
t. every where around. At the end Of the seconC
At day, although the storm was still unabated
my appetite returned, and my troubles in tha
d direction we're over And then l stood agar
and again, with feelings of wild sxctemen
aud delight. which it must be confessed wer,