Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-12-07
LEItIal Correspondence %. ,le Free p..-..
From The Wet Indie.
The rayegs 20 s. Groin.
CHRIsriANsTAur, ST. trrIEtl
Nov. 81. 1855

CHEIsriANsr,ur, ST. CrciE,
Nov. %, 1855.
We lea New York on the afternoon of the III
Of October ia the Steamship .No-H = rtl,
Capt Timusrman,-ole Of the New York AMI
Brazil Steam Comrauy's packets, which Ply be-
tween New York and Rio Ja1e'ra, stopping SO tie
Island Of s.. Thomas and several other ports
between that island and Rio. The nor Amer
ia is oue Of the vessels purchased fr ,h5 Ul.-
ted States Government, during the war o, tie
rebellion. She was bought On the stocks 40 New
York, and was named the Fort Jse,soa, after
the Fort Of that name below New Orleans. cap
turcd in the attack under command OF the
brave old Farragut On the deck Of tiis ship
Magruder and Kirby Smith signed the surrer-
der Of the rebel armies in Texas, which Looted
cut Of existence what was left Of the great army
Of the Confedesscy after the surrender Of Lee
and johnson. Nc mark. If her warlikc service
now appear on the North America. Her equip
ments is in all respects that Of ships bull, she
was for the uses Of commerce. She is power
ful vessel Of above ZOO tons burthen, and rcck-
Oned one Of the very be-; Steamships which
leave the port of New York.
The hour for departure wss set a; @ p. ~;
and from about eleven \. NJ till be signal gun
was fired. the hustle attendant on tie arrival Of
baggage, Of passengers for the voyage and Of
friends to exchange parting ,alu'atons, coHtin-
ued to increase. We had our share OF the pleas
ant inSroductions by mutual acquaintluces Of
parties who without previous knowledge found
themselves On bcsrd on their way to the tropics
for health or business. But the gong sounded
as notice to visitors TO 60 ashore. Some took
their way into the city, but throag crowded to
the end Of the long pier to wave their final
adeus. At about twenty minutes after three the
hawsers were loosened from the Gstenings and
drawn aboard, the ponderous engine, which WAS
Of ST. Thomas. and which had for some time
been in slow motion as a prelude to What it
could do when the word should be given, started
IN earnest. and cur voyage began. Scores Of
white handkercheis on the ship and the pier
waved good bye till faces were no longer dis
tnguishable. The ships head was turnel
southwark. and gradually the city an Islands
in the harbor. the forts at the narrows and all
the surroundings Of the great harbor Of New
York were left behind US
Though during the afternoon Of our departure
the weather was not unpleasant the tokens Of a
somewhat squslly night approaching were yisi-
bic, and We began to fear that the comforting
predictions Of all our friends that by the time
We were fairly off shore We should find ourselves
under the dominic ion OF that ugly sea monster,
nal du ner, would prove disagreeably true. In
a measure that WE so; and for the first thirty |
six hours, the reduction of the ships stores |
from the appetite of many Of the passengers |
night be rated AT a very low figure. But the |
Irregular motion Of the vessel was much less
he first night Il ian might have been expected,
nd We got thr' ugh the n ight and the next day
nth much less discomfort than We had looked
'r. BY the th ird day heal. h and spirits were
, good tone, nd appetite all that we could wish