Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-12-07

Oct. p, noon, Lat. 3D %
Long. GO 81
Dis; run 23i miles.
Oct. -, u,on, Lat %
Long. GS9 Is
Dist. run 81 miles.
Oct -, neon, Lat % Il
Long. So so
Dist run 2l3 miles.
Oct. IS, noon, Lat 20
Long. % 90
Dist. run go miles.
oct -, arrived at S. Thomas at day Light
Lat Of St. Thomas, lS9 20 y
Long 6i9 Is
Dist run 10 miles.
Whole distance run 1915 nautical miles. equal
TO about 1880 geographical English miles.
Tie average rate Of Prograss-about-G9 geogra-
phict miles a day-vas no indication OF the
rate at which the ship could have gone If put to
her s-eei. II was determined by G regard to
an economy Of coal ard the set time for her ar
rival at. ST. Thomas, that Iomt being point Of
meeting for many lines Of Steam Ships to and
from different parts Of the vor-d, and q place
whore they an ind ID convenient to take IN
supp coal SET times cfarriyal and depart
ure promote commercial advantage generally.
The fine weather and general uniformity Of
a1lirs on ship board made the voyage rather
u.a1tou1u-, after the novelty oft had roru Oil.
Thee vas an Unavoidable feeling Of Loneliness
also. q, finding ourselves tra7or,iug, day after
DAY, tie urchaugHg exrauso Of waters. where
for dogs In succession nothing could be seen
be.ykening human existence outside q the linz
i,s Of the ship sc were IN. The direct r5ute
which s,eamess take fer s., Thomas from New
York is far away from land ana vide Of the
routes taken ty sailing vessels or other steam
slip lines. Wc cav Two vessels under ssl &c
distance the Jay after We lef, New YORK and
one mo-e near The eastern hor'7l and
that was alb ON the 18th how
ever. an object Of painful iateres,
appeared s-cn afsr midday, On The horizon In
The Southwest s ship aFrarea;l ia distress
Was deserted by ,loss ca the lookout. alI che
course Of tie North America vas altered 90
inter u her, Ivory thing 81 the shape Of
sr---'r-s vac s.e1 put into r5gl's.t.ou and the
forward le.A vas crowded. with passengers,
questioning, s-lcu.ati-- and anxious Grsll-
a,y as .a, Intervening distance Isz,u-I, the
evidences o.. q wreck increased It was 90 tl-ce
m.s.,i rs-z-l.ri;l nests a-l yards tr,k.r, ss.ls
and movable rigging 90 gone, water legged. che
I.es 81 'ov thar every I'll carried che waves
av,r 30. $50 HsHe VAS visible. 1t having Been
washed away jy tie waves. Tie Captain .aiI
ste Dad ,7'd,lriy t,,a visited .uI stripped
ans theu .,tt to DIFF. at the mercy Ct winds and
v.r s-frlJaj'y bod TEN afcat So fora uo-th,
71I iow much .o1 ger BE would la 20 10 enc
could ,oI. There Ie.arro 10 s.t.ity Of there
being sny living sou, aboard DC attempt was
made 90 examine the wreck. WAlthal been the
fate ol ler crew or passengers they
LlI lcsl-, sI L-r. or cen taken CT Iy whoever
bad stripped her. VAS l.G to conjecture. S.a.e
account o., i1r uay aTl,-r in the numerous
r.-.-is ~ s-,r-s--.a BIS which have occurred with
10 Gle last month % tv5. AID perhaps he fate
II those who inhabited her VIII never Re known.
/; was SAD spectacle, and tie reflections which
it -llrli viii rot BE % ,fscel. But uc,-
wi,hs.lul.ne the l-nlsamluess Of cur route.
there was an Iutrirg interest III the ocean itself
It's restless surface, its wonderful extent. the
white crests and the deep blue waves,vere a con-
stan; attraction TO tie eye. As to tile color Of
the deep water had no conception Of the iuteu-
s.ty Of Us blue color till saw it over the bull
wa-ks Of the North America. As thrown of from
the bows Of the vessel IN large shell formed
waves bordcIed by snow white foam, the blue
ness Of the water was Ike that Of mass Of
purest sapphire Of unsurpassab.e beauty. At
night too, as lying in tie upper berth Of cur
state room, the Ior. being wide open TO allow
circulation Of the fresh warm air and the moon
lighting up the expanse. the effect TO the eye
was TO transfer the osciilatng motion Of the
ship to the ocean. so that It feemei TO be vast
tile Of blue waves feaked with white and
rushing ceaselessly by on their way to the North
As We made cur way Southwark the cool sir Of
the region which We had left was gradually re-
placed by a warmer atmosphere, and by the
time we were fairly south Of the tropic its sud
orifc effect vas felt without moments cessa-
ton By night as well as by day, and from the
crown Of the head to the sole Of the foot; and
thus ar its influence has received 10 check
This is warm climate. for November, and
no mistake.
We could have reached s.. Thomas in the
early part Of tie night but the Captain was not
disposed to enter the harbor, save by daylight,
and the motion Of the vessel was slowed accord
ingly. At daylight the welcome sight Of the
green hills Of the island met cur eyes, and once
within its harbOr, filed with ships Of many
nations. we were soon surrounded BY rowboa,s
manned by men aud boys Of all colors except
white, soliciting the privilege (or generous
eonsideration) Of carrying the passengers
The remainder Of our voyage to st. CroIx. l |
must reserve for another letter.