The weekly standard., 1870-06-22
Insanity ON the ocean.

" StcoihCi oshish, Ctiptain w iikeSOD,
arrived at this port yesterday, from London
on the 18th of last.month. her first voyage.
The passengers tllatcame by tho Parsna en- en-.
braced fous nationalitics English, French,
SWISS and German-the majority being
English artisans, who, III consequence of the
great reduction in the English workshops,
are seeking work at their various trades i'm
THIS country. The steamer started with a
iuii complement Of passengers, and nothing
occurred to break the monotony incident tD
q voyage at sea until her arrival at Hayre.
where she stopped one day to take on pas-
sengers and freight. During her stay in the
port of Havre everything was excitement on
board. The passengers l0nged to 90 ashore.
and tread La Belle France; but the captain
would not permit them, and as soon as he
could get his clearance, he proceeded on his
voyage to this port.
On the second day out, Captain Wilkeson,
while making his daily inspection among
the steerage passengers, had his attention d.
rected to a young man of very respectable
appearance, who was distributing tracts
among his fellow passengers. He was at
tired in fine suit of broadcloth, and this
fact alone attracted the Captains attention.
Captain Wilkeson wondered what could
possibly have caused u man of his appear
ance to take passage in the steerage, and the
incident occasioned him much uneasiness,
SO peuch so, that he determined to speak
withthe young man the next morning.
= 9p thc Following day, while Capt. Wilke,
GOA Was passing among the steeragc pas
szngers, ,she was accostcd by young man
who asked permission to preach the gospel
to the passengers. remarking that be had
already addressed them, and that be had
been sent to accompany the passengers by
the Lord Jesus Christ. The Captain not
only gave his permission, but remarked that
he believed that the majority of the passen-
gers would he benefited if they were
preached to every day, and he doubted not
that many were much in need of Christian
counsel. During the day all the passengers,
numbering over three hundred, assembled
on the main deck; and, standing on the
poop deck, the young man delivered a ser.
mon on the benefits derived from christian
life. Captain Wilkeson says that he has
heard several of the most eminent English
and American preachers, but he never yet
listened to man possessing such rare elo-
quence and spiritual enthusiasm. His voice
he described as rich and loud, and his words,
although the sea was running high and the
winds blowing fresh, could be distinctly
heard. After he had finished his sermon, he
became excited, and frequently remarked
that he was the servant of the Lord Jesus,
and that to accompany the passengers to
America was his special mission.
The captain engaged himin conservation,
and soon asceriained that he was young
man of considerable culture and ability.
Believing him to be excited on the subject
Of religion, he directed the surgeon and the
officers Of the ship to keep an eye on the
enthusiast, and report his movements. The
surgeon prescribed some nourishmcnt for
him and endeavored by stimuants to quiet
his nerves. He was finally persuaded to re-
tire to his berth where he fell into a deep
slumber. The next morning at about five
O'Clock, while the crew were at work clean
ing decks. the young man rushed on deck
in his night shirt and drawers, and leaping
on the bulwarks plunged into the sea which
was then running very high. The captain,
hearing the telegraph alarm to stop and
back, hurried on deck, and looking far
astern, there saw man floating on the top
most wave He saw that it was madness
to lower boat, and before sthing could
be done the man disappeared. 1t was as
certained that the lost passenger was named
VIM. A. Soifee, that he was aged twenty-one
year,, and that he took passage from Lon
don. For several days following the occur
renee the passengers were filled with gloom,
and nothing else was talked of.
About week following the drowning, the
captain was sent for by an aged Frenchman
named Etienne Stehelin, who desired that
the purser should take care of his papers,
money, and personal effects. The captain
remarked that it was seldom that thieves
weff among SO respectable a class of pas
se.ze.s, and that his property was aH safe.
TIN passease said that I: was not them he
feaiied. buthe did not believe he would live
to reach bis darling son whom be SO long
had hoped to see. Stchelin being in good
told him he would see his son in a few
days. The old man would not be com
forted, and during the whole day he walked
up and down the steerage gangway, talking
to himself The passengers after awhile
failed to notice his strange actions There
was no one supposedthat he mcditated sui
eide. He always answered respectfully
when addressed, and frequently caressed the
little children while playing about him. On
the morning of June Q, at about o'clock,
without attracting the attention Of the other
passengers, the majority of whom were
about turning out of their berths, he as,
cended to the deck, and, mounting the
railing, plunged overheard. The sea at the
time was running very high, and the cap
tain said it would be sacrificing life to man
the life boat. The steamer was immedi-
ately put about, and meantime every eye on
deck was strained to get glimpse of the
drowning passenger, but he was not seen,
and the steamer resumed her voyage to the
city,
The baggage, papers, and valuablcs be-
longing u the lost passengers were yester-
day taken charge of by Rowland and As.
pinwall. to await the orders of relatives.
Stehelin, the Frcnchman, left two valuable
gold watches, one of which he intended as
a present to his son whom he had not seen
for many years.-E Y Sun.