The Republican journal., 1870-02-03
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE
Winter Steamboating. What we saw, and
how it Seemed
Boston. JAN. 27, 1870,

| is baking the soil, and the earth qulYero with
the ascending caloric, it is grateful to escape
to the sea- and cool the heated blood with
the salt breezes, to open the window of the
stateroom at night and find the temperature
reviying. But a passage in January How
| it brings up visions Of storms, and snow, and
sleet, and an iron-bound coast-such as
Longfelow pictured in the ''Wreck Of the
| Hesperus,n when he sang
"*C'od save us all from death like that
On the reef Of Normans Woe
in this city, | chose to incur these pcrils,
rather than drag OF be dragged over forty
miles Of a hard road to Augusta. II was
stormy afternoon that greeted the passengers
on the pier. The damp snow had turned to
rain, the wind was strong from the south
east, and brought with it that peculiar roar
of the surf on the outer islands which tells
TO the practiced ear that times are lively at
sea- and old Neptune in dangerous mood.
| The steamer that seemed SO long in coming,
when she did appear loomcd suddenly large
out of the mist and rain, as if she had ex-
| perienced a miraculous growth, But she
| was only the same staunch katahdin, that
sailors 50 admire for her sea-going qualities
| SO we all bundled onboard, old and young,
men and maidens, mothers and babies The
| baby transit il not to be frightened off by
wintry weather The lines We're cast off, the
| Jingle Of the engineers bell was heard and
we were off
Near Camden, where there is a break in
the barrier of islands, we got taste of the
outside weather. which made even our
steady going boat incline her sides ''Shall
we 90 outside ~ was the question each asked
| Of the other, and which no one could answer
with certainty. Having the privilege Of the
| pilot-house, where the authority of the boat
resides, had passed some time there, but
was no wiser than the rest. There was, in
| the face of Capt Rch that which testified 20
experience, Judgment and resolution, and
there was abundant skill and knowledge of
| the coast and its dangers in Capts. RoX and
Stanley the pilots. Why need a landsman,
| therefore, bother his head about what was
committed to those so much abler? 1t was
| the late lamentedn A. Lincoln who said that
| it isn't worth while to cross q river until YOU
get to it-and that question of crossing what
some of the later geographers call the Gulf
of Maine when VIC should get to it, was dis
missed But it was observable, when all the
freight was in at Rockland, that the wheels
stood still the steam quietly Kissed at the es
| cape pipe, and the officers gathered in the
engino-room and told stories. Then it was
known that we were to stop till the weather
| changcd- -iul the rain still came spitetullv
on the roof and the scud flew over head.
Then the passengers betook themselves to
talking business and politics, spinning yarns,
and playing the great national game of
euchre. One pious mani would give his
rame if | knew it--attentively read the Book
| Of Lamentations in the cabin Bible. Stand
| ing by the lower-dock gangwav, l noticed q
man conducting ashore two others, whose
| steps caused q rattling Of chains They
were convicts, going to the State Prison
young, and not by any means hardened look
| inc. and over whose fate perhaps loving
hearts far away We're breaking.
| | was dimly conscious during the night.
by the sounds of the bell in the engine-room
| that we were starting, and afterwards by the
ceascless roll from side to side that we were
| out at sea. The writer hereof is inclined to
| think that his reputation as an early riser is
| not first rate with those who have oportuni-
| ties to know That's because, when ashore.
everything is expected to be found lust rs it
was left over night But at sea if you want
| to know how things are, it is necessary to
get ont and prospect for yourself. So, I'M
| hour or more before sunrise | arose and
with some difficulty became ''clothed and in
| my right mind.' Stepping into the passage
| way, there was not soul in sight save the
| engineer at his post, watching the play OF
the bright machinery and listening 10 the
deep, strong breathingS Of the engine. Nov
| ING cautiously to the forward deck, | looked
out upon the sea. The moon hung q crescent
| in the west, the stars We're bright aud the
sea was white with the caps Of waves driven
before a strong westerly gale right in our
| teeth and into which the boat WAS plowing
| often sending the spray over the deck Tor
| ward Climbing the ladder into the pilot
house found only Capt. Stanley, pecring
out at the glass front. and broad-shouldered
sailor with his hands on the wheel and ewes
on the compass To avoid the force Of the
wind and sea- the boat had been headed in
shore, and WAS running closer to the land
than usual, with the coast near Saco in view
Occasionally a coaster came flying before the
gale, and passed US like phantom. A few
white sea-gulls wheeled and circled ahead
Save these there was no sign of life on the
sea. In the cast bank of cloud, caught
the glow of the coming sun, and realized
Tennyson's gorgeous figure e-''a looming
bastion, tringed with fire.
The pilot-house is always q cosy nook to
me, exceedingly comfortable with its coal
fire, and desirable to a sights seer from its
elevated lookout Here are the eyes. the
ears, the perceptions of the vessel, 50 far as
navigation and safety 90 Here the course
| IS laid, dangers watched for, weather obscry-
ed consultations held reports made, and all
pG A M