The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-04-08
ghsttbes, 5netOotts, 1T.
A LEAP EOYs LIFE.

was On my way from Paris to Rome,
and one morning in May found myself in
the City of MarseiEes, where had made
up my mind to take the steamer for Italy.
The vessel | had intended 10 sail in had
departed the day previous TO my arrival,
SO there was nothing to do but 10 select
the next best and commence my journey.
After noting the offers of the various COM
panies, l finally settled upon the General
Abbertoci, of the Nalery Line, and after
seeing my baggage aboard, and looking in
vain for some one to whom | might say
good~by, | followed suit, and was soon on
the deck.
looked around me at our passengers
never was there greater mixture of
nations. French, Spanish, and above all
Italian, was heard on every side, but |
listened in vain for Il sound of our good old
English tongue. After numerous leave
takings and kissings, such as only for
eIgner can indulge in, we managed to get
off, and steamed from the harbor with
light breeze following, and as happy a
company as was ever got together. There
were several notab!es on board, the Con
sui General OF France 10 Rome, and his
wife, an accom- ulshed and elegant woman,
several Secretaries of Legation; besides
many officers of the French Army, who,
with company Of troops, were on their
way to relieve part of the garrison at
Civita Vecchi, then held by the French.
As we sailed along many small boats
followed US, the occupants shouting and
waving their good byes until we were out
Of sight. Could they have seen what the
next twenty-fOur hours would produce
could they have known that their good>
byes were indeed farewells to those who,
before the morrow's sun, would be in
eternity, their gladness would have been
changed TO sorrow, and their rejoicing 10
tears.
As I said, we sailed On the morning OF
the 9Th of May, 1869, and nothing oc
Cured to mar our voyage up to 8 O'Clock
that night, when the wind changed, and a
head sea set in, which Quickly drove all
the ladies and most of the men below.
I As for myself, (aayinS spent nearly "A year
/ at sea, and never suffering from that
malady called Sickness | walked the
( deck for some two hours, partly for the
/ fresh air, which | could not get in the
/ saloon, and yartly because feeling of
? uneasiness and insecurity had taken hold
of me, which l endeavored in vain to
throw OFT There were good grounds,
/ however, for my feelings, for / had not
/ been half an hour on board before | no.
ticed lack Of discipline among the off
GERS and crew, which boded no good in
| case of accident, and which was afterward
fully confirmed by their conduct. We
were also heavily laden, including among
our freight deck load of petroleum, upon
the barrels of which the troops lay or sat
smoking. | endeavored in vain, by
signs, TO make the Captain understand
the nature Of such infammabIe material,
but he treated the subject with the utmost
indifference, and, Struggling his shoulders,
went into his room, as if the fate of over
sixty lives were of no possible conse-
/ quence.
Having remained on deck up TO nearly
l l O'Clock, I went to my room and lay
down, taking off my coat merely, for the
horriI pFesentiment that something would
occur still clung to me, and made my sleep
anything but quiet. 1t was about l
o'clock when was awakened by a fearfu
crash, followed instantly by two more
shocks repeated in qniek succession, while
at the same moment shrieks and cries
burst from all parts of the cabin, where
terrified women and children were rushing
lnadIy hither and thither. My first