The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-03-05


and when the necessary steps had been
taken, Mrs. Seaton drew Mrs. Ford
toward the great gateway and prepared to
quit the wharf in mental triumph.
"This way if you please ladies'" said
another officer, who now stepped forward
to meet them. "We must trouble you to
walk this way for minute Allow me"
and bowling and backing as if he had been
groom of the Chambers, escorting a prn-
cess, he ushered them into small room
and closed the door,
Here stood two women whom the stew
ardess Immediately recognized as female
searchers, and somewhat startled at what
occurred, she said at once there must be
some mistake she was stewardess of the
City Of, and was anxious to return on
board at once, having come on shore only
to carry Mrs. Seatons baby.
"You shall go as soon as we have done
with you," replied the searcher, with some
thing of sneer; "but whether on board
or not depends on other matters. Come,
it's no use resisting" as Mrs. Ford tried to
evade the hands which began at once to
remove her outer clothing.
at is no use, indeed, said Mrs. Seaton,
who seemed to treat the whole thing with
most serene philosophy, although any one
who had watched her carefully would have
seen an anxious glance at Mrs. Ford's cloth
jacket. The searcher took it off, threw it
on the bench, and Mrs. Seaton, with affect
ed carelessness, Immediately laid over it a
large railway rug which she had on her
arm. "My good Mrs. Ford, you and l
know it would be useless to search either
of us, " said she. "We have not the first
bit of smuggled goods about us; at least 1
can answer for myself and as for you,
know you had no notion of coming ashore,
except to carry Freddy, why, of course,
you have not either. Freddy is not contra
band, l suppose" she added; laughing
$50 guess these good ladies will have
their trouble for their pains. Take it easy,
do now; there's IA good woman"
But it was no use saying "Take it easy
to Mrs. Ford. 1t must be an exceedingly
unpleasant operation, l should imagine
being searched by strange woman, who
strips her victim in a cool, business-likC
way, regardless alike of shyness and deli
cacy. The stewardess knew that it was
uncalled for, and felt it an insult Ever
to passengers the thing is rarely done, un
less under very suspicious circumstance
and she having been so often in that por
without ever passing through the search
ers hands, could not understand why sh,
should now be subjected to this degrade
tion. She would not submit quietly. Sh,
pushed off the coarse hands which intrud
ed on her womanly feelings of delicacy
She shrank from the examination, she sob
bed, she grew hysterical; and, her nervous
excitement being mistaken for guilt, sh
was in consequence subjected to NOR
rigorous examination. Every part of he
clothing was felt; even her hair and he
boots were examined, while each momen
she became more painfully agitated, ant
her sobs and outcries grew louder.
The process was nearly completed, AM
she was about half dressed again, whel
the uproar in the little room attracted at
Ford's hysterical screams, were the remon
strances of the searchers, delivered in tn
highest key of Yankee voice, tile attemp
of soothing on Mrs. Seaton's part, and TIL
loud cries of Master Freddy, who woul
not be pacified after the strange hands G
this woman had meddled with his ow
little person. The noise arrested the al
tention Of two persons passing by, VIII
opened the door and looked in.
"What are you doing to my stewardess?
asked the Captain of the City of--,wh
had recognized her voice.
"Oh, Captain Stebbit, Captain Stebbit!
she cried as she saw him. "See what the
are doing to me; they've been searchin
me. Oh, what have done? oh, am 8
! ashamed ~ Her voice was broken by sobl
} and she was half choksd by her tears.
"Why, what's all the row about?" aske
Captain Stebbit, who was the jolliest, MOI
. good-humored man in the world. "Whs
has my stewardess been doing? She is n
smuggler. Here" added he, turning
his companion, "your ship is close at han'
could you not step on board and bring l
: your stewardess. They are frighteniu
Mrs. Ford into fits, and she needs a frien
: to look after her. You know Mrs. Loo
4 very well, she win come to you."
: The summons for Mrs. Lock was answe
Z cd hx herself immediately and In col