Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-05-03
SORROW ON THE SEA.

New York Obtsrcer, DIR. Prime com
ments upon the loss of the Atlantic, and
closes the letter in this interesting man
ner: THE name of the lost steamer
recalls tho destruction on Long Island
of steamboat of the same name, OF
the awful day and night of November
20. lS46. Hundreds of hearts were
broken by that wreck. Among those
who perished was the Rev. DIR. Arm
strong, the beloved Secretary of the
American Board of Foreign Missions.
The vessel was built on the same plan
with this White Star ship: too long
and narrow; and beautiful for fair
weather, but trail for battle with the
storm. carried the intelligence of DR.
Armstroug's death TO his friends, and
! assisted at his funeral. The steamer
sank in low water near the shore, and
for weeks its bell swinging in the wind,
tolled the mournful requiem of the dead.
! There is sorrow on the sea.
We have never heard word from
the President that sailed from this port
for Liverpool March II, ls4l: She
went down and made no sign. The sea
has not yet given up lis dead what
secrets ':the dark unfathomed caves OF
ocean bear e. rhe Rev. DIR. Cookman,
of Philadelphia, was one of her passcn-
gers. an eloquent divine of the Metho-
dist Church. For months and years at
telwards his vacant chair stood waltng
for him at the table and tiresldc, for,
to the heart that loved him most, hope
whispered that he wouAl yet come. IL
| is so hard 10 believe that one We love is
lost. On the other side of the sea an
English noblcman was waiting the re
| turn, by the same steamer, OF his only
son. His lorily domain extends from
the cliff from which he could look out
far upon the sea, and the track Of the
ships that come from the West into
port. Daily he came TO that spot, and,
too anxious to sit, he walked up and
down the cliff; the grass was worn away
bv his constant tread. but his son camc
not: months wore away, and hundreds
of ships with other mems sons came
home, but none, with flags and guns
told him. from the otlings, that his boy
was aboard. And by and by, the old
man became himself child, and in his
melancholy, waited, and unless death
has taken him to his son, he is waiting
still. 1t is so hard TO believe that one
we love is lost There is sorrow on the
sea.
What story of sorrow did the fate
of the Artic tell. Too many hearts are
vet bleeding, and will not speak of II.
Would you be frightened from max
ing voyage because these disasters arc
so frequent Ii wonld be foolish to bc
so deferred. There il quite Ms much
danger in travelling by land as 10y sea.
and more people are killed or wounded
on railroads than ships. In n stanncl
vessel. with n good commander, one
has no sense of danger even ia a storm
at sea. ! crossed the ocean once III the
Baltic, Capt. Briggs. His character,
department, and devotion inspired con
fdemce, and | was more sure OF getting
over in safety, than ] am OF getting
home at night in a street car. We
passed an iceberg at sunset 1t rose
from the sea like an island palace with
towers and pinnacles brighter than bui'
nished silver in the light OF the western
sun. said to myself: mo sleep for
me TO night; we are in the midst of the
greatest danger Of the sea; that floating
ice-rock is nine times deeper il the wa
ter than it's height above the waves,and
il rises 4 thousand feet on high; the
President probably struck one Of them
and sank like lead; if we run against
another in the dark, not one OF us VIII
live To tell the tale; thcirc is sorrow on
the sea and so reasoning and think
ing of my mothers words : "ln Gods
hand We are as safe on the sea rs on
the lard" turscd in; and the next
thing | knew the morning sun was
shining into my porthold and ! had
slept eight hours, straight through. For
before / left the deck had seen Capt.
Briggs at his post, watch was set at
every point Of view; all that man could
do was done, and therefore the rest was
Gods. / never worry when things are
left thus with Him.
Can't. Lott has crossed the Atlantic
about 400 times You may be IS CON-
pletely at ease with him rs If you Were
in your own rocking chair lie would
not 90 in doubtful ship,an in good
one he will take You just as securely rs
YOU would carry n child in your arms.
Accidents may happen to either OF you,
but the Providence of God is at fault
nowhere. 1t is mans fault when ships
are waeckcd or cars hurled down the
embankment. All the three or more
investigations into this late disaster VIII
probably fail to trace the calamity 10 its
cause. but lie who holds the winds ~
His fists will one day hold an inquest,
and in His verdict there will be no mis-
take"
The present fashionable way Of ladies
doing up their hair is called la guiIlo-
tine. because it was the mode with wo-
men condemned to death during the
French Revolution, TO arrange their
hair in like manner, 50 that it might be .
out of The way of the fatal knife.
Town is now dull the farmers gener7
ally being engaged IN preparing the
ground for Oats and Corn. Although
Winter has long fingered in the lap OF
Spring all nature is now assuninga new
garb and everybody looks lively e,'g
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