Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-03-25
SAVED FROM A WRECK.

It seemed like a presentiment AT
least there was something very remark
able in the fact that my countrymen
and fellow travellers, Dons Manuel and
Domingo, should have altered their
plans at the last moment of leavin g
England, and, instead of returning to
Peru, their native country, via New
York, as had been previously agreed,
decided to go by the more direct way OF
Jamaica. 4 thousand miles more OIL
less is no consideration with such tray
.elers as We Peruvians are, and although
New York is a little out of the way to
South America, my friends did not hes
Itate on that account.
However, it was finally arranged that
my companions should return to Peru
by the Jamaica route, and that should
meet them there after touching at New
York, where my wife and family were
residing, Some valuable works of art
which my fellow travellers had pJlr-
chased during our ten months wander
ings in Europe were to have gone with
me to New York; but here again the
finger of fate seemed to interpose, and
labeled them "glass, with care" direct
to Peru by sailing vessel.
[ wished afterward that I had adopt
ed the same precaution with regard to
a small leather bag that contained va
uous presents for my friends in South
America, besides many little treasures
which [ had collected abroad.
I had my choice of steamers for New
York, as two were about leaving Liver
pool for that city. Both had alike the
reputation for fast sailing and cabin
comforts, but the fates decreed that I
should embark in the one which [ will
call the Arcadia, and I accordingly Sc
cured berth in the saloon department
of that vessel.
I am an old traveller, and therefore
nothing was omitted in my list of re-
quirements for voyage by sea, except
a hfe-preserver, which I had intended
purchasing in London, but which, in
the hurry of my departure, [ had for
gotten. Ny portmanteau was, as usual
slowed away in place in my cabin; the
leather bag, containing my money and
vaIuables, was consigned to the care of
the purser and before [ retired to rest
AN old sock-in which was accustomed
at night to place my silver matchbox,
my gold repeater, couple of valuable
rings, and little loose cash, was de-
posted under my pillow. Like most
of my countrymen, [ am an inveterate
smoker, and I had not forgotten to pro-
vide myself with goodly supply of
cigars of the best brand, together with
a few packets of cigarettes.
The Arcadia was not altogether what
/ should have considered clean and
perfectly sound vessel indeed this was
her last voyage before putting into
dock for repairs. However, [ slept and
fed well, and the speed at which we
started left nothing to be desired.
We steamed out of Liverpool, and on
the following day we had already made
544 miles. On the next day, however,
we were caught in a severe gale, which
rent some of our sails and retarded our
progress. But on the morrow there
was calm, and, notwithstanding this,
we made only 244 miles On the next
day with the the weather still in our
favor, we made but $50 miles,
The passengers now began to COM
ment on the hardness of the steamer,
and many were of opinion that the coal
supply was deficient and, when, three
days later, we found that we had made
at the rate of 169 miles per "a hours,
we twitted our captain good-naturedly
about the stingy allowance of coal.
We were a merry party and fraterniz-
ed much during the tedious voyage,
occupying the hours by playing chess,
cards, and other games, and laying
wagers as to the number of miles the
steamer was making per day. Three of
the saloon passengers. whom l will
call Mr.. Welch, Mr.. SAINT, and Mr..
Kew, were especially friendly with me
perhaps because l was foreigner,
aud contributed largely towand main
tanning the hilarity on board. They
also helped me to consume the good
Havana cigars which / had brought.
On the last day of that memorable
month. the fact could not be concealed
that the Arcadia was either deficient in
coal or that the supply was of inferior
quality; and, upon the morning OF that
day. it was resolved to make for Hall
fax. At ~ o'clock our captain gave
orders to change the route, and put the
ships head northward. .s4sys2 eo4
It was only after the mischief was
done we learned that the steamer had