Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-12-01

cheering smile, was passed down
the ladder to the fireman. Pre-
sently the steam gauge began to
go Observation-Disclosures still
higher. ashes making Is miles
an hour" said engineer Blanchard;
"we'll get there before eight"
The big waves came laundering
against us, but the Sherman cut
them through as easily as Sampson
parted the cords Of the Philistines.
The sea became desperate. Gath
ering all its force into one big
breaker, it hurled it against our
starboard, where the saloon is
Stands leave the wall and dive in
to the middle of the floor, boxes OF
glass are dashed across the room,
goblets come rafting down in
peicos, bottles Of cognac and old
rye are precipitated to the floor,
unnecked, and waste their sweet
ness, but the Sherman hardly
winks at the shock, but keeps
steadily on her eighteen miles an
hour. The "thick weather" of
course brings early darkness and
night is on us when we enter
the mouth of Thunder Bay. But
the headlights visible, the exper-
fenced sailors know their way and
the boat does not slacken a bit.
Soon the line Of lights directly
ahead show we are nearing Alpena,
and they grow brighter and nearer.
We are aglow with expectation of
the warm greeting that awaits us.
Twenty minutes will terminate our
voyage, but the genius of the
storm, as if to mock our weakness
suddenly draws darker curtain
over the black heavens and sends
down upon US drifting snow
storm. The Alpena lights begin
to fade, DINNER and DINNER they
grow till they they are completely
extinguished. at is going to shut
us out" cries the mate. The fash
light on the point, just now so
wakeful, winks dreamily, sleepily,
till it is scarcely visible, the wheels
slacken and we move cautiously.
The men of this line, though brave,
will venture no fool hardy exploits.
We gather on the forward deck
straining our eyes through the
storm and darkness, listening to
the musical wierd vocabulary of
the mate and wheelsman as they
sing their orders back and forth
with repetition. But the steamer is
well directed and at 500 p. m. we
stepped ashore at Alpena and clasp
ed hands with our long expectant
friends. But we did not feel par
ticularly delighted or relieved.
The trip would have been tame in
proportion as it had been shorne
Of its adventures and excitement.
On Saturday We returned on the
Dunlap-Captain Ripley-and had
a voyage which bore, In every res
pect, except the genial company of
the men that manage her, the sharp
est contrast to the other-a perfect
calm accompanied us all day
There was no storm, no lying In
port, no wooding up, nor tanning
of wild steers, and so we gathered
in the smoking room" and spent
the leasure hours in happy animat-
ed talk, in which the accomplished
engineer, Mr.. Hill, with his large
army experience and abundant
anecdote, was by common consent
the autocrat-or sat with this gen.
tleman in the engine room watch.
ing the firm motion of the macL-
inery and seeing the ingenious lit
tie continuance under the clock
counting off the revolutions, which
numbered 1O,32S between Spring
port and Bay City. This was a
part of our amusement while going
up on the Sherman, whose splendid
engine, which was built by the
government at an expense of $780,
600, Is presided over by Mr..
Blanchard--as fine fellow as ever
sailed. McFall is Clerk and Rob-
inson Steward on the Dunlap, Mo-
horton and Brown hold the same
positions on the Sherman, and they
know how to make it agreeable to
passengers. And for genuine hos
pitality, think of those bard-work-
ing night-watching officers giving
up their comfortable quarters for
the accommodation of their guests,
as Capt. Conner did on this occasion,
besides supplying us with cigars
from his own private stock. We
started reluctantly on the trip as a
matter of business, but 1t proved
as enjoyable pleasure excursion
as we have had in many year.
If you wish to enjoy an agree
able pastime for few days, don't
hesitate on account of the weather,
but go with these genial fellows to
Alpena, and we can assure you,
Mr.. Editor, you will never regret
it.