The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-06-02

OF Killing Time-Safe Arrival In
Old England.
On BOARD THE s. s. SoYTI IA,
NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN,
MAY 18th, 1871
Editors of the Register:
Although the departure of Trsns-At
lantic steamship has come to be such at
ordinary occurrence, yet 1t never seems
to lose It's interest for u great many apart
from those who are its passengers. The
deck OF the Scythla on tho 9th OF May
last, was crowded with the friends Of
those leaving, and when the lines which
had held the vessel were finally cast of
the Cunsrd wharf presented most ami.
mated appearance. 1t was not enough
to wave handkerchieis and hats but the
young men hoisted them upon the points
OF their umbrellas, and one enthusiastic
individual mounted the shoulders of d
sympsthising friend that he might be
the last to be- seen. There are a great
many ladies on beard, principally Amer.
cans, and the numerous floral tributes
sent by their friends and displayed in the
sdlOOn W6Et ulOsI pcduIllui.
was fortunate in finding that our
townsman Mr.. John Il. Hobbs was to be
fellow traveller and became at once &C.
quainted with several OF his friends who
were also ON board. We all feel keenly
the parting from friends, but l do not
know but what it is more painful to have
no friends to bid adiew to. We sooa
settle down to the routine imposed up
on us on board ship, and after the In.
evltable sea sickness, it is delightful to
be ali deck getting the fresh air. The
weather has been rather cold tor the
season, but since we passed the "Banks'
the sun has come out and made life on
Geek very pleasant. Our principal occu.
patton is eating, and we all do our share
now, and the next is walking up and
down the deck. Many of the ladies
wrap themselves up and lay in their re-
clining chairs from nine IN the morning
Just after breakfast, until dinner, which
We have at tour, taking their lunch on
deck at twelve. Tea is at half past seven
ana supper from nine until ten. Shuttle
board, a game played BY pushiag flat
discs OF wood along the deck upon
squares marked with figures, and quoits,
made OF rope and pitched over al up
right pin on board, are regular games
OF great interest to the young men. The
children have swings fixed for them,
aud great many play cards, read and
talk in the evening. The ship has full
passenger list in the saloon, about 300,
and the most distinguished are Sir Ed
ward and Lady Thornton, with their two
daughters, and the Rev. 5. lreneus
Prime of the the N. Y. Observer.
Sir Edward Thornton is quites tsvorte
on board, and Judging from the remarks
of the Americans, he must have accept
sbiy represented Great Britain
at Washington for the last few years.
We have seen remarkably few sails
not more than five or six, since we lett
port; we passed little smack IN mid
ocean, not much larger than some OF the
sail boats in the OHIO river. A poor
little lsud bird, driven out TO sea by the
wind few around the ship yesterday, and
slig nted on the rigging for a few MIN
utes ut time; the little thing excited uni
versal sympathy, and suppose some OF II
came from the feeling that we were TO
some extent waits like itself; 1t has not
sppesred to-day and We fear the poor
thing has persisted.
The Captain if the ship does not bear
out the general reputation OF Cunsrd
commanders for grutfness,-a more ana,
BILE officer it would be hard to meet all
the other officers seem to take after their
Captain and the Doctor is an especial
favorite. :.
Itisno wonder that the Cunsrd line
has not lost q passenger or mail Dag
durlng the thirty-seven years they nave
been running.
This ship, which is a fair sample OF
their later build, is of iron, very strongiy
constructed, we'll appointed, and twtty
manned; in this latter respect, especially,
il compares :avorably with other lines;
their sailors are of better class; too
many steamehips employing ordinary
laborers, instead of the more expensive,
able bodied seamen.
The discipline is excellent, and great
attention is paid to details that ensure
safety, mitigate accident, when are
either neglected on other vessels OF
omitted for the want of help. Assoon
o. the vessel left the wharf the two
quarter boats were lifted out of the
hlocks and swung clear OF the sides SC
that they might be lowered at once IN
case of emergency; the temperature OF
the sea water is taken every lout
hours, all the way across. and II 1t IS low
enough to suggest ice, it is done every
half hour, and different course Is taken
ont and home. there being forty miles
between the two, in order to AVOID Tn
possibility of collision, and the course
taken in each case is somewhat
out of the ordinary course OF Atlantic
travel. The ship carries a crew OF lot
| men. including stewards, cooks, &c, and
are all divided of, so many to each boat
70 make a crew. Every man has hi:
Mace A certain amount OF food, water
instruments, spars, sails, &c, are 10 the
boats ready for any emerger cy, and upon
a given signal each man takes his place
without confusion. The same is the CASE
il the event of fire, and all other known
contingencies are provided Tor IN llks
manner. [ have written thus at Length
about the Cunard service, partly because
we should praise the bridge which carries
us safely over, and partly to account to'
the good fortune which has invariably
, attended the operations OF this line; arc
these operations are not simply confined
to the Atlantic trade, as many suppose
but the company continue the cosstine
trade upon the shores of Great Britain
with which they commenced. They rur
q line of steamers TO Hsvre from Eng
land: also one to the Mediterranean, ane
M into the Black Sea, and also line
from Nova Scotia to the West Indies
Altogether their feet numoer
/ nearly 100 vessels, and they em
! ploy constantly about 5000 men
A few voyages ago this vessel cam
| into collision with whale, and while tn