Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-02-05
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

anu lcmpSobuOuS' VIC lCiO VOioOJ Si"J'
Jan. Sd, and arrived in Liverpool, Jan.
18th, without any important incidents
during the voyage. Our vessel was the
staunch and excellent steamship, Rus
STA, of the Cunard line, which has made
many successful voyages across the At
lantic. Forty-six passengers, including
almost every nationality, and represent
ing many sections of the United States,
embarked for the old world. Our occu-
patton on the vessel consisted in CONVEX
sation, walking the deck, reading, (there
is an excellent library upon the Cunard
steamers) eating and sleeping.
We were accompanied from day to
day, by beautiful and friendly flock of
gulls that followed the vessel and gath
cred from the garbage thrown from it suf-
fcient food to sustain them in their flights
and wandering over the sea. These birds
appear to sleep during nighttime on the
bosom of the waves, but rise at the first
dawn of morning and fly away in search
of some passing vessel. These sea gulls,
with an occasional Mother Carey's Chick
en-, were all the living creatures we saw,
beyond our own deck, during the voy-
age. Now and then we deserted ''pass-
ing sail'' away in the dim distance, but
it soon disappeared from our sight.
The contrast in the weather was as
strange as it was agreeable, as we pro-
ceeded on our voyage. When we left
New York the streets were piled high
with snow, the harbor was almost lock-
ed in ice and the thermometer was near
ly down to zero but in few days we
reached the Gulf Stream, with the water
Sc degrees and the air 80 degrees; and
though we turned our prov to the north
ward and reached a latitude as high as
Labrador, the air was still mild and
balmy. We babe adieu to the present
winter, which you will enjoy or endure
some months longer, as we left the coast
of our own dear America.
Among other strange experiences is
the difference in time. As the Liverpool
clock strikes ten-the hour of retiring
II is " i1det 9 }prVE watches and observe that
) rate as our watch has proved itself to Be
on land, it has lost its reckoning" il
. coming over the sea, and is five hours
behind time But we remember that VIZ
? have travelled many degrees to the east
D ward. and have stolen a march O.
e about five hours on the rising of the sun
q 1t was interesting to us landsmen t
b watch the officers of the ship, as they
/ daily made observations, their "reckon
1 ings" ascertaining not only meridian
: noon, but their latitude and longitude
Having ascertained the exact time wheI
the sun crossed the meridian, the ship
time was corrected for the day. and tn
- position of the vessel was easily ascer
:. tanned.
. Since the complex life and arrange
! ments of all ocean steamships are muc
/, alike, your readers may be interested i
=, a brief account of what they are on tn
Russia. The full crew of this vessel cor
- sists of IA men, including the steward
- ess. These are divided into sailors, Ell
gineers or fremen, and stewards, wit
still other subdivisions of duty. Outsid
these three classes, there are few oil
ers, as the doctor, purser, carpente
- The vessels officers consist of captain
y four mates, four boatswains and tN
quarter-masters.
:. In steamers of the Cunard line, a
~ the ships people are divided into
.. many crews as there are boats. The of
GERS and each mans place and duty {
- the boats are known and designated |
- badges, previous to sailing. The dag b
- fore any "Cunarder" leaves Liverpool
. or receives any passengers, all the of
of GERS and men are required to be (
:. board, the ship is hauled into the strea
:. and under suitable inspection the ord
:. is given: "Boats out % These, viii
- are constantly supplied with water al
- all necessaries, except food, are lowere
- manned and move off little ways, a
:. then are hauled to their places agai
;, At such times the boats can be lowere
- loaded and pushed off in three minut
-. from the command. The men are tn
80 drilled in service against fire, each o
G.. having his place and work in this mi
=. terrible of all calamities at sea- N
- the pumps are manned and it is sc
:. that these are in order, and that eve
: sailor knows his duty and every serv
- is anticipated. Inspection is made
roo the water-tight compartments, sto
= rooms, lighting, signalling, steering
paratus and, in short, of whatever
&c lates to the safety of the ship. o.
when all is found satisfactory is
steamer permitted to receive passengt
Aiio On this line no kerosene is used,
ne' preparation of sperm oil. The lar
hey are of metal. For the state-rooms Il
Vi are locked within glass doors and in
'ie0, case are they accessible to the hands
Gnu q. passengers and the ordinary crew. 1