The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-07-14

STEAMSHIP "lNDIANA,"
Down the Delaware, July 9TH, 1877. J
THE START FOR LIVERPOOL.
DEAR WHIG:-Having many friends in
Elkton, and thinking a few lines to you
and them may prove little interesting, l
indite to you this letter.
The morning opens delightfully."- cool and
clear, and at 8 A. NJ. find myself surround
ed by warm and genial friends, upon the
beautiful and Staunch dmerirdH STEAMSHIP
Indiana bound across the great expanse of
oceans mighty waters. 1t is indeed a
strange anticipation-a looking forward to
a new eXperience,-this crossing from the
new to the old world. At 10 o'clock the
deck and saloons are filled with friends to
say a last adieu, the whistle shrieks, and
the beaten gongs warn all who are not
going across the Atlantic ferry to repair
ashore; the huge floating iron palace
moves out into the stream amid the waving
of handkerchiefs, the cannon booming upon
the air, and we are off for Liverpool. No,
there is a limited exception, for a few
friends will leave US at Chester, and we
shall then take aboard one of or travellers,
who is undergoing reception on a tug
boat rendered him by friends. On to the
breakwater we shall leave the pleasant
friend, r. c. Lewis. (He answers to nap
kin ring 90 | shall indeed feel, when he
leaves me, the last tie is severed be-
tween me and home, and | am indeed
going out into a new field of experience.
| shall leave him to the considerable care of
the pilot and the tender mercies of the
waves, trusting he will be safely landed at
Cape May, and am sure he can add there
unto a tale to all nquiring friends.
A short description of this ship will not
60 amiss. This is, as you know, one of
the four American steamships that travel
the ocean between this country and Europe.
To say she is beautiful and perfect is but a
patriotic sentiment; but they are generally
admitted by all to be the finest models that
go into the docks of Liverpool, and receive
a full complement of patronage. Capt Sar-
gent, to whom had a card of introduction,
extends me much kindness, and believe him
to be as genial and kind as he is Augc The
provision for preserving life is capital, there
being ten life boats and ten RATS capable
of averaging forty persons each, making
an aggregate provision for 500 persons.
Each of these is constantly provided with
canned meats, hard tack " and water.
There are three classes of passengers: first,
cabin; second, intermediate; and third,
the ship, and opposite the smoke stack is
a railing, to which is attached, in large let
tiers of brass this sentences "Steerage pas,
sengers will not go abaft Of this" The
intermediate come next and are allowed to
roam so far back as the mizzen- mast, while
the cabin passengers have free boat to
wander where they will. The table on
these ships are first class, and when ones
appetite is whetted up to keen edge by
the sailed airs of mid ocean and he is able
to respond at roll call, the gastric and pep.
sin sluices must run wild indeed. The time
that is repeatedly tolled out by bells, as it
passes, is musical and pleasant to the ear.
have not become familiar with the formula
yet, but as they suggest to ne the hour, |
trust, by repeated reference to my ohro-
nometer and the daily reckoning, to be
thoroughly conversant later.
AS we glide down the beautiful-not Dan
ube-Delaware, pass the old land marks of
revolutionary times, the beautiful slopng
hills in the far distant lands of the Key
stone State, and the quiet, mild sand
washed shores Of "Spa,n, and on we glide
past " Ridley" where Captain Sargent CON-
pliments me by salutng my friends of that
beautiful summer home with three shrill
whistles and dip; ON past the old haunts
of that venerable town of NY Eirth-New
Castle; past Fort Delaware into the bay,
and sighting a little schooner like a fishing
smack, we dismiss our two pilots and bid
you farewell. II. G. r.