Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-07-18


The log on Sunday showed 13O miles. Total
2,231. The weather was now beautiful, and
EVERYBODY WAS RECOVERING
from sickness and dependency. The emf
grants became more cheerful and active as
they felt better and had grown more accus-
toned to their new surroundings. Appetites
also improved, and, arrangements for assisting
the cook being perfected, the cooking became
more tolerable, and the issue of rations better
regulated. 1t was now source of pleasure
and amusement to 60 to the galley and watch
the distribution of food. The bread, if made
of black -four, was now thoroughly cooked
and sweet, little molasses was mixed with
the corn bread, rendering it quite dessert,
and every means was taken to crafty the va.
rying tastes of those who respectively prefer
red "fat" or "lean," and beef or pork. The
mate, Mr.. Horne, would sit at the galley door
and call out his list, the mess system being
abolished, and each head of family would
come up with pan, plate or bucket, and have
his allotted portion rapidly served to him as
it was passed out. First would come into the
utensil large portion of boiled rice, from
the big iron pots on top of that great chunks"
of meat, as specified, and then the appropri-
ate quantities of corn ard wheat breads, and
molasses cake, with occasionally taste of
molasses for everybody in separate cup, and
always potfull of coffee Of varying strength.
A perfect jewel of mate this was, too, with
a pleasant word of badinage for everybody,
producing many broad grins and outlaws, and
casting CHEEKY influence over the whole per.
formsnce. There is no doubt that the almost
uniform good humor which prevailed through
all the discomfort, was largely due to the new
er failing pleasantly and inexhaustible good
temper and spirits of this officer. From this
time, cheerfulness was the prevailing order of
things. After their meals were completed the
emigrants generally dispersed
ABOUT THE DECKS
in the sun. Probably one-half could read and
about fourth could write. These fortunate
ones would lie about poring over bibles, learn
ing hymns by heart, or studying over old &C.
ographies, histories, newspapers or states.
Pleasant to relate, some would gather around
them few Of their uneducated fellows, and
laboriously instruct them in the rudiments of
the three "R's" Others would lie on their
backs staring at the blue sky and white clouds,
constructing, nobody knows what, grotesque
castles in the air, doubtless, however, enjoying
the atmospheric architecture as intensely as
those whose buildings, similarly erected, are
more symmetrical and fair to look upon. Then
there were others who would gather about the
rails, and alternately look out for sails, whales,
Portuguese men-ofwar, punches CT sea-weed,
flying fish, and the fragments of old wrecks,
which, now and then foated by, and indulge
in repartee and jest, which, if not polished,
were generally harmless and provocative of
much mirth. The women and children gen.
orally sat about gossiping and laughing, plait.
ing, combing and arranging each others hair.
This last seemed to be a favorite amusement,
and before we reached the end of the voyage
every head was decked with countless little
pig-tails, tied up with strings, and drawn so
tightly that it was a matter of wonder to me
how the possessors managed to shut their eyes.
The sick, too, generally revived under the i'm:
proving influences, and matters looked decl'
dedly better in every way. Good society on
the quarter deck passed its time very much
in the same way even the one or two chron-
ic grumbers there having, at last, agreed to
give the others "a rest" The younger por-
tion of good society usually gathered about
the wheel in the evening and amused itself by
singing Sunday-school and other hymns:
"The ninety and nine," II is done" "In the
sweet bye and bye," "Rescue the perishing,"
&C., the music sounding very sweetly when
heard at little distance. The log showed
on Monday 81 miles, the bark having been
becalmed nearly the entire "a hours Total
1892.
About this time Baptist congregation was
organized tween decks, the Methodists having
previously had it all their own way. Robert
Williams seemed to take the lead in this
movement, and generally, on one or two nights
in the week he and his assistants used to be
heard below, exhorting, singing and praying.
The Methodist leader took the pains to come
and state to me that a discourse, delivered on
the previous evening, was from one of the
Baptists, and not any of his focks doings.
He evidently thought that I intended bur.
lesquing the whole affair. That persons have
burlesqued, and, in feeble way, attempted to
make "fun" of, the utterances of a. man striv-
ing to teach the Word of the Almighty is one
of the sbames of the press, and shows what a
false, vulgar and insane idea some of its con-
tributors have in mistaking irreverence for
wit, and idiotic limitations of well.roeant words
for humor. The remarks already made re-
gardiDg the Methodist leader will apply equal
ly to this other. A particularly loud and en-
thusiastic singing, night or two after the
formation of this congregation, was caused, |
was told, by woman present having pro-
fessed conversion. looked anxiously there
after to see how the ordinance of immersion
could be performed aboard ship running at
an average Of six knots per hour, expecting to
be furnished choice "Fatal Accident" there.
by, but it was postponed. On Tuesday We
made 145 miles. Total, 2,437.
On Wednesday George Curtis distinguished
himself in another role by having violent
alteration with his wife, during which she
claimed that he struck her. The cabin boy,
with wide opened eyes, summoned the captain
with the announcement, "Dr. Curtis and his
wife 6ghting," and good society was stirred to
its very depths. The wife had certainly, as
far as l could see conducted herself in the
most exemplary manner, and am inclined to
think that the gorgeous fraud of "Doctor"
was in fault. earnestly urged, at that time,
as measure of public safety, that the Doctor
be thrown overheard with jar Of calomel
and jalap suspended from his neck. The cap
tain, however, contented himself with repri.
mand and caution. 1t seems unfortunate that
the Missionary and the "Doctor" sent out
with this first expedition should each have
seen fit to beat his wife, During Wednesday
we made 172 miles. Total 2,609. On Thurs
day the usual weekly sweeping, cleaning and
airing was had. On this day, May 9th. and
the eihgteenth day out, while in north latitude
80 deg min., and longitude % deg. % min.,