The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-07-18

4
in the steerage to make room William
Adams from Lancaster, and few others
set examples worthy of imitation, cheer
fully doing whatever seemed necessary
to make the voyage a success; never
grumbling, and always looking at the
best side. Early on the trip the steerage
had begun to assume the appearance Of
the plantation quarters so familiar to all
Southerners. Scraps of rags, bones,
pieces of bread and Chunks" Of rice ly-
ing about; dirt and grease about the
floors, and "piccaninnies" crawling about
over it all; and the old man or woman
sitting around, munching, smoking and
'jawing." Against all Of these things
did the officers perpetually war.
At noon on Thursday we had made 206
miles, making the total for the four nau-
tical days 644, giving full average and
something to spare. A number of craft
were sighted, although none came near
enough to speak. The eager outlook for
marine monsters was rewarded by the
sight of whale blowing away off to
windward. He did not, however, create
half the excitement that a poor, tired
little land bird, which had probably been
blown off shore, did. 1t alighted on the
spanker boom, and few about the ship
amid many expressions of wonder and
delight. The idea that it was q good
omen sent especially by Providence
seemed to strike the popular mind at
once. The little creature was assiduously
fed and petted, but disappeared during
the evening. Probably not one of the
passengers had ever read or. heard of
aye rime of We Ancient Mariner" but
the mysterious taking off Of the little
visitor was received with as much genu-
inc gloom probably as was displayed by
the companions of Mr.. Coleridge's hero.
Always afterwards, whenever there was
a prospect of anything like "dirty"
weather, this matter was generally re-
CURED to with solemn head-shakings, ex-
paessive .of, evil forebodings., My, own
theory is that the bird was taken for food
to the "mariuer's hollow" hut which
mariners hollow it is difficult to say, all
the mariners appearing to me to be in a
habitual state of hollowness, albeit we'll
fed. The only Moses of the exodus,
however, huge black cat of the cap
tain's bearing that cognomen, was gene
rally suspected of the crime, getting into
bad odor thereby, and being regarded as
an emissary of the devil.
During the day ending at noon on
Friday, April 26tb, we made 165 miles.
Total distance 799 miles northeast of
Charleston, 79 miles ahead of the re-
quired average. During most of this
time there had been fresh breezes, and
as we were steadily working northward,
there had been no suffering from heat
after the first two nights, which had been
very unpleasantly- close and hot in the
steerage. Sea sickness still lasted, al-
though E-g e. 80
tAsGENERAL RECOVERY
from that malady had begun. The wealth
er had been, generally fine and supshiny,
and the general health was good. 1t twas
announced, however, that two children
were dangerously sick below. The decks
and the tops of the different houses made
splendid lounging places, and che emf
grants having begunto feel better, and
being tired of looking at the water, usu-
ally lay about in a confusion by no
means beautiful, most of the men sleep
ing on their backs the entire day. AS
recovery progressed, the Exodites, like
their exenplars of Israel, became more
and more discontented with food, water
and surroundings, and murmured espe-
cially when certain developments, which
this narrative will hereafter develop,
were made.
During Friday night the wind shifted
to- the east, and finally dead ahead, driv-
ing the Azor to the north. She, how
ever. made 112 miles, bringing her total
to Oil, and keeping her still ahead of
.,her average. The head winds continued
IAll during Saturday still driving her
north, and occasioning many relapses to
the sick, dashing bright hopes, and re-
ducing victims to the depths of despair.
There was one man, however, who was
not reprostreted. That was the man who
owned and operated the accordeon. On
Saturday evening he produced the article
and opened up. he was not particularly
we'll acquainted with its manipulation,
and his music was mostly of an expert
mental nature. During Saturday night
the force of the head wind increased,
obliging the furling of all light sails, and
keeping the vessel constantly careened,
and still driving her north of her course
On Sunday morning
3 . - THE FIRST DEATH
occurred, being that of four. year old
daughter of William johnson. The
child had been ailing when brought
aboard in. Charleston, and had steadily
grown worse during the whole time. A
few moments before its death the minis
ter was summoned, and it was baptized
"Amelia johnson" Very soon after
breath had left the little body, it was
prepared for burial, and that saddest of
all funerals, funeral at sea, was arrang-
ed for. A plank seven feet long by two
wide was laid across the end of barrel,
one end projecting over the lee (port)
gangway rail. A folded American flag
was knotted around this plank, and that
much of the simple preparation was
complete. One by one and in knots the
emigrants gathered about this suggestive
object, until all we're crowded around it,
observing profound silence, and watch
ing with curious eyes for the completion
of the, to them, novel ceremony. The
cabin passengers gathered on the poop
overlooking the scene, and the neighbor-
ing shrouds aud rigging were filed with
other spectators. In few minutes two
sailors came up from the steerage, re-
placing their needles in their cases with
n business-like air, and then two or three
men stumbled up the ladder bearing the
shapeless canvas bundle containing the
corpse and the large stone wrapped with
it at its feet. The body in this sea coffin
was laid upon the plank and the flag
spread over it, sailor standing at each
side. One by one the men who stood
about took off their hats, and the crowd
clustered closer as the minister came
forward and proceeded to read the Meth
odist burial services. At the words,
ave commit this body to the deep" the