Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-09-27
At SEA.

A CHURCH PARTY OUT SUFFERING
LIFE AT sEA-AN soLD SALT" FALLS
BY THE WAYSIDE-NEW YORK AT SUM-
RIsE-BOsToN,
&C., &C., &C.
Correspondence of the Staunton VINDIcAroR1
BosToN, Sept.
A Presbyterian Deacon, two Episcopa-
lians, and member in good standing of
both denominations, constituted the up
right Staunton party that this summer de-
termined to try the sea instead of the
mountains. From a distance, to us of the
mountains, the sea is a place of open boats,
salt water, nor westers and Davy Jones'
locker. On it's bosom in the noble steam
ship Wyanoke, it is a place that looking
within we see elegantly upholstered sa-
looms, velvet cushioned furniture, gilded
lamps, nice state rooms, beds covered with
snow-white linen, tables which bear fish,
crabs, grapes, melons, ices, delicious COT
fee, every meat and vegetable, turtle soup;
and looking abroad we see the ocean spread
out like a green sward dotted with white
sails and its land edge lined with fields and
forests and farm houses and villas. To lie
in one of these white beds in state room
and gaze out at the sunshine or the moon
light on the shore and sea and know that
you haven't thing to do and the ship is
doing your travelling for you; that you
needn't get up early, OF at all if you don't
want to, to breakfast is degree of hap
piness OF which dry land does not hold the
equal. suppose no party Of four men
or women ever got together that one didn't
speedily take the lead, on account of supe-
rior knowledge. With men a man gets
head on what he knows, with a woman it
is on what she knows Of her neighbors. So
our man got the lead on having made the
VOYAGE two or three times. He was in
stantly christened the "old salt" and looked
up to accordingly. AS We cast loose from
the wharf 1t Richmond he looked sternly
at a man in The rigging Of another ship
and observed with some severity that that
man was taking a reef in the main topsl''
dill ODSGltdUlOu LlldU dU OACC uACu I'LL LII
our estimation as an ancient mariner of
the highest tone. His phrophecles regard
ing our coming sea sickness afforded US
questionable consolation, as his own ex-
emption from that malady according to
his own account) excited our genuine envy.
At Norfolk where our ship had to stay
twelve hours taking in a cargo, he excited
some distrust by taking two of the party
out in "a sail boat and insisting on running
into all the other boats he met and finally
running them ashore. but his explanation
that "the man forgot to port his hellum'''
was so bewildering that his victims stifled
their doubts. When he came back lie in
formed the writer THAT they had captured
fifty blue fish; the old negro that the boat
belonged to, Oh the other hand stated that
the catch was two crabs; the discrepancy
was alarming and renewed nay distrust OF
the '.old salt"
AS the steamer moved out for the ocean
stiff breeze was blowing and the old salt
gave the party a shower of advice, pdrtic-
ularly recommending sitting near the
wheel house, where the rocking mott III
was least, as d preventive to seI-sickness.
indeed the Old salt So ID that was never fail.
ing. Shortly after saving that he disap-
peared.
There is nothing that is more eDjoyabl
than Sea-sickness-to those who havn't
got it, for as the effects are unquestiona.
bly, healthful you may laugh without cru.
city. 1t is strange how every man Oh
board will insist up to the last moment
| that he amt to be a victim. The melting
away of our party was good illustration
The Episcopalian Was the first victim
His attack was wholly confidential. He
quietly slid out Of a gay euchre party, and
clutching at the door bolts of the state
rooms to steady himself on his way to bed
A few minutes afterwards the Presbyteri.
, an gaily skipped up to a party in the stern
of the boat with the observation that the
moon was beautiful. just then we ascen.
ded into the air and went down again.
The admirer Ofthe moon turned white
face to tile company and slot around the
corner where he was found few minutes
after, hanging on to the tatfrail and bid
ding farewell to his vesper meal. On re-
firing to my state-room-I roomed with
the old salt heard that veteran seaman
practicing his evening hymn: couch, u,
CHI, Ook, ook, o-o-ook, a-h-h-ook." Look
ing out from the top berth l suggested that
probably he had better 20 out and sit
awhile near the wheel house
"Don't talk to me about the wheel house.
o-o-ook. 1t must be my stomach out OF
order, a-o-u-ch. never was this Way be-
fOre.''
perhaps my boy you forgot to port
you hellum,'" suggested.
"Oh don't talk to me ouch. How can
l get my stomach quiet while you are talk
ing loot ok) to me, ah-oo-oo- ook."
The old salts reputation for seamanship
was gone from that night, and the next
morning when l got his breakfast for
him and he told me that he didn think he
would ever want any breakfast either in
this world or the next, the most modest
man in the party wouldn't have hesitated
to have contradicted his opinion on any
subject.
The balance however is in favor of these
stricken ones when the ship reaches port,
for they have buoYancy of spirits and ap-
petite for enjoyment which those who have
escaped do not have.
THE METROPOLIS