The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1878-08-22
European Correspondent,
LETTER No. I.

The departure of an ocean steam.
or is always an event Of considerable
importance. For several hours be.
fore the time OF sailing the dock is
crowded with baggage, people hurry
ing down in carriages, mon and wos
men rushing along on foot, passen-
gers and their friends crowding on
board the vessel. the whole making
10 perfect pandemonium OF noise
and confusion. On the morning oi
our departure In addition to all this
nature was weeping most abundant
ly and constantly, evidently, sympa
thizing with the friends ofthe trav-
ellers
The half hour bell sounds and the
crowd on the steamer begins to less
sen and that on tho wharf to increase.
Tho ten minute bell only adds to
the confusion and at the last mo-
ment tho shore people on board the
steamer rush frantically of, tue
bridge is drawn, the hawsers cast
from the pier, the engine begins to
move, thore is o great splashing OF
the water at the stern Of tho vessel
gradually the vast steamer seems to
have the breath OF life infused into
her, and slowly she leaves the wha RI
amid the farewell calls of friends, tho
waving Of handkerchiefs, the shout
ling Of tho crowd, and the friendly
whistle Of passing steam vessels.
The waving Of handkerchief con-
tinues until we lose sight of the
wharf, and is kept up still later by
those whose Jealous friends follow
them down the harbor in tugs. Our
steamer being new one and this
her first departure from New York
she was escorted down the harbor by
several tugs and passenger vessels.
These at length turn back and leave
us with final salute Of cannon and
steam whistles, and We are soon OPP
posits tho light ship at Sandy
Hook.
On tho way down the bay the
passengers walk the upper deck ad-
miring the beautiful fields of Long
Island, the green hills Of Staten Is
land, and the low lying Jersey shore
in the distance. Many Of the pas
senger write letters or postal cards
which can be sent back by the pilot
and will be the last that friends can
hear from them until we are in sight
Of tho Irish coast.
just outside OF the light ship we
begin to feel the ocean swell and the
great steamer rises and falls in a
way that makes many look with
doubt into the future Soon some
of the passengers quietly and with
out remark 60 down to their state
rooms while others sit upon the up0
per deck, in thoughtful meditative
way until gradually paleness steals
over their faces, and after an hour
or so they quietly disappear below.
Others of q resolute nature who have
determined that Us for them they
will .ot be seasick, walk rapidly up
aud down the deck fighting in vain
tho grim monster who is literally
clutching their vitals. Experienced
sailors aud those who are not at all
affected by the sea, lounge leisurely
about and enjoy the fresh breeze and
the discomfort of their unfortunate
fellow passengers. By the time
the steamer has been out two hours
and the land has disappeared from
sight the dividing line between those
who are to be sick and those who
are to stand the voyage, is fairly
drawn. II the weather is at all
rough, half the passengers will not
be at the table the first meal aud
some will not be seen at all during
the passage. For seasickness there
is no permanent or sure cure. What
relievesl ono does another no good,
but forced contribution to the Allan
tic are o general relief to all who are
affected.
Our voyage was q very nionoton-
ous one having fog and quiet wealth
or nearly all the way. Once, on the
banks OF Newfoundland the mono.
tony was broken by running down a
fishing smack from Beverly, Mass.
which was anchored directly across
our course. can mover forget how
wildly the fishermen ran to the stern
|of their vessel as the black hull Of
the steamer suddenly appeared to
rush out Of the dense fog, bearing
down on them directly amidship and
scarcely two hundred yards away.
Almost instant death threatens them
for in less than half minute they
expect to be run down by the steam
ler. But they are seen from our yes
eel and tho steamer is instantly turn
ed from her course, 90 that only the
bowsprit Of the fishing smack is cut
loft CLOSE up to the hull, and the
shattered vessel CRATES harshly a.
Igainst the iron side Of the steamer as
We pass along. Our steamer is stop
lped, the men taken from their sink
4 ing vessel, and We aro on our course
Isgsia through the interminabls fog
| There u nothing that strikea agrea-
Tier feeling Of dread through q pas
|seuQsr lhan the thrill fog whistle
lsouSdiue ouinously IN his ears day
and night and this q particularly
leo after & misfortune Ike ours. You
loan hardly conceive how many imag'