Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-07-24
ACROSS THE CONTINENT
OF EUROPE
DESCRIPTION OF THE OCEAN
VOYAGE.
Ok Board STEAM sH1P ArcHoRI.

Ok BOARD STEAM SHIP ANCHoRIA,l
June %, 1879.
Editors Fayette County Herald:
We went aboard the ''Anchoria'' about
II a. m. yesterday. Two hundred of the
party had already gathered or were COM
ing as fast as the hacks could bring them,
and about half past twelve the cables
were loosened and the steamer began to
show signs of life, by slowly backing out
from the pier. a very lalge number of |
friends of the party, and citizens from |
curiosity, had gathered on the pier to bid !
the voyagers farewell, which they mani
tested by the waving of handkerchiefs,
and otherwise, until the sea of umbrellas
and parasols that covered the pier were
lost in the distance. Then, and not till
then, did We fully realize that we had cut
assunder all communication with land,
and that, for a space of ten or twelve
days, naughE but a boundless waste of
water would meet our gaze as the good
old ship, to which we had confided our
lives for safe keeping, bore us across the
broad Atlantic.
The day of starting was very warm, 100
waves were sleeping in the bright sun
light, with but an occasional ripple to
tell of life on the deep blue sea. Yes,
sleeping! What are their dreams, that
they are not disturbed by the monster
ship with Tapping sail, the perpetual mo-
ton and Kissing of steam from the great
engine, as she plOws her way patiently
out to sea? They are recuperating their
powers for future force, perhaps; or vel
coming us to the trackless waste. These
placid waves, of sky-bIue hue that sparkle
in the sunlight like gems of diamons, or
| form mirrors for the moons own pastime.
Such heaving, murderoiIs waves! Such
treacherous, pitiless waves, with aveng-
ing wrath and greed to swollow life,
wealth and love without a moments
warning. Why not be ever calm, like the
River of Time, and welcome to thy bosom
the pleasure and commerce of the world.
Do this, thou almighty Neptune, and for
get, we implore you, to drink the light of
hearts, of homes and of nations.
AS we said at the start, the waves were
sleeping; but a few hours later the scene
changed, huge waves frequently dashing
over the deck on the windward side, and
sometimes going oyer the huerrican deck.
One immense wave took advantage of the
open ports, and completely drenched some
forty or fifty berths. The ports are the
windows of the state rooms, composed of
round glass, about an inch thick and thir-
teen inches in diameter, mounted and set
in heavy brass frames, and are for the
pu rpose of giving light and air to the
staterooms. When closed the ports are
perfectly air-tight, but are left open when
deemed safe, and it is at such times that
the waves take advantage, with result as
above stated.
Numerous crafts of all kinds were fit
ting to and fro as our ship sailed out of
the harbor to Sandy Hook, the outlet of
North River, and in short time land be-
came invisible. For some time vessels
were to be seen with their bows in the
direction of New York harbor. One large
steamship, outward-bound, sailed paral-
lei with us for some time, some distance
off, and was only lost to view by the
shades of night. Another vessel, bound
for New York, but too far off to see their
signalling, except with the glass, was
signaled by our vessel. in answer to their
signal-a wish of ga pleasant and safe
voyage which our vessel did by run
ming the flag up and down three times at
the stern of the ship.
As we sailed further out the sea became
more rough, the fog more dense, necessi-
tating the blowing of the whistle every
few minutes, and thus we are continually
reminded that danger is lurking on ouI
course--that of running into another
ship, or being run into by one, is moi
very pleasant to contemplate For the
most part of the voyage, that of seven
days from the time we now write, We
could see but two or three hundred wards
around us, in consequence of the fog
and the great length and tonnage of onl
vessel, on SO short notice as that, would
endanger a collision with another vessel
, should it lie in our course; and to aver
any impending danger of the kind, tht
whistle is sounded repeatedly. This
morning, the 9th of July, our vessel came
very near running down large sail yes
sci, passing within hundred feet of it
The captain said, as it crossed the bow o.
the AnchOria, IA very narrow escape
And so, from day to day, as long as thu
, fog lasts, we are constantly in like peril
; The fog will rise for n few hours at timI
and then we have before us a complete
view of the horizon, as though we wert
floating on the surface of large circle
! and our ship the center or hub of thu
l same.
sEA-sICKNEss.
2 To-day, July 9Th, is the 7th day of thu
J voyage, yet the writer has enjoyed gooC
, health; never for minute have we fel