The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1879-02-13

In the month OF June, lS4O, I fill
cd tho birth Of second mate on ons
Of the few steamships then plying
between Liverpool aud New York
The art Of steam navigation MS APP
piled to tho broad ocean at least
was still 10 its infancy.
In These days Of clipper built
steamers the passage is easily accom-.
plished In from eight to nine days
but at that time to which refer,
the Neptune was regarded as hav-
ing performed 4 marvellous feat
when. on her first trip, she rode CAV.
" into tho harbor OF New York.
Just thirteen days after leaving her
dock a. Liverpool
Three hours before the steamer
sailed from ths former port, on her
return voyage, had no idea of ship.
ping 10 her. My engagement occur
red, az ] may say, accidentlly.
I had beeu discharged from my
last ship aud was idling along the
wharves, when overlook her com.
mauder, with whom l had slight
acquaintance.
While conversing, aboy approach
ed aud placed u note in the Cap-
ii e hand.
well, exclaimed the latter. as he
hastily perusod the paper. "wbat
can I do now Here's my first mate
taken suddenly i'll with cholera
What am I to 10 I He is q trusty
fellow, and reckoned on him to aid
mo in keeping the crew in discipline,
for they ore rough set. The true
old salts won't trust these steamers
yet 30 we have to take what we can
get, do not like my second mate,
he seems deceitful to me.
He stamped his foot impatiently,
gazing perp'exsdly. on tho steamer.
the hustle upon whose decks betok-
ened q speedy departure.
Suddenly he turned to NE.
"Mr. Herne, you are tho man !!
Como on board. will put you in
the second mate birth. for Of course
he will have to act first.
The offer, unexpected as it was,
presented too great temptation to
bs rejected 4; 30, as 1 had no wife
whose permission | must obtain, l
hurried of to my lodgings, paid my
bill. bundled my luggage together,
and stepped on board the Neptune,
half an hour before she sailed.
She was fiue, stsunch craft, pos
sessing but one fault that I could
sse, altho lgh TO be sure that might
prove to be . serious one, and 30 it
did but will not anticipate.
Her owner had fitted her up at
great expense, and all that was pos
sible had been done for tue comfort
and convenience Of the passengers.
Large as was their expenditure it
was not without its policy, for every
lnducement Was necessary to lead
travellers TO trust themselves on the
new tangled machines.
II in this early period Of their ex-
istence an ocean steamer secured
twenty to thirty passengers for one
erip, she was considered as remarkly
Fortunate, the average number being
y yet but ten or twelve.
The fault to which have referred
as due solely to the Neptun s's
builders. A landsman would not
have observed it, but 10 Q seaman q
aperienced eye It was evident that
90 steamer Was too long for her
breadth Of beam.
This in any sea-going vessel was
% slight mistake, but as regarded q
seamer 1t was especially blaineable,
: the full weight of her machi merry
ecessarily rested smidship on the
ery spot that her faulty construction
endered the weakest.
shll l could not but acknowledge
ast the Neptune Was o good, stout
boat, and wonld in all human
reliability make manya . prosperous
1R across the, herring pond
Inc crew consisted Of twenty men
[eiusive OF the captain. mates. and
gineers, and . roughsr set I have
ldom seen.
ny first few hours ON board con-
need me that Captain Clay had
% reason 10 regret the absence
nn trusty frat mate, for he did
seem likely 10 receive much sup.
g IN enforcing the proper disci-
= post.
schu Briggs was ono Of the most
famous looking fellows IL was sv-
ny lot TO meet and, although, %
superior officer. I was compelled |
pAy him outward respect, never |
Psoschsd him whom I could avoid |
.ev:rthslssa Ia spite OF my ill- |
eeled avession. TIE mate - ed
~ sought ny company - ! |
- hiA ~ very tAet of BE do |
i?ss.edag ~ gsovlsg ~.