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

In the month Of June, 1910, fill
Cd tho birth Of second mate on one
Of the few steamships then plying
! between Liverpool aud New York
1.-THE art Of steam navigation MS APP
billed to the broad ocean at least
Was still 10 its infancy.
In Theses days Of clipper built
steamers the passage is easily accom-
plished iu from eight to nine days
but Of that time to which | refer
the Neptune was regarded rs hav.
ling performed a marvellous fes,
when, on her first trip. she rode CAV
" into the harbor OF New York,
ust thirteen days after leaving her
lock at Liverpool !
Three hours before the steamer
ailed from thu former port, on her
btaru voyage, had no idea of ship
ing 10 her. My engagement occur
ed, az | may say, sccidentlly.
had beeu discharged from my
ast ship aud was idling along the
Fhsrves, when | overlook her con-
uauder, with whom | had u slight
cqusintance.
While conversing, aboy approach
l aud placed y note in the Cap-
] q hand.
"Well, exclaimed the latter. as he
astily perusod the paper. what
IN I do now 7 Here's my first mate
aken suddenly i'll with cholera
What am / to do He is q trusty
blow, and reckoned on him to aid
no 10 keeping the crew in discipline.
or they ore rough set. The true
ID salts won trust these steamers
et 30 We have to take what we can
et, do not like my second mate,
seems deceitful to me.
He stamped his foot inpatiently,
wing pcrp'exsdly, on tho steamer.
10 bustls upon whose decks betok-
ped q speedy departure.
Suddenly he turned to me.
"Mr. Herne, you are tho man !!
PINE on board. will put you in
. second mate birth. for OF course
will have to act tirst.
The offer, unexpected as it was,
esented too great temptation to
rejected; 30, as l had no wife
bose permission | must obtain, l
lrried off to my lodgings, paid my
II, bundled my luggage together,
d stepped on board the Neptune,
N an hour before she sailed.
She was q fiue, stsunch craft, pos
sing but one fault that could
altholg Ugh TO be sure that might
70 TO be serious one, and 81 it
but / will not anticipate.
er owner had fitted her up at
lt expense, and all that was pos
. had been done for the comfort
convenience Of the passengers.
10 % was their expenditure it
not without its policy. for every
neement Was necessary to lead
|slers to trust themselves on the
tangled machines.
in this early period Of their ev-
noe an ocean steamer secured
PITY to thirty passengers for one
she was considered as remarkly
mate, the average number being
but ten or twelve.
. fault to which have referred
due solely to tho Neptun IS
lore. A landsman would not
observed it, but 10 . sea,nsns
rienced eye it was evident that
.teamsr WAS too long for her
ith Of beam.
,is in any sea-going vessel was
ight mistake, but as regarded q
per it was especially blameable,
full weight of her machi merry
ssrily rested smidship on the
pot that her faulty construction
red the weakest.
y could not but acknowledge
ne Neptune WAS good, stout
oat, and would in all human
billy make manys prosperous
cross the, herring pond
crew consisted OF twenty men
we Of tho captain. mates. and
eers. and roughsr cot ! havo
p ssen.
drst few hours on board CON.
me that Captain Clay had
cason 70 regret the absence
trusty frst mate, for he did
20 likely 10 receive much sup.
2 enforcing the proper disci.
fom the man who now fillsd
ut.
Briggs WAS ono Of tho most
cus looking fellows u was sv-
lot 10 mesk and, although, %
Pe!ior otiosr, I vas compelled
him outward respect, never
ehsd him when could avoid
;helesA In spite OF my III
q Avegsions tie mate - ssd-
eoo2hl ~ company q I |
n.y. "a very hot u Bic DO. |
~ Nv gsowiag dis.