Morning journal and courier., 1884-02-02

tno 6naLI, trying LO SeG 1I IOoSe 5o tnde
 could turn. It took them week and nor
 before they could accomplish this, and in tn
 meantime we described quite a number 0
 different courses as the wind changed iron
 one quarter to another. It was the 18th, a
 about p. m, that the shaft broke, and VI
 drifted about in this uncertain way for sever
 or eight days before they managed to get tn
 ship in order to steer properly. Friday, tn
 2lst, gale sprang up-but fortunately of
 shere-which began to drive out to sea
 and we were rolled about very heavily in tn
 trough of the sea- Shortly after midnigh
 VIC saw the first light we had seen since sail
 ing, which proved to belong to a small Ger
 man steamer, the "Gellert" I was awak
 ened by the light of rocket shining throdgl
 my port-hole and got up and went up ol
 deck, or rather tumbled up. The steame
 was unfortunately too small to attemp
 to tow us, or give us any assist
 rough that it was impossible for them t.
 come anywhere near us, so as to hear
 spoken message. Finally the purser volun
 teered to command boat and & crew of si1
 men risked their lives at the captains orders
 and managed with great difficulty to ge
 across and carry to the ''GelIert" the new
 of our accident. with the request that the!
 would report us on their arrival at South
 ampton. I suppose they did so and that th'
 news was telegraphed at once to New York
 but if so, I am afraid that it was not of
 very comforting nature, for we were in thu
 midst of a pretty heavy storm at the time
 The following day, on the 22d, there was
 heavy gale which rapidly drove us south
 ward and out of the track of all steamers
 By this they had got the propeller fixed anc
 so there was no further immediate chance o
 seeing steamer, and as it was impossible t.
 make any headway toward New York agalns
 the prevailing westerly winds, we began t.
 think of reaching the Bermudas or sailing
 eastward to the Azones But finally, tn
 captain, fearing to wreck the ship on som
 of the dangerous reefs about these lslande
 decided to sail towards England-a month
 voyage under the most favorable circum
 stances. It was Christmas day about l p
 m. that the ship was turned about towards
 the east and we all felt very blue indeed a
 the prospect of such a dreary voyage. don't think worried much about the dangeri
 of the trip put I felt very nervous anC anxious when I thought of you all at home
 and how you would probably worry ourselves to death at our not being reported when due At this time another danger threatened us though few knew of 1t. In the first storn we went through the cargo shifted little and brought the vessel out of the perpendicu lar, which made her roll badly, and alst angured badly for her safety if we had to pas' through many more storms. The weathe; was very warm, owing to the gulf stream suppose and as the high seas which sWepl over the ship necessitated the closing of tht ventilators. the staterooms were intolersbl} close and that made sleeping almost impossi ble I think during that week, between Christmas and New Years, we were abou as forlorn a set of people as you could vel imagine. The captain had the rigging of th ship all changed as far was possible, iron the after part of the ship, all of which seemed to improve her sailing qualities very much We sailed on for week without incident, except in the line of weather, which va severe enough to suit almost anyone. Tn storm on the 29th was very severe and in ii we lost one of our sails carried away bodily, and had another torn, but fortunate ly there was enough canvas on the ship tt make substitute for the missing sail Wt had, by this time, very nearly returned to th track and on the 3Oth a sudden lift in the fog showed us steamer, supposed to be thr ''Bothnia" in the horizon, but the fog closed in again and she passed out of sight without seeing our signal of distress. This was a great disappointment and all the passengers felt 1t very deeply, so much so, that NeW Years, when it came, found us rather de- pressed and discouraged. 1 thought of you all great deal that day, and indeed l have all the time since I have been away, but found it very hard to imagine what you were
 
 ciate how you must feel knowing nothing at ali about me. The next day we were so fortunate as to see a sailing vessel and speak to her, which, though of no material benefit, cheered our spirits very perceptibly. We were pretty well shaken up during the nex' two day s by gales and heavy seas, but the 4th was fine again and on that day we sae and signalled small western bound steamer just after nightfsll, an Italian or FrencL steamer, believe, though the name vas not made out. The captain succeeded in making them hear through his trumpet and asked them to report us in New York on their arrival, As soon as I aaw the steamer rushed to my cabin for the letters I had written. hoping to send them direct, but was doomed to disappointment, for the captain would not lower a boat on account of the heavy sea. The following day I was awakened by the steward at an early hour, without cere- mony, with the announcement that a steamer had been sighted going east and that we would, without doubt, be transferred to her again l was disappointed. The steamer was not passenger ship, and her captain refused slI entreaties to take more than four of our number on board although several of the would have paid great sums for he chance to go. The four were drawn b. lot and were immediately besieged by crowd of the unlucky ones, who made every effort to buy them out. Two of the number sold their chances, but the other two were more anxious for their safety than to make money. and so refused the most tempting offers However, had the satisfaction of posting my letters, though I regretted that in th confusion of the moment l did not succeed in arranging for the sending of telegram suprose that the news will appear in the newspapers anyway. As for the letters, l hope that I can telegraph you before they reach you, for the steamer was bound for London, (the tArgosy''), and so they cannot reach you for a week yet. We met this steamer just about in mid ocean, and yet hay ing met it, we already began to feel as if we were near our journey s end and quite cheer ful. This helped us to endure the rations without complaint, though from the date they began to ''decine" perceptibly. la this respect, however, the saloon passengers fared rather better than the steerage and crew. am afraid they have been on pretty short commons. Another little steamer passed us the following day, and was sigualled and asked to announce our position and rate Of progress so that search boats might be on hand to give us a tow as we neared the Irish coast. As yet we had seen no steamers able to tow us, but in the evening large steamer, supposed to be German, was seen in the distance and then the sea vas so heavy that lowing was impossible. It began to look as
 if we might wait some tins before all the were 1n our 1aVOr. Our nope now was that we could see the ''Britannic," which was due in few days, for she being 1f the same line would stand by us until the weather was moderate enough to make it iafe to tow. The passengers were beginning % feel happy and the evening of the 9th gave l little concert in the saloon in honor of cur expected rescue, which seemed then pretty certain, for we were exactly in the homeward rack of this line. But the next day there ,ame decided reaction, for the wind sud lenly left us and we began to drift. The 'Britannic' was looked for that night and he captain feared tha. after all she might pass before we could get breeze to keep us ID in the track again. With this view of matters I went to bed the night of the 11th D pretty doleful mood for the prospect of mother week or two at sea was not agreed 'le to look forward to. But this time fortune avored us and at o'clock the next morning he steward came tumbling ecstaticaIly down he passage with the news that the ''Britan- lic" was in sight. I got up and went on
 eck and gloated on the sight of that red ight coming gradually up, (which was all that ould be seen, for it was still dark She ame alongside at dayhreak, and boat was t once lowered and some provisions obtained. liter that cable was carried across, and in n hour and five minutes we were made fa2t nd moving rapidly onward, and for tae pas, engers all anxiety has disappeared though he captain is still anxious, for should rough 7eather come on as we near the dangerous rish coast, and the cable give way, we should
 e in the greatest danger. But the water is