The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-06-19
throwing himself overheard. He was an
Englishman by birth, of good family and

/
well educated; but nearly two years ir
America, the "Laud of Promise to &C
many from foreign shores, had resulted
In total failure and complete discourage
ment for him (; and rather than 20 back
empty handed he chose to plunge in the
great unknown. A sad and early termi
nation of disappointed ambitions.
During the voyage the passengers
amuse themselves in various ways. Some
are sick and find themselves fully occr.
pied with their ailments. Others, more
fortunate, are able to Seek amusemen,
and devote themselves TO shuttle board
qnoits, ring. toss and other games, walking
on deck, reading, music, debates, conyer.
satlon, etc., and we are sorry to saw
quite large class find in gambling and
whisky drinking their principal recrea.
lions. All classes, from ministers to pro.
fessional gamblers, from colporteurs to
confidence men, can be found in eyery
passenger list and the law of selection
very soon breaks up the company into
numerous circles, the members OF each
seeking among themselves for conpepial
companionship. The daily progress of
the vessel, the difference in time as we
go Eastward, the increasing length of the
days as Nc so Nofthward, the working of
sho s.iip, an occasional ssii OF steamer
met on the broad ocean, are all seized
upon with eager interest to break the
monotony of the voyage as we sail on day
after day, apparently in the same circle
OF water in which we started and which.
viewed from the deck, is about twelve
miles in diameter, the roundity of the
earth allowing body on the surface of
the water to be seen at distance of only
about six miles.
In the evenings the phosphorescence of
the sea forms never ending source of
entertainment. The myriad flashes of
light, produced by diminutive animal
organism, at times illuminate the dark
waves ma they roll from the sides of the
ship like million electric sparks and
preeents a most brilliant and gorgeous
display, recalling those words of the
"Ancient Mariner :"
! Beyond the shadow of the shin.
watched the water snakes; =
| They moved In paths of shining white,
And when they reared, the eifish light
Fell Off i'll hoary flakes.
Within the shadow of the ship,
l watched their rich attire;
Blue, glossy green and velvet black,
They coiled and swan, and every track
Was flash OF golden fire.
Each day at noon, the captain takes an
observation on the sun with his sextant,
to ascertain the position of the ship, and
besides this the log is cast at intervals
during the day and the distance travelled
by the ship as thus aacertained is marked
on chart which is hung at the head of
the stairs leading to the saloon. Thisyis
made the subject of much speculation
and many are the gueases, bets and pools
made upon it.
Although our voyage was quiet one,
yet when within about 500 miles of the
Irish coast, We struck, or were struck b., &.
what was evidently the remains of d
heavy storm and thus were given some
idea of the power Of old ocean. Mighty
waves from Is to 20 feet in height, roll.
ing majestically onward, would catch the
ship in their giant embrace, rolling it
from side to side and pitching it about,
mere plagthing of their mad fury.
Standing on the prov, and looking out
over the undulating surface of this path
less waste of waters and glancing back.
ward at the ship tossed about like cork
on mill pond, how puny seem all the
devices of man and how hopeless the con-
fict with the elements. And yet modern
seienca has triumphed over even the
ocean, and hundreds of ships annuallv,
crowded WITH living freight, pass AMI ;.
pass over its surface and with bu. lew
exceptions outride its heaviest gales.
We have always entertained large
amount of respect for Columbus and the
other sturdy old pavigators of his time /;
but since witnessing for ourselves the
power which they defed, we have felt
our admiration perceptibly increase.
Going forth as he did with no guide
except his own faith in an untried theory
and with no encouragement except his
own stout heart aud undaunted will, the
world does we'll to hosor his name and to
revere his memcry.st8
But our voysge. like all things else
must come to an end, and one day after
taking an observation the captain
announces that Fastnet light will be
passed during the night and Queenstown
| reached at shout 400 o'clock the next
morning. The evident satisfaction with
which this announcement is received by
all, proves that even among those who
have enjoyed the voyage tksreis a per
! feet willingness to exchange the, uncer
| tain deck of the ship for Terra Tr'aa
/ Long before reaching Fastnet light, how
ever, q dense fog settled down over .h'
ocean and with fog horn sounding a
| frequent intervals and frequent casting o.
the lead, We felt our way 1tong, missing
the light house entirely, but later OF
sighting the light ship about six mile
cat from Cork Harbor. The fog wa
still very heavy and it was only with tn
greatest care that any progress could b.
Eade with safety. At last the watcl
cried out, Gland on the port bow" tn