The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-11-01
THE STUPID COUPLE.
An EPISODE OF TuE ATLANTIC.

An EPISODE or TUE ATLANTIC.
"Thc Stupid Couple"-a, least that was wha, the
other passengers called them during the first few
days OF the voyage after the ship had sailed from
either, but people readily gei ncKsames on board I
vcssscl, ana q nickname once acquired Is apt to
John Plerrepoint and his wife had come on board
the SHASTA ut Queenstown by the last tender a few
minutes before the propeller commenced to rcvolve
when the signal "Full spced ahcadS passed from
the bridge to the enginer0on; and the throbblng Of
the great engines told all old travellers that their
ship entered New York IIarbor the engines would
not rest for moment from their work OF driving the
full OF cabin passengers and she had many stcerage
and secontl-cabin. plssengcra well. She was the
largest AMI newest shIp OF the line. and was COM
general favoric, AMI known among old travellers
to AMI from America as the luckcst skipper that had
sailed the Atlantic Perhaps 1t was because there
were 30 many Of these seasoned travellers, wise In
the ways OF steamers on board that John Plcrrepont
and his willie seemed to be particularly perlenced
stupid; they must certainly never have taken long
voyage before; they showed M disposition to srug
gle for what some Thought the best seats at table,
and they accepted without a grumbc the sate-room
assigned to them, which One Of the smallest In
the ship. In fact, they were too easily satisfied.
no one on board, but this seemed to give them no
concern, they being perfectly satisfied with their
own society. Many OF the American families aud
other passengers had known each other at home or
had met before, either In other ships or travelling
anont In Europe, AMI were like q large party OF old
friends.
his Journey IN autumn to America was what the
plerrcpnints called their wedding trip; bnt II was u
long deferred one. for they hal been married nearly
six years, and hal left three little children nj home
In careful hands BEFORE they were married they
had really settled to go to America for their wedding
trip; hui just then Air. Perrcpoint had inherited "a
property, and each year afterward something had
hanpencd to prevent their plan from being carried
out.
ocean had its long, low roll, sometimes showing a
ripple where the wind touched 1t tenderly and
sometimes crispc by light breeze which generally
died away at sunset, ana each " the v0yagers saw
red sun sinking into the water right ahead. Al
length one afternoon The voyage was hall over.
vile We're FAR M on the poop, close to the rail, he
resting and she knitting. "a their custom was. She
Ia u fair, gracious woman, with gray eyes anu
sInlrrcl.cnlored hair perhaps about twenty-five
years OF age. He IL ling limbe, well-knit fellow
Of thirty. deep chested and lean back haired, with
acr'sp beard ana iaWny skim He ~ dressed In one
Of his Old white flannel cricSeiing suits, with hat
Of the same stun; People wore iretiy much what
they liked on deck ami ths John I'ierrepoin,'s
fancy, while some of The other gentlemen, with ti
hats, glorious sca'fs. diamond pins. and everything
else to match. endeavnrc by their dress to fiscinaie
The ladies', who were sitting or walking about the
deck IN oil the brilliant culors Of a flower garden.
There was one passenger who attracted more at
tention than any other. AMI this was not Young
la'iv. nor a gentleman with diamond pin he was
simply little boy OF eight; but then he was Capt
Hoods son, and every one wished to he friendly with
him ana to ainuse him. He had made friends Of all
the passengers and was quite at home on board ami
now was running to and fro on the noon among the
groups ut a,lies and gentlemen, rolling great COL
ored hall Of hollow india rubber.
Capt. Hoods home was ON the Unison. n few
miles from New York Cltv. His elder children
were girls. AMI little Jack was his only son. II had
been an Oil promise that as soon as Jack eight
years Of age his father was tn take him on voyage
To England AMI back: indeed. from the time that
Jack was four years old he had talked about this
great treat he was 10 have; AMI In the meantime his
Interest IN nautical matters grew large by watching
the craft Of all kinds passing up AMI down the Hull
son right IN font W the windows OF their house
When the time came, and Capt. Hood saw h cond
take jack over, his mother was very unwilling IN lei
him CO. She feared snme harm might happen TO
him. and raised MI tho hrnltjes and Ohjeriins she
possibly coni; Int Jack and his father carried the
uay the first eastward ran of the Shasta was
chance not to he missed, and the weather was very
fine and settled. Mrs. Hood, with her daughters
came down tn the wharf In New York tn see the
steamer off. Her last words TO her husband were:
"Rememher. u You don't hiring Jack safe home, you
needn't come without him. The Captain relnem-
herei these wor.ls later. He replied: "AIl right.
liti!e woman: wen he back with YOU for breakfast
some fine morning In less than live weeks"
During The voyage Ia iiverp0ni MI went we'll The
chief stewar'lesI t0k jack under her .specal care
and he slept In her cabin While The shin was in the
Merscy Jack and his friend the sewar'less went TO
sisy ~ q farm In lancashire and only came down
ay or two before the steamer sailel her present
voyage. The boy was now quite accustomed 10 life
on hoard q steamer. AMI went where he liked all
over the Shin the bridge NJ The Storage were the
only forbidden plares He had become quite friendly
with many Of the sailors. and he had not the least
objection to confi'lenia rhat with some Of the
grimy AMI haf-naScd stORrrs. inost Of them Irish
men; who came mp on deck when They conld from
the depths Of the siOke-h0e To get breath Of fresh
air. The solemn old Scotch engineer was his par
tcnlar favOrite.
ON THE very LAY. when the voyage was supposed
to be half over, and before the passengers came
deck to enjoy the evening san. the conversation Mt
dinner had turned upon the subject OF persons fall
OF saving them. Various persons at the table told
their experiences OF such matters and after little
while y seemed that the passengers who were Join
two parties, one OF which, comprising chiefly the
iandsmen and younger travellers on hoard seemed to
to pick person up who had fallen over In daylight
and In fine weather. :" II he can SWIM" they said.
"he can keep himself up I'LL a hoat is lowered AMI
rows TO him. II he can't swim, some who can
jumps overheard and holds him mp I'LL both are res
cued or ltfebnoy Is thrown to him, and that keeps
him up" But they had to admit that they hal never
The other party at table. headed by some captains
OF ships VINO were passengers hy The Shasta and
some OF Inc older travellers, were OF q different
opinion They said that help almost always came
too late; and that no matter how quickly a boat is
far asfern that he sinks before he can he found;
that from boat II Ia very difficult to such small
object AZ ~ mans mead among the hOllows OF the
waves, md this even In fine weather AMI with good
light. IL man lisa very good swimmer, and has
presence OF mind he has some chance, for he can
after him he can call TO 1t or signal il whei, he hap.
pens to rise on wave at the same time that the boat
RISES
one skipper told a story, which, however, did not
relate to man. lie said: When was home ward.
bound from Indis last time the first mate had a
he wn ST OK ana one 20 a tame
dew overheard and settled down on The water astern.
We had inst come into the northeast trades, and
were going ahon ak knots. threw all sails aback
as soon AZ could, and sent some hands In our
quarter boat after the bird. 1t took ten minutes or
time kept my eye on the bird; ana when The boat
was on ! went up into the mizzen rigging and
watched me poor Sockaioo for long tme 6nt the
succeed u directing them to where 1t was They
Another captain said: "whcn was In steamer
always kept one boat ready for lowering, with cover
OIL and oars aud oil In her; hut 1t takes YOU TO be
very quick TO pick man up who has fallen over.
to the bottom ut once"
shortly after this the passengers came on deck.
They did not know that this day the thing they had
been talking about was TO be enacted before their
eyes
Jack IIood was rolling his great ball and rushing
after strong throw II fell on the rail. ana then with
bound into the sea. The child stood sill with
bis ball had disappeared, he climbed on the rail 10
see what had become OF II; and before any hand
could reach him he had fallen over Into the waves
The terrified passengers saw Hun rise 10 the surface
and stretch ont his arms, while the scethng foam
from the ships propeller turned him round and
round In the water, ana The ship rushed on leaving
him behind. The Pierreponts were not very near
the place where little jack fell oyer they were at
the other side Of the deck; hut Mira. Pierrepolni,
on her husbands shoulder lilo looked up instantly,
and following her eyes To the spot saw the hoy Just
as he fell. In one moment he was on his feet kcked
OF his canvas shoes, threw his hat on the deck,
and turning his face toward the bridge, where he
knew some OF the ships officers were always sta,
TONED, he called ont In a voice which rang like
trumpet-call over the ship, " Man overheard! |"
Then, with quick run and leap, he had cleared the
track had closed over him. lie was on the surface
again IN moment, aud, taking glance hack nj the