The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-10-07
gLrs gmteLLiaeneem
0aies, Nos, sS and ~ Fourteenth Street,
AN OCEAN TRIP
From Baltimore to Boston, with Day at
Old Point Comfort.
TO ne Editor Of he IRtsllfosleeT,

From Baltimore to Boston, with u Day n
Old Point Comfort.
10 ne Editor Of he lRlslIiGAeeT.
sIR:-At least dozen Wheeling people
hRyeth instrumentation oneolthe pleasant,
est oithe many trips thataIesnnually laid
out by enterpriHing railroad and steamer
companies; namely to Baltimore by rail
and thence to Boston by ocean,
Reaching Baltimore, after I'm enjoyable
ride through the magnificent mountain
scenery Of the Baltimore 4 Ohio railroad,
you can sail on Monday, Thursday or Sat
urday afternoon by one Of the steamers
OF the Merchants and Miners Transporta,
ton Company, This line has been In
successful operation all the year through,
since 1868, and with careful management,
watchiul and skilliul officers, ataunch
steamers and courteous agents, has won a
well deserved reputation.
The steamers now running are four, the
Chatham, ID, II. Miller, Berkshire and
Allegheny, The newest, largest and finest
one Of the four, is the Chatham, command.
ed by Captain Hallett, q genial, hearty
gentleman OF the old school, who has en-
joyed at different times the hospitality OF
mis- intimate friend, Mr., John Fl, Hobbs,
and has In this way made many warm
friends in Wheeling, Mr., Win 'Halett,
the Captaiu's son, Is the steward OF the
Chatham and looks well 10 the comfort
and pleasure OF the passengers.
The companyTun their steamers Tegu,
larly through the entire year, and tranR-
port and immense amount Of freight. An
occasional traveller risks the roug voyage
in winter, but there Ia a very large
passenger traffic in the summer months
on the trip before ours the Chatham car
ried nin6ty-six passengers, The state
rooms are mostly on the upper deck, and
are large, splendidly ventilated and light
ed, and IN eyeryWay most comfortable.
The cuisine of these steamers ia all that
could be desired, aud the service good
most OF the stewards and assistants are
Euglishmen who have had training on
transatlantic steamers.
leaving Baltimore, from the Company'a
pier at the foot oil Long Dock, at three in
the afternoon, wo were towed out by Q
wheezy little tug from among the small
craft and were soon steaming down the
bay. Nothing can be moro comfortable
and enjoyable than an easy chair on the
forward deck Of the good steamer
Chatham, with fragrant cigar, after
hearty supper, chatting and swapping
lies with lot Of congenial fellows, while
we glide along on the smooth waters OF
the bay and watch the distant shores
slowly melt away aud finally disappear In
the mellow gloom Of a glorious sunset,
Next morning found US at Norfolk, the
old Virginia seaport, with its forty thous-
and population, its magnificent hRrbor,
and It's extensive navy yard. The steam
er lies here all day taking on freight.
The large pier buildings are always full Of
freight, for II ls transferred here from the
Northern TO Southern lines or Uice versa.
Large shipments Of boots and shoes from
Beston are shipped on the Southern lines,
and sugar and rice are here Transferred to
the Boston and New York vessels. Iu
watermelon season 1t Ia an entertaining
sight 10 watch the negro stevedores pitch.
ing melons along the line into the hold,
singing musical melodies all the time.
During the day at Norfolk the steamer
kindly sends her passengers over to Old
Point Comfort, or Virginia Beach at re.
duced rates for the trip and dinner. Pas.
sengors by Saturday evenings steamer are
entertained at Old Point from Sunday
morning till Monday morning free Of OK.
pense. We all went over, fourteen miles
acrosp, made the rounds Of Fortress Mon
roe, the largest and strongest fort in the
country, and had an exCellnnt dinner at
the Hygela Hotel. The large and elegant
dining room fronts the ocean and Ia al
most entirely open toward tho sea, We
ate TO the music Of an excellent band In
the adjoining ball room, with the roaring
OF the surf q few rods otfas On acCompan:.
ment. Within two hours after dinner We
were back on the Chatham, and by ak
o'clock were again on our way. Before
dark we had passed through The capeg,
easily recognized by the revolving light Of
Cape Charles light house on tho north
and the steady bright lIghtoi Cape Henry
on the south. Our course was out to sea
for seventy miles, and then north east
along the coast, being out Of sight Of land
all night, oil next day and till early the
following morning.
"Coasting Is rougher than crossing"
they say, and we soon had reason TO be.
lleye It. Tho storms Of several proceed.
ing days made rough sea, and good
many on board who boosted Of being old
sailors, got sick for the first time. Every
berth had tho significant tin can fastened
conveniently beside. the head, and
many oil them were called into service
Oh the awfulneSs Of soasicknessl A
majority Of the passengers Btaid In their
berths all the next day, and the steward
must have saved good many rations.
As there was no chestnut bell on board
Mark Twain's experience was frequently
repeated, how he was afraid the arBt day
out he would be pick; was afraid the
second day he would die; and the third
day was afraid he wouldn'tdie. We saw q
wretched creature leaning over the rail-
ing. There was nothing left Of his stom'
aCh, and he was straining every nerve to
bring up pieces Of his liver. An enthu-
siastic young man went exCitedly up to
him to call his attention TO a distant
steamer on tho horizon, and as the sick
man turned his haggard face, be Missed
through his pale lips and draRgled nous
tache, 49, the steamer" The only
thought in q sea sick soul is wild longing
to be- lying comfortably somewhere on
nice firm ground, where there 10 none Of
this dampable, never ceasing, siCkening
motion. One Of our party, anda- jolly,
genial compagnon de voyage, General
Sweilser, Of Pittsburgh, escaped the
plague, and as they ate their three square
meals and smoked their customary cigars
they poked fun at US unlortunstes and
boasted Of having their "deCk loads wei!
lashed." Three doctors were on board
and were oil the BiCkeBt Of the sick,
and could do as little for themselves aS
medicine can do for seasiCknesg at any
time.
Late Wednesday'night could beBeen the
light shlp at Fire Island, and the wreck
ing vessel stationed there to work on. the
Inflated Oregon, which lies sunk there,
90 near the end OF her laHt trip. Early
next morning we were steaming tranquil.
ly between Nantucket and Martha Vine
,1n 81 aaI Nha, xnt,Nk, Y,aRk Al kha tim tBal