Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-06-12
CROSSING THE ATLANTIC.
Written for the TRIBUNE.

CROSSING THE ATLANTIC.
Written for the TRIBUNE.
Those who never witnessed storm
at sea, who were never in the midst of
such a storm, cannot imagine the
awful grandeur of the thing; they
cannot comprehend the terrific power
Of the elements. It was our fortune
few years ago to be aboard one of
the largest Atlantic steamers afioat,
midway between Europe and America,
when storm came up. Away to the
north and west arose, one afternoon,
huge black clouds edged and inter
spersed with rolling, puffy white ones,
lying piled up high all along the
horizon. 4 stiff breeze was blowing
from the Sc, just enough to make
the water ''lumpy'', but the waves
did not run high and, the wind being
in the right direction, the ship was
speeding along under full canvas, as
well as steam. Suddenly powerful
gust came from the north, staggering
the vessel, and splitting the sails to
ribbons before they could be possibly
furled. We might say in the words
Of the poet
Gas eagles swoop upon their prey,
So rushed the wind with mighty
blast;
It shook the ship, and dasht the spray
In foafning oddies, from fore to
aft"
The good ship staggered and reeled,
the cordage and'spars creaked, the
hull groaned, and shuddered like an
agonized being. The gust was fol-
lowed by another, and yet another,
and IN few moments the sky was
black with the rolling masses of the
upper air The very water partook of
the same inky hue. It did not rise
mountains high, as some would say,
bat the waves arose high enough to
sweep the decks as the ship dipped
from side to side. The huge waves
were chasing each other in wanton
sport on all sides; now the ship was
in deep trough, the crests of the
surrounding waves being level with
her bulwarks, and anon sho would
rise almost to the crest of wave in
! front, meet the advancing wall, and as
the two opposite forces came together
she would quiver and groan, and
plunge through the thousands Of tons
OF water hurled against her. All of
the port windows were fastened tight.
These windows are large, circular
plates Of thick glass, convex on both
sides, set in heavy frames of brass.
Presently the rain began to fall, at
first q mere drizzle, finally in heavy
| torrents Jove lot loose his thunder
bolts, hurting them in all directions.
The very demons Of the air were set
at liberty, shrieking and bowling,
| crashing and runsbling. The tighten
ings flashed in glaring sheets, or split
the heavens in crooked streaks, lick
ing the darkening expanse with their
forked, frey tongues, casting lurid,
hellish glow over everything.
+! No gulls We're there to add to the
confusion. The shr;~' r,o ,v,nd
blown tackle was louder than theirs
could ever be, and the shrill pipe OF
| boatswains' whistle trembled for an
instant on the heavy air, only to be
carried away by the rapidly increas-
ing gale.
We descended into the saloon to see
what might be going on there. Most
Of the passengers had slowed them
selves away in their state-rooms, and
only few were sitting about; some
with books, others listlessly idle.
The tables were set for dinner, the
edge Of each being surrounded by a
ledge, called a tray, to keep things
from rolling off in rough weather
Suddenly the ship gave an extra big
lurch, sending oranges, nuts, and
other fruits rolling and tumbling over
the floor in all directions. The dis
gusted stewards and, the delighted
children scrambled after them, picked
them up, and re-arranged them in
tempting pyramids. Just then the
great bell on the bridge rang the call
to dinner; but, not over half the pass
engers responded; for, many of them
felt vague mutterings, and curious
far away feelings in their stomachs,
which all knew to be, from previous
experience. the premonitory signs Of
sea sickness. Many Of those who did
respond 10 the summons looked most