Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-06-12

During all this time the storm was
steadily increasing. After dinner we
visited the quarters Of the steerage
passengers. There were fourteen
hundred people aboard, and twelve
hundred of them were steerage pass
engers The poor souls, many of
them, were huddled together in
groups, like sheep in a storm, some
were wandering aimlessly about
while others were lying in their berths,
locked in the fond embrace of NAL de
mer.
That night We tied ourself in our
berth to keep from rolling out, for the
vessel pitched and plunged greatly.
She creaked and groaned, the cordage
ratified, the hoarse cry of the sailors,
the steady tramp of the watch, and
the soughing and swishing of the
water, aad the thunder of the storm
all, tended to drive sleep away, and
next morning we arose in anything
but an amiable mood. The first thing
we did upon reaching the deck was
to go to the side Of the ship, and pay
our morning tribute to the grand old
ocean, and the next thing was to
breakfast, after which we paid
another oblation to the clamorning
sea. The storm continued four days
and nights. We had a fat, jovial
priest aboard, who did not mind the
| storm one bit. He was always first
at the table, and the last to leave it.
| It was extremely interesting towatch
this clerical gentleman at his meals;
for, he seemed to enjoy everything SO
much. He tasted everything, and
when the desert came, he would eat
as much of that alone as most people
could eat in whole meal. This sheep
herd in black was possessed of a
peculiar faculty that many a board
ing house patronizer would be glad
to have inas-much, that he was
capable of collecting all the dainty
dishes in his neighborhoodi in front of
his own plate, and keeping them
there.
| One day he was contentedly MUNICH
ing away at dish of extra fine figs,
when a German gentleman who had
tried in vain to have them passed up
the table to himself, growing
impatient, called out almost angrily
''Does your reverence want all those
fgs?" The priest in no way discon-
certed raised one eyebrow, helped
himself to double handful, and
passed the plate to the German.
The next morning after the storm
had subsidized, and the sea was yet
rough, we passed several sailing yes
sells tioundering along in the trough
of the waves, in various degrees OF
dilapidation. One was minus he1
mizzen-top mast, one had lost he1
jib-boom, and another was devoid alto
gether Of her mizzen mast and its &C
Compartments, showing how severe
the storm had been.
A landsman sees on shipboard
many things of interest, and there is
mostly lots of fun on an ocean mail
steamer. These great ships are like
mammoth hotels, beautifully fitted up
having bathrooms, barber shops, card
rooms and billiards, grand saloons
which at night are resplendant with
electric lights, ladies drawing rooms
and sitting rooms, smoking rooms
libraries, pianos and organs, and
everything else which tends to in
crease the comfort of the passengers
All the floors are carpeted, Every
stateroom (bedroom) containing two
berths, the woodwork of which is
beautifully polished, q plate-glass
mirror, electric bell button, marble
top toilet table and wash basin, q
small cabinet, and a loun"a. p
--~..s .uese rnlngs, there is lamp lei
in the wall of one corner, which is
kept burning all night. The door oi
each lamp is in the passage, and is
kept locked, so that the passengers
cannot tamper with the light.
Steerage passengers do not have
these luxuries. There are no carpets
IN their quarters; their beds are hunks
of rough boards, and everything
pertaining to their part of the ship is
comparatively cold, and comfortless
They have to furnish their own knives,
forks, cups, plates, spoons, mattresses,
| and other necessarles.
When we touched at Queenstown,
Ireland, on our outward course, there
came aboard hundreds Of Irish. Most
of the men carried short, thick sticks,
bundles done up in red handkerchiefs,
buadles of straw (for their beds) on
their backs, and short clay pipes stuck
in their hat bands. They were a
molly crowd, and contrasted strangely
with their fat, sleek, spiritual father
before mentioned, with his shining
beaver hat, and self satisfied look.
Such is life on the ocean wave in
these times. Great improvements
have been made since the old galleys
| Of the ancients were IN common use.
Seamen in sailing vessels often un-
dergo considerable hardship; but,
the position of an able seaman on an
ocean steamer is, comparatively
speaking, a sinecure.
GILBERT DEBoYGE.