The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-29
ACROSS HI OCEAN.

ge--American Politics on Shipboard.
Correspondence OF the Ir dian apolis Journal
GLASGOW, Scotland, July 1I.-Althoueh thou
sands OF miles WI from our own good city and
surrounded by countless sights and suggestions
to attract our thoughts, we have still uppermost
in our minds the friends at home. Many times
on our sea voyage have we longed to hear the
cry, indianapolis Journal-all about the polit-
icsl situation and baseball score" How tsna-
ciously and unconsciously We carry ont our
habits Of life. To illustrates: One gentleman
has appeared every morning regularly at the
breakfast table with the same copy bf the
Tribune Of June 80, and seemed to read it with
such deep interest that the other passengers
envied him his late news.
After a visit to some of the New York hospitals
we perfected our arrangements for sailing, and
July 80 we steamed down North river past the
beautiful statue Of Liberty. with a look back up
East river at the grand suspension bridge, that
link of iron between the sister cities New
York and Brooklyn. As We passed under the
shadow of the Goddess. with her uplif.ed arm,
she seemed to wish a God speed and safe voyage
to our grand steamer. the Furnessia. We have
had il, with, of course, the conventional storm,
sea-sickness, games on deck. Fourth of July cele-
bration, whale, iceberg, meeting of steamers,
fastest days run, feeling Of your attentive stew
ard, concert for the benefit Of sailors orphans,
and the anomaly at the piano, who sang Scotch
ballads till we wished him ''wi' his lads
and lassies' along with the sharks and porpoises
sporting In the mighty deep. Then We had i'm
pressive services on each Sunday. with collec-
tions fer the life-saving association. There was
a suspicion that this latter really meant the
ghiD'a cOOka but L for One- came so u2ar beinp
starved that to give it to them wouldn't be fair
the fare WAS too bad. Then we had our
Jonah on board, this time in the shape of an
old fellow who had crossed the pond almost as
many times as he took times to tell it. and was
consequently dubbed Captain. II you had
comfortably located yourself in your steamer
chair on the protected side of the smoke-stack
where You could keep warm and enjoy the uu-
book, there would the Jonah" surely follow
you and relieve your hoped-for quiet with
such remarks as laid you get that book from
the ships library2 Do you play the pianol I've
been across forty-six times. you haven't; this is
your first time. | know, why don't You walks
good for your liver, don't chow MOI Why don't
you play shuttle boardF' Stop, Captain. said /,
driven to desperation. youye't hit it. do know
something about that. I've been in the shuffling-
off business for some time. and if you don't leave
me alone Ill make more than q chestnut out OF
this threat" The Captain" was universally
persistent, till one day our Scotch captain gave
a long. loud whistle, and Immediately out Of
every h~atchway. gangway, aud through every
door came running sailors. stewards, cooks and
officers-in all a complement Of one hundred
men. 1t was the summons to the fire drill and
to lowering the life boats, which practice is gone
through with once on each trip, providing the
weather is fine aud pretty SO that the tars will
not be in danger OF getting wet. Well, the
signal was next given 20 let the life-boats over
the side OF the steamer. The sailors pulled,
tugged, ''he-hood, " their Scotch captain stamped
his feet, rushed to and fro. and talked as kindly
to the toilers of the deep as any mad Scotchmap
could under the circumstances. but the chains
were rusty and the ropes could not be pulled as
skillfully as at q political primary. and one of
the boats fRiled TO swing. Our Captain Jonah
climbed into the boat to give his advice when
crash-bang-a rope had broken, the boat
dropped, and overheard went the Jonah. The
engines were stopped. and the sailors leisurely
fished up the the unfortunate out of the briny
deep by the seat of bis-tweeds. having attacked
him from behind. Since then he has not been
seen, although his clothes have had time to dry
ont.
The red-letter day of the voyage was, as you
of course can guess, the Fourth OF July! This
day we celebrated with all the enthusiasm of
true born patriots. But the captain was no
patriot, and We had no fireworks, although
various unbroken packages of fire-crackers were
displayed. The celebration was opened by q
general procession aronnd the deck, about 200
frst-cabin passengers marching to the chimes Of
Yankee Doodle, played on b~agpipes. Then the
orator of the day, Professor Elson. held forth
with some remarks which were well received.
He finished by reading the following original
verses. which aside, from the Biblical quotations,
the exact correctness of which the twelve min
listers aboard insisted on questioning, was de-
clared most timely:
ODE TO sEA-sIcKSEss.
Let poets inspiration borrow
From broken hearts bowed down with grief;
j sing a deeper, truer sorrow
And one without relief.
Where food and comfort are rejected,
Where life is palled in black despair.
Limp, hopeless, woe-begone, detected
That is the NAL de mer.
Hark to yon note of sad bereaval,
In dismal. baleful monotones,
Upheaval follows on upheaval.
Each intermixed with groans.
The victim with a manner frantic,
Doth hasten TO the vessels side,
Sends articles to the Atlantic
Yet feels no thrill of pride.
He thinks upon St. Pauls e~pistles,
And full OF anguish is his cup.
As loud the gale around him whistles,
The text Cast We them up"
He wishes he could find the party,
That scoundrel and deceitful knave,
Who wrote in such a manner hearty,
Bright poems Of the ocean wave.
One wish within his heart is burning;
Others of many things have dearth.
While he has but q single yearning,
He only wants the earth.
The Declaration OF Independence was next
read. followed by general singing of America
Then came the various games and contests,
pfiZes being given 10 the successful contestants.
The ladies ran q potato race. A number of po-
tatoes are cut In two. and placed At regular in
tervals along the deck. The word is given, and
each lady begins picking up the potatoes. one at
q time, and putting them in a basket. The
lady getting through first wins the game.
Pitching quoits. an international contest
between Scotch. English and Americans, was
won by a Hoosier. as was also one Of the
other games. Marching through Geo rgiar was
sung, and then followed the tug Of war between
the Scotch and Americans. This last game
came near STIRRING MP the little remaining bile
which had not been offered TO Neptune. Ten
strong Americans were pitted against ten sturdy,
earnest S~cotchman. The word was given and
the tug began. Ii was fairly won by the former
when one overzealous compatriot braced his foot
against the ships railing aud . foul was de-
eiared. On second trial the Scotch dragged our
anchor or end man of bis feet. and the game
was given TO them. Excitement ran high sc
the decision and Ill feeling was only averted by
the prompt announcement of the presidential
election. Representatives of the four eandi-
dates were clamorous In soliciting votes, and
lots of fun and amusement Was caused. i, IS
the proud representative Of Harrison had. In an
ticipstion Of some event OF this kind, taken
along with me from home . large portrait Of
Ilndlapat favoTlte eQnr hiaA honest -