Wichita eagle., 1888-03-29
A STEERAGE TRIP.
INTERESTING EXPERIENCE OF
PASSENGER WHO TRIED 1T,

What the Steerage Is Like-A Bit o
Rough Weather-An Aggregation o
Odors-A Bed on Deck-How Meals
Were Served.
The berths in the steerage are not reserved
they are free, and the custom of leaving ths
I baggage in them, denoting that they are
taken, is not regarded. The usurper coolly
| throws out the first occupant, bedding, tin:
and baggage, not caring if they are injured
or not, then falls asleep and does not awaken
until its first posseSsor finds another place
Some one quietly appropriated mine and had
thrown my tins in an adjoining bunk. All
were found except that indispensable article,
my bright lrcn spoon, which was either lost
or taken to complete some one elses outfit.
The stewards are good fellows and will give
extra Accommodations for a dollar OF two.
They will wash the tins for the small SUN of
81, and will place in your berth free of
charge.
One Of the difficulties of a Storage passen-
ger is to dress and undress The usual way
Is to hang the pants On the end of the berth,
jump into them and quickly grasp hold of
the planks to keep from being thrown against
the sides of the boat when it makes lurch
Another way is to knecl, but many a head
was bumped against the iron beams when the
person arose to fix his suspenders. Nearly all,
however, went to bed without undressing.
The women have separate apartments in
the same part Of the boat, and all become &C.
quainted in short time. They were carrying
on busy conversations, and the different Ian
guages poured out in torrent, which never
ceased except when the boat gave lurch,
and then only for q moment Dirty faced
Children, with their cries and screams added
to the melody of sounds. | quarreled with
myself for going steerage, but it was too late
With sigh of regret l went on deck The
water was calm and beautiful; pleasant
breeze was blowing and the ride was enioy-
able
Toward night the water became rougher
and the boat began to rock Many began to
experience dizzy and unpleasant feeling,
which constantly grew worse In a short
time the gentle laughter and sweet songs had
suddenly changed. looked around. There
was scarcely woman on deck, and the men
had well nigh deserted it. Lemons and
oranges were in demand. The bar was prof
itably patronized The countenances which
few hours before were bright and happy
were now pale and troubled. l paced the
deck, as did many others, in the bracing cir,
with the hope of driving away the miserable
feeling. 1t was in vain. had TO give up''
All had stopped walking and had taken their
positions at the railing and were gazing earn
estly at the water. They may have been
looking at the phdsphorescent light, but l
doubt 1t. We were made worse by the CON-
binei odors Of carbolic acid, chlorate of lime
(Which was thrown around profuselvl, new
paint, tar and grease, and other things known
to those who travel on ships. These smells
made me deathly sick, made me hate the ,
boat. everybody and everything OH it.
1t is the sailors duty to sweep the decks,
but they ought TO have extra nav. and IL
should be collected from the Storage passen.
gers. The men were immoderate smokers
and the scent of bad tobacco was another dis
agreeable odor mixed with those that we-a
already rendering my stomach weak,
Polish jew carried the largest and fiIthieS. |
pipe, and many times during the dsy and |
night this big bowl Of intolerahle scents couli /
De seen banging from his mouth. The sick |
oersons Sep. on deck sill night. sreaaiur TO |
so IN the Storage on account Of the horrible /
snsil which pervaded il The sailors worked |
ne whole night managing the sails and wash
ne the decks, ana often tie sleepsrs were
aroused By tie scrubbers' hose. The hare
iecs was the principal bed: mine was . coil
II rope, and, notwithstanding the noiss. / fa1
n.o refreshing sleep
The ssasicx people would come TO the fables
ND Try to eat, but as soon as any greasy food
vas taken the party sought the railing Of the
,oat or the cutters in the staerac-a E,,I; !
hey took to their berths, end when RI. st-u.
rcs came ct n1eai times TO give each his por-
ion. they. Like Rim Van H,ntl. .,,,h