River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-02-02
A Staunch Old Craft with a Captain by
the Substantial Name of Brown.
The Sight of the Shores of the Emerald
Isle Entrances the Sea-Sick
Voyagers.
LEIPsIC, Numberger St., No. 5,
naa 90 1897


TENDER, the ship Anehoria, after ten
days voyage, sighted the northern
coast of Ireland. 1t was but the sec
ond trip this steamer was making
since she had gone into dock, several
years ago, for general repairs. She
was quite an old boat that had plough
ed the ocean between New York and
Glasgow for many years, and had
doubtless encountered many an ugly
storm, and weathered many a heavy
sea. Indeed, at one time, she had
even sustained serious collision, and
was obliged, in consequence, to make
two days trip back to port, with
hole in her side large enough for a
cart-horse 20 walk through. Never
theless, in spite of all her hard exper-
fences, and many years of service, she
was still stanch vessel, and, now
that she had been repaired, and has
received new engines, she was more
seaworthy than ever. Speed, how
ever, could not be counted among her
good qualities. Her average rate was
but twelve miles an hour and her
greatest speed would scarcely exceed
fifteen knots an hour. While other
vessels made the trip in seven days,
her ambition was fully met to make ii
in ten. Her motto was, Secure
amidst perils," which translated
means "Slow but sure, " and her chief
ambition was to be promptly in port,
on the very day and hour for which
she was advertised. Rain or shine,
storm or calm, hot or cold, the rhyth-
mical beat of her screw rarely ceased,
while her nose was pointing across the
briny deep, and she was following the
hidden paths which only a good ship
Can follow by instinct. Upon hes
strong, well built deck three heavy
masts rose in towering height, bear
ing an array of ropes and yards, from
which, in graceful curves, wide sails
stretched and swelled before the
breeze. Between the fore and center
masts stood the great black stack, un
interTuptedly sending out heavy vol
umes of smoke, which, passing out be-
tween the shrOuds and sails, left long
black cloud in the atmosphere beyond.
Her jolly crew was largely composed
of bright, round-faced Scotchmen,
whose rousing "he-o-heave," as they
hoist the sails, had often delighted the
hearts of the passengers. and whose
broad Scotch accent, again and again,
awoke in memory the songs of the be-
loved Burns. The captain of this
crew was likewise Seotchman, short
in stature, but stoutly built, with a
broad, heavy chest, and strong, square
shoulders, from between which short
thick neck reached out little beyond
the collar of a navy blue coat, and
was crowned by round, hairy head.
1t was good shaped head that sat SO
squat between the shoulders, and its
face. though almost concealed by a
heavy, slightly gray beard, had firm
and business-like, but not unkindly
appearance.
This captain, like his vessel, had a
decided diStaste to unsubstantial dis.
play, and high flown names, and,
therefore, with a view of being a sub
stantial man, and mailing a substan.
tial record in life, had, from his very
childhood, carried the solid and sub
stantial name of Brown. The posi-
tion which this gentleman occupied
was comparatively new to. him. 1t
was but the second trip which he was
now making as captain of the An
chOria. Previous to his promotion he
had been an agent for the Anchor
line in Italy. Here he made great
progress in intellectual attachments.
and it was reported of him that he
was very scholarly man, and spoke
several modern languages with great
fluency. Although captain Brown had
not all his life been actively engaged
upon the sea, he was nevertheless con-
sidered a thorough seaman, who had
mastered his art in the days of his
early manhood. 1t was but natural
that the passengers should take a
great interest in the captain, and
should strive, with considerable jeal-
ousy, to gain seat neal bin at the
table, as it was considered no small
privilege to engage him in converse
ton. Sea captains have prOverbially
a high reputation as conversational
lists. and captain Brown was no excep-
ton to the rule. His life, like every
sea-captain' 5 had been full of romantic
experiences, from the vast store,house
of which he could retail at will for
the delectation of curious and atten-
tive listeners. On this trip, however,
it was noticed that he payed little at
tention to passengers in general, but
/ directed his remarks almost exclusive
| ~ to two ladies who sat next TO him.
At first there was much speculation
as to who these privileged and much
honored ladies might be. Among so
many passengers there could certainly
be no ok of inventive faculty to spin
interc sting rOmances, and, at first, il
seemed fated that the captain must
become the hero of a charming little
love story. 1t is to be deplored that
such did not become fact. It would
have added so much excellent mate.
rial to a story of dry realities. The
hero of love dream especially upon
the wild romantic ocean has a wonder
full power to enlist interest and sym
patty. Ii might even have worked
like a health giving potion AMI pre-
vent all sea-sickness among the pas
sengers. From such high and noble
example, other love dramas might
have developed. Who knows what a
most happy state Of affairs might not
have resulted from the proper growth
of this little germ But alas. the
promising germ was fated to perish!