Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-05-04
OFF CAPE HATTERAS
WHERE THE MANIFOLD MiseRies
OF sEAslckNEss ARE FELT.

rke Nautical Yoang Man. the Cempisceut
Old Lsdy and the Superior Smile os the
Man who Has oNsn Crossed the Ocean.
"A Little Chcppy."
Especial Corrcspcndcncel
CHARLESTON, May 2.--OR Cape Hat
teras and "choppy"--if you have been
there you don't need to read any further,
but II you have not, all the transatlantic
experiences Of your past will not enlight-
en- you. You might, indeed. cross from
New York to Liverpool dozen times
and still be in a condition Of iSfantile ig.
norance concerning the pains and pleas
ures OF voyage from New York to
Charleston. Let It be understood at the
outset that there are pains ms well as
pleasures to be encountered on this trip,
for the Yemasseo OF Cherokee are not
the City Of Rome or the Etruria. II they
were the highest tide would never carry
them over the sand bar to within gun
shot Of Charleston. They are tidy YES
sells, neat as pin from stem to stern.
but about tho time they are cantering
blithely over the waves that assault Cape
Hatteras from one years end to another
you are apt to wish that few hundred
feet were added to their length or few
hundred thousand tons to their ballast.
Some misgivings on this account find
expression at 4:30 p. IN. as the Yemassee,
outbound, steams past the Goddess Of
Liberty. Tho cabin passengers sniff the
freshening sea breeze from the upper
deck. There is ship shape young wo-
man with fore-and-aft cap on her
head, and beautiful bunch Of Jacque-
minots pinned to the breast Of her tight
fitting ulster, who clings confidingly TO
the arm OF tho fortunate father Of such
girl. Already there is a slight oscilla-
ton from bow to stern. The girl presses
her fathers arm.
Papa. doesn't 1t seem to you that this
vessel is just trifle short for an ocean
voyage?"
"Why.so. my dear?"
Don't you see, she has begun to pitch
already and we are not out Of the lower
bay"
Papa is a well seasoned traveler-who
has hot rounded Cape Hatteras. He
smiles indulgently and says there isn't
particle of danger. This is only coast
voyage anyhow. Whereat the anxious
mother Of two small children looks much
relieved, and motherly appearing old
lady, who remarks that she has crossed
the ocean nine times, smiles protectingly
upon everybody. Even the nautically
equipped youth, slim Of leg and narrow
chested, but rugged out with all the par
suffers gleam of secret satisfaction to
cross his sallow face. This youth has
excited the envy Of superficial observers
who are willing to admit that they are
entering upon their first ocean voyage.
How comforting It would DO to be able
to contemplate the watery horizon with
such complacency as his! Presently
Sandy Hook is passed and tho "land
swell' has grown insinuating. The nau-
tical young man turns on his heel and do
scends haughtily to the lonesome lower
deck. For lack of anything better to do
you follow him shortly and are surprised
to note the ashy pallor Of his face rs he
stands with head drooped overthe taffrail.
There are adequate reasons why, for a
moment or two, he Is not conscious OF
your presence. II you were white ele-
phant, or Zulu costumed in tho native
war paint, this nautical young man
would have no idea Of your approach.
The fact Is, he is otherwise engaged. But
before you have time to retire there Is n
RIFT in the cloud OF his misery, and with
the last vestige Of assumed superiority
dislodgcd from his system he explains:
81 was--ah-you see | was suffering
from an attack of-er-of indigestion
when came on board"
There has been considerable thinning
out of passengers on the upper deck. The
anxious mother Of two small children,
together with one OF tho latter, has dis
appeared, and the remaining olive branch
is being carried below, limp and white,
in the arms Of the plying stewardess.
1t Is tho Gland swell"
Transatlantic steamers are too big and
heavy to be affected by the land swell,
but the Ycmassee and her human cargo
get the full benefit of it. II II not an un-
pleasant motion IL your stomach happens
to be firmly anchored in It's natural posi-
ton. But il that useful organ Is accus-
toned to exhibit migratory tendencies
upon slight provocation the land swell
will set it in motion right speedily. It is
an insidious heaving of the mighty deep
that is most potent In its effects on tho
system when least perceptible to the Wis
ion. To the mind that is yoked to an
ambitious stomach 1t is the essence of in
stability. But. bless you, the father Of
the ship shape young woman is not both
ering his mind with the logic of the situ-
alton as he makes suspicious haste to gain
the door OF his state room! And the
charming wearer OF tho Jacqueminots
and the fore-and-aft cap-where, oh!
where, is she?
This melting away OF tho invincible
before an enemy that can hardly be felt
and Is not seen at all, fills you with an
extraordinary estimation of yourself, see
ing that it is the first voyage of your life
time. You paco the deck with firm, en-
ergetic strides, fill your lungs with the
salt sea breeze, smits your chest and
conclude that you are one Of the elect
whom it is useless to attempt to make
seasick.
AS you pass the kitchen door the smell
OF the cooking supper reminds you that
you are ravenously hungry, and having
discovered that you are one Of the elect
you think no more Of your previous reso-
luton to go to bed supperless. The gong
sounds. Besides yourself there are only
the officers of the ship and the motherly
old lady to respond. The latter you en-
counter en- route to the dining saloon.
You remark pleasantly though signifi-
cantly on the sudden disappearance Of
the other passengers. to which she re-