Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-02-08
Off for Europe e-Notes from my Diary

SQUADRoN OF EVOLUTION, U S. S AT
LANTA, Dec. I've got under @ay at 10 a.
M, and stood out of Boston harbor in col
uun. Chicago leading, Boston second, ATTAIN
ia third, and Yorktown in rear. The stay
OF the shlIs in Boston had been a great
source of profit to the bostmeD, at least one
of whom made 5000 taking people to spd
from the ships in launches. We steamed
down the intricate channel at half speed,
passing Boston Light ebout roon. and took
our departure, shaping the course sor Lis
bon. TIE weather is beautifully clear and
the water smooth, the ship rolling very
| slightly.
Dsc. S.h.-The weather is delightfully."-
mild and with all sail set the ships make
picture hard 10 equal for grace and beauty
IS they lightly ride the waves with their
white huIs and sails shining 10 the bright
sunlight. The sailing orders are for the
ships 10 steer Mercator's course for Lis.
bon, at speed of eight knots, using sail at
discretion of commanding officers. II seps-
rated by gales to point on line between the
last position and Lisbon, and 200 miles near
| er Lisbon, and there wait for the rest of the
shps, but not TO wait too long, the COM
! mandpg officers to use their discretion about
proceeding. We use 80 tons of coal day,
aud started with about $50 tons, so we can
steam 10 days, mskiug 200 miles day, un-
| iess we have head winds.
Dec. 9th.--We are in The Gulf Stream,
with the usual weather, rain squalls, etc.
| There aIe . great many sea-guls following
the ships We are living on fresh provisions
as yet, and the water, which is distilled
aboard, is the best have ever used aboard
a ship.
Dec. 10th.-The weather is little cooler.
about % miles a day. II oil going to sea
was like this there would be very little hard.
ship in it.
Dec. 11th-Wiud shifting to north and
getting colder, with rain equals frequently,
ship rolling slightly. The Atlanta has
| been called the Lame Duck" but she has
kept her position all the time, with use of
less coal than the Boston. We use sail
whenever the wind permits.
Dec. 12th-The wind is shifting to south
aud increasing. The barmometer fell all
the afternoon and the wind increased go
that we had to take double reefs in the for
sail aud topsails, the other ships doing the
same. We saw the most perfect rainbow
this afternoon have ever seen; there was
secondary one, also. The wind increased
to o heavy gale from 8. W. 10 W., and the
barometer was falling for some time, and
then suddenly rose. seeming 20 indicate
that the centre of the storm vas astern of
us. The Yorktown, little after dark, sent
| up signal lights, and soon afterwards disap-
| peared from view. She probably hove to"
on account of some accident 10 her machln-
| ery or because the sea was too heavy for her
to keep on her conrse. About II p. In. the
gale reached its height. The storm, how.
ever, YVES of short duration. The Yorktown
was seen no more during the night, but the
other ships kept their positions.
Dec 13th-The wind Is west, right astern,
but blowing very fresh and the ship Is roll
log good deal Last night it was almost
! impossible to sleep, and things which were
not lashed elid from one side to the other.
1t is impossible to sit at the table Without
having the chairs lashed to it, However,
as long as I am not seasick, can enjoy
life.
Dec. 14sb.--Wind still holds from west
and we are making over 10 knots on course,
with all sails eet. We are now little more
than halfway to Lisbon, in just days. We
have gone about l. 500 miles, and have about
800 more TO go. The Azores ere only
about 200 miles off. This afternoon the
wind is increasing and the barometer is fall.
log; it looks as if we were going 10 have
another blow to-oight. There is very long
swell following us, and it is beautiful sight
10 watch the waves rise above the deck,
until they look as if they would overwhelm
US; the ship rises gracefully, and as if just
in lime to save herself, rides over the top
and Silks on the other side, the water rush
ing harmlessly on, the white crest generally
rsiag to within few inches Of the deck,
and sometimes just overlapping. Watching
the other ships near US, we ses them rolling
and pitching; and s5 they sick 10 the hol-
low OF q sea st the same time that we DO
they disappear from our sight, except the
very tops of their masts, and then they rise
until we can see far below their wateriInes.
/ Dec. 15lh.-Aboat 6 o'clock this morning
the Boston sgnslled that her boilers were
out of order, and we slowed down for about
half an hour until she could repair them.
1t was cloudy al noon, and for the first time
sinoe We seied, we failed to get our posi-
tion. 1t hss been raining lately every day,
and it is necessary to wear rain clothes on
deck at ell times, whether or not, on &C.
count of spray. We have seen nothing of
the Yorktown yet, but expect she will be
in shortly after Us, as she is much faster
than any of the other ships. It is very
warm and comfortable for the middle of
December aud, on the whole, our trip. so far,
/ has been very pleasant.
| Dec. 16th.-The weather is very pleasant
though cloudy, and the sea is going down.
By noon we were in the longitude of the
+ Azores. just north Of Fayal.
! Dec. 17sh.-The weather is delightful, the
sea is smooth, and there is go little motion
to the ship that it is hard to believe that We
are out on the Atlantic Our engines work
very smoothly indeed, they can scarcely be
beard 10 our quarters. We have passed the
Azores. Nothing has been seen ofthe York.
town as yet.
Dec. 1Sah.--It is delightfully."- warm and
pleasant this morning; the sea is almost
smooth. We are now getting near land and
/ in tho hrnnl, of nesaela nn this coast The