The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-07-03
Miss Helen Duff Tells Of a Storm On
The Ocean.

The following is an extract from letter to
Mr.. and Mrs. q. &. Duff from their daugh-
ter Helen, written on board the Red Star
line steamer Belgenland, on her last trip
from Philadelphia to Antwerp. She writes
a letter of eighteen pages, giving minute
details of her every day experiences and
the whole letter is very interesting. For
the first few days the sea was so rough she
could not write, and eliminated in storm
of considerable violence, the description of
which we produce as she wrote it:
monday night we had little entertain
ment in the saloon. Mr.. Dildck, very
fine pianist and teacher from Philadelphia,
played most beautifully. A lady from
Philadelphia, Mrs. FOret, sang several times
and a Miss Chamberlain read very nicely
from Pickwick Papers. After that most
everybody went on deck to get some fresh
air before retiring. The wind had risen
more toward evening and We knew by the
rolling and pitching of the boat that the sea
was rOugher, but were not prepared for the
grand sight we beheld. Great torrents of
black water rising to an awful height, light
ened by patches of white foam, glistening
with phOsphOrescence, which lit up the
dark waters around. 1t was magnificent
and how wished all of you were with me,
especially papa. for 1t was just what he
would enjoy-the typical. grand old ocean.
But what terrible night we had and all
the next day Tuesday. That night l was
almost afraid to go to bed, there was such a
warning of winds and waters, crashing Of
glass and creakings-a regular bedlam. No
body on the boat slept except two little boys
three and four years old, the cunningest
little 'fatties' you ever saw. was bounced
from one side of my berth to the other till l
was fairly bruised; had to hang on all the
time to keep from falling out and 1t was i'm
possible to steady ones self. Towards
morning heard crash near my head and
finally got up energy enough to lift my eyes
and 10! my medicine chest had slipped along
the bOx-like table In the corner of the state
room and had fallen into the marble wash
basin. Just as l looked my tin box of
waters followed, then a bottle of AppOla-
naris water of Miss WIS, my basket of
lemons, hat, etc., ETC., a sweet cOnglOmera-
ton and all this time my trunk was sliding
up and down the room and the floor was
deluged. The water had been pouring into
one of the port holes all night and we were
afioat. We did not get up until o'clock p.
m. 1t was at the risk of our lives to do so
and besides l was rather queer-in fact
succumbed to champagne but did not
vomit, so you cannot call 1t sea-sickness.
We had to have our stockings and shoes
dried before we could put them on, then
they cleared out and put another carpet
down. managed to get up on deck and
sat down I'm my chair awhile. The chair
was tied fast and besides there was loop
of rope for you to hang on to. 1t was the
terrible sea as had pictured it. Mountains
and valleys of water heaving and grooming
and looked, away of, as IL the waters de-
lu0ed tho heavens IL was n grand and
awful sight, but l couldn't look at 1t long as
II made me sick. started down stairs and
fell three times. Father Field and the
doctor of the boat sat on settee at the top
and encouraged me with remarks like these:
'Just hold on to the railing" YOU'RE all
right" Never mind. Miss Duff, you are
most down." etc. got as far as the saloon
and laid down till dinner time, ate little
and felt better. Then i was tied In my
chair again for fresh air and finally got to
bed again and very rough all night but not
so bad. Two ladies got black eyes from
falling, Mrs. Watson hurt her arm, and the
fore main sail was blown away"