Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-17

~-C5r delicious blue like
diamond incom-
parable on velvet,
The Pleiades and
Orion glowed on high in illustrious pomp,
ank sll the starry legions cleaned around
them. We seemed to have left the world
Of stormy blackness and bitterness far, far
away. This was the Atlantic, and vet there
could be no sea fairer. There was in the
breeze favor of frost, keen but not savage
"a crisp, elastic embrace-the suggestion
that in remote regions there might be win
ter, its ferceness restrained by magical bar
riers.
The Fulda is not greyhound, but she goes
right along at rate approaching 400 miles
day. This journey somehow gives me q
stronger impression than the miles accom-
plished warrant of vast distance. 1t is, of
course longer than the accustomed run to
Europe, es it is over 1000 miles from New
York to Genoa
4 Brilliant Event on the Ocean.
Saturday night-the second Saturday
night out-the deck was prepared OF the
larboard side for 9 ballroom. Inclosed in
sails, decorated with flags, Illuminated with
electric lights, it was brilliant improvisa-
tion. First there was q march led by the
captain. The band OF musician indispen-
sable accompaniment Of a North German
Lloyd steamers equipment - executed q
grand march. and the procession followed
course planned to give the greatest possible
circulation of the procession. Then fol-
lowed fireworks, and we had small Fou rth
of July. Rockets may be used for festal
purposes at sea- but only by the discharge
of several at time-sent up siugly, and at
intervals they are signals of distress
Waltzes and quadrilles followed. The cap
tRin's ball was pronounced great success.
On the second Sunday, as on the first, the
passengers were aroused by selections from
the splendid sacred music of Germany. The
day was delightful, and at night the great
interest in our little world was in the fact
that if our iron planet steadily described
its appointed course over the shining,
rounded face of the sea, we should be very
early on Monday at Gibraltar In the even
ing we saw the dim line of coast we were
told was Portugal, though it is my impress
sion our first view Of European land was of
Spain.
Drifting Into the Sunny Seas.
Then came lights in Lofty towers, each
with peculi2rities known TO all sailors of
these seas. Among them later was one that
bears the memorable name Trafalgar, where
Nelson settled the question of the su-
premacy Of England over the oceans, and
Napoleon had to find his consolation at
Austerlitz December the passengers were
early riserS Ut is the afternoon of that
day, and l am seated on deck, without an
oYercoat, writing these lines, in comfort
The western sky is red and pale gold in
layers, and the silky glowing waters
OF the Mediterranean are murmuring
around the ship, which is going
with greater ease than the ordinary steam
boat on river. feel the vibration of the
tcrew that drives US like pulsation in the
deck We have been looking long at the
snowy mountains of Spain, and are now out
OF sight OF land. We are about us far from
Genoa as Cincinnati is from New York.
Our long plume of smoke bears away toward
Africa. The yellow western light falls on
the paper rs write, and I close at once the
portfolio and the parenthesis.)
The ship was unquiet, but not from the
swell of the sea, the night before Gibraltar
The mighty rock, one of the Pillars OF Her
cCles that stood for ages as the end of the
world, and became one of the gateposts OF
the new continent when the mystery beyond
the Atlantic was revealed, has one of the !
names that strike the imagination. It ranks !
with Jerusalem, Constantinople and Rome |
IN the memories and fancies of men.
An Eager TO Sec Gibraltar.
Passengers were eager to see the reality |
60 often pictured. Over 20 were going to |
leave the company for tour in Spain. The |
italians were excited by the approach to |
their native land and sea, and seemed to |
fnd intoxication in the air.
By the way, am told the price of pass |
age Of an italian from New York TO Naples /
or Sicily is So, and that the crowd we have |
on board have a good deal of money, per- |
haps more than $3.50 each on the average !
1t is evident that they have not wasted /
much Of their hard-earned money on clothes
They are great card players, and sit on the
deck IN circles of half a dozen, and whack |
the cards down in the dirt with persevering |
zeal. They play a sort of poker, and have
heard the '.jach-pots'' estimated as high as
25 cents. though ! have not noticed case
IN which the sum at stake exceeded 10 cents.
These peaple are exceedingly well-behaved.
There has not been a case OF drunkenness
or fight among them. AS the weather has
improved, we notice women and children in
the crowd-one singularly beautiful young
girl, and curly-hcaded boy whose pensiye
face appeals to ell hearts; and he has had
contributions OF oranges, candies and
|
Italian friends are currently reported to
have founded a colony of fieas, and some of
these lively insects are believed TO have in
vsded the sacred staterooms of the first
class passengers Singular stories are told
Of the habit of fleas of jumping into the sea
when the Italians take their departure.
The Italian flea is as vigorous as fantastic.
appearance OF the Great Rock.
Long before day there was hum all over
the rlveted hive, containing J, 200 human
creatures. The Spanish lights flashed on
the left. We had passed the Trafalgar
light. There was a shadowy mass in the
east-over it a sparkle of stars. Low by the
sea, with sombre background, there was
seen the twinkle of many lights; on the
right, emerging from the shadows, red
glow; beyond it, miles away, white spot
like keen star just beginning to fade in
the eastern light. "Whst is that?" was the
question. The answer came, Gibraltar
To be sure, how the shiHhss pierced the
dim waters and the shadowy mists. To be
sure it is Gibraltar, gloomy bulk with