Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-07-21

Is doing Europe" will be Of interes
/ TO bis many friends, we have prevailed
: upon A. J. Cowles TO Gull out suci
portions Of his letters as would be Of
interest, putting them into narrative
form for the REFLECTOR. lie has
already received several letters from
Mr.. Cowles, a portion of which we
insert starting with a description Of
the steamship, "City Of New York"
NEW YORK, June H.. We have
been down to see the steamship, "City
OF New York." which is to be our
home for about week. / have seen
large steamers before but none so
large as this. In the classic language
of Cy Prime, "she's whopper." We
went out on the dock first and she
lowered above us like mountain.
She is 565 feet long aud about so feet
broad. Her hull is painted black with
red below the water line. She has
three smoke stacks and three masts.
Her bow is ornamented with female
figure clad only in bare skin and
golden girdle, There may DO a blush
in her wardrobe but she did not have
1t on this morning. After viewing the
outside We mounted two long lights of
stairs on the wharf in order to go
aboard. There are four decks with
bridge for the officers above the highest
one.
We entered the promenade deck and
proceeded to the stern where we picked
out place over which TO offer our
contributions to Neptune. We then
proceeded around the promenade deck
and visited the drawing room which is
forward on this deck. 1t is furnished
with stationary lounges and settles
well upholstered, also a piano; the
ceiling is low hut beautifully decorated;
ut the forward end of the drawing room
abeautiful oriole window gives charm
ing view of the dining saloon beneath.
On the promenade deck, nearer amid
ships, we find the library, spacious,
well furnished room with large supply
of books. There is a wide promenade
following the rail of the ship all the
way around this deck.
Going down one flight we come TO
the saloon deck with the dining saloon
forword and the smoking room In the
stern end. The dining room is very
pretty with two long tables in the
center running lengthways with the
ship and lot of smaller tables in
alcoves, running crossways. Our party
is assigned to alcove seats but IL re.
mains to be seen how much we shall
occupy them. The smoking room Is
very pretty and furnished with seats.
tables and bar. | don't expect to be
a good bar customer. The balance of
the deck is taken up with high priced
staterooms, usually en- suite and too
rich for our blood. Beneath this is the
upper deck, which is filed with state.
rooms.
Our room is on this deck, directly
under the smoking room. Below again
is the main deck filed with staterooms
and below this, is the hold for freight
and baggage. We could not see the
machinery today rs 1t was all locked up.
win describe that later if weather and
stomach permit.
ON BOARD, S. s. City of N. Y,
June l5.-At 0:20 a. IN. our last tie 10
dry land was thrown off and the big
steamer swung into the stream with
goodbyes by over 600 on the pier to
quite as many on the steamer. 1t is a
perfect day and the sail down the bay
is very delightful. We are now fairly
under way aud this hasty account of
our start is to go by the first pilot and
will be our last chance to communicate
with shore until we reach the other
side. We are feeling well and pleased
TO know that we are really started; the
water 30 far is very smooth.
The first day out is passed and In
looking back upon it / don't think ITS
events will be particularly interesting
to anybody. We passed Sandy Hook
about II q. m. and discharged our
pilot. Once upon the ocean we soon
felt the ground swell and by noon we
had lost all interest in life or its sur
roundings We both ate little lunch,
mine left me in 30 minutes; Mrs. @.
held hers. We felt miserable all the
afternoon. There is no sickness quite
so disagreeable. At dinner we ate
little. held mine and Mrs. G. did not;
50 we continued sick and uncomfort.
able until about 0p. IN. when we re-
tired. There is a large crowd and
several notable people on board; the
fl,wcrs sent by friends were lovely.
This is certainly first class steamer
but the fodder is horrible, perhaps
will think more Of IL later on. 1t is
certainly very cold and tho heaviest
clothing we can get on is none too
much. am much surprised at the
very poor general service on this
steamer. may like it better bye and
bye when feel better.
The SECOND dHy ont was quite az