The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-30
ALETTER FROM EUROPE.

| Dr. B. Y Boyd aud wife have arrived in
| London after very stormy voyage on the
! Allen" Mrs Boyd writes some of her
| friends in Wichita from First Avenue
Hotel, High Halborn, London, under date
of April 14th, 1898 She says:
Ny DEAR FRIENDS Il promised to write
you from the steamer. After reading this
you will understand that my promise
could not be redeemed. After Il good
nights rest on land, however, l hasten to
give YOU somewhat of a description of our
voyage. On Tuesday. April 4th, we sailed
from New York on the Aller. dense
FOG hung over the harbor which threat
ened to detain us for some time We went
aboard about o'clock a.. N. that we might
witness all the scenes of leave-taklng and
hear all good-byes. Our expectations
were disappointed. A few waving hand
kerchiefS was about all the sentiment
discocerable Only few minutes after we
started the fog lifted. and strange as 1t
may seem our only thought was Wichita
and our friends. Everybody crowded to
the deck to take the last look at land; TO
see the vessels and the great statue OF
liberty; in fact to see everything to be |
seen. Just rs we reached the statue a
large ship stood right in our course and |
our steamer seemed TO all on board bound |
To strike the ship, creating no little excite |
ment among the passengers, yet we all |
supposed the pilot understood his business |
and would III due time change the course |
of the vessel. The whistle was sounded |
for he ship to move to the right, but she |
would not, (she had lost her anchor rs we
afterwards learned@ she was helpless and |
drifting, and rs was expected the Aller |
run into her and cut away a large |
part of the foreport of the ship. |
We saw the vessels rock and |
the masts come together aud felt a terrific |
CHI h1.i had
done. assure you, none of the passengers |
will soon forget the event. Our ship lost |
her big anchor and some smaller items, all |
of which were soon replaced. We sailed !
very slowly Cor time and all the sailors |!
were put TO work to examine the injuries |
to the vessel and to make repairs. The |
anchor was replaced and we started on our |
voyage. Noon arrived in the meantime, |
and after we got out into the ocean we |
were called to lunch. and then our misery |
began. Some went down to the dining |
room and came right back Il was one OF
them; some did not venture down at all |
Most of the passengers did enjoy their
first and, as you will soon see, their last
meal. 1t was quite rough and
went hard with us poor sea-
sick PEOPLE, and by o'clock
p. m. many OF us were belfast, including
the two Wichita passengers. The night
was calmer and by morning most of us
COllu De On ueCk. he IulEu Jay we DdU
lovely weather and | went on deck. On
Friday morning the rough weather again
set in with cold wave, and it required all
our courage to go on deck. The storm
grew in severity and by / O'Clock the pass
engers had returned to the saloons and
cabins. During the evening the steamer
rolled and pitched and all persons were
forbidden to go Oh deck. Only the bravest
men ventured to dine. The storm was
fearful. All were badly frightened. One
passenger who was making his sixty
eighth trip across the ocean and who had
never before been seasick WAS Frustrated
by seasickness during the night BY mid
night the storm WAS raging and at its
worst stage and the steamer I ad to slow
up to one-fourth its regular speed. The
satchels valises aud other small packages ,
were rolling on the floors in mad confusion |
ana 1t was all we could do TO keep in our
berths, expecting every moment to be
thrown out on the floor. Suddenly we
heard an awful roar, and we thought our
last hour had come. Most OF the passen-
gers climbed out and ran about TO find out
what the trouble was. Finally we learned |
that the vessel had been swept by IA cyclone,
which fact had been concealed from the
passengers, and at , O'Clock a. m. 1t had
reached its climax. The thick iron frame
of one of the staterooms was broken by
waves which flooded the room The cap.
The captain said he had been
sea going for !orty-three years, but it was
the worst night he had ever seen. One of ,
the passengers was thrown down
aud had bis skull badly hurt
Next morning the storm was still
raging, and we were thankful that it WAS
daylight. although we We're kept below. {
Some were brave enough TO so TO lunch :
con and they told US that things were .
flying about in every direction and that
hey had TO hold on to something in order
to stay at the table. BY evening the s
storm abated and we were out of danger, |
and we all asked ourselves why we didn't
stay at home with our friends Ia those
twenty-slx hours we all realized what it
means 10 be away from home and friends
On sunday we were permitted to 20 OH
deck and view the damage We found
the life boats more or less Injured
The Allen WAS much delayed by the !
storm aud the whole trip was very rough.
On Thursday al O'Clock Il. m. we sailed
INTO the harbor at London. During the
last day or Two we met some
very clever people on the steamer We
We're glad 70 see land once more. but
shall be donbly glad when | can see the =
DID stars and stripes III home again. After
writing this letter we Will visit HYDE
park this afternoon. 1t seems incredible.
but with an excellent bill of fare we ate
but two meals ana two luncheons during
he voyage. With best wishes TO my
many friends at Wichita. | remain yours
iery truly, Mrs. Dr. b. Y. BOYD. =.