The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-24
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.
Interesting Account Of the Voyage On the Good
Ship ''ealiia.n

liner that we can hardly realize that
only eight days have elapsed since
fighting our way through the ice fields
in New York harbor, we passed Sandy
Hook and stood out to sea. The r.
NJ. S. "Gallian is trim ship of some
5000 tons burden, with an average
speed of 10 knots an hour. While
neither so large nor so swift as some
of the boats belonging to the Cunard
fleet, she is thoroughly comfortable,
with cuisine that is unsurpassed. Her
commander, Captain Ferguson, is de-
cidedly one of the most popular men
in the Cunard service, while few can
equal the genial purser, Mr.. Lancas-
ter, in singing comic songs or cracking
jokes.
As is generally the case when the
passengers are few in number, our lit
tie party, consisting of only 80 saloon
passengers, soon became acquainted,
and it would be difficult to find a more
pleasant or social set. There were ten
Americans, twelve English, and one
Frenchman, so, as the party was
evenly divided, many and long were
the friendly discussions oyer the re-
spective merits of the two great sister
countries. The chief aim in life on
board steamer appears to be to as
certain ones eating capacity, and as
most of our party were good sailors,
we gave our cook plenty of work.
The steward woke us with coffee and
oranges; at $50 breakfast is served,
after which we played at quoits,
shuttle board, and other marine amuse-
ments until noon. when excitement
ran high to know who had won the
pool on the days run. Luncheon
came at | o'clock, then more games or
reading, and at 4 p. m. every one
turned up for afternoon tea on deck
Dinner was served at 6 o'clock and
supper about $50, and the intervals
were filled with drinks Of all kinds,
fruits and crackers. The menus com
prised almost everything in the way of
fish, flesh or fowl, obtainable at this
season on either side of the Atlantic,
, so hunger was not a common occur
) renee during the voyage.
Thirty-six hours out, we passed into
| the gulf stream, and the temperature,
instead of remaining near zero, be-
came mild and pleasant enabling us
to sit on deck, in brilliant sunshine,
| with sea as calm as the proverbial
mill-pond; indeed, more delightful
J weather could hardly be experienced
f at any season.
Our most interesting fellow passen-
7 ger was a consulting engineer, who
= has been four times around the world,
twice by steamer and twice by sailing
vessel. On one voyage, the captain
and mates having all died of fever, he
i took charge of the vessel and brought
her safely from the Indian Ocean to
Southampton. He has been three
2 times ship wrecked, once escaping with
t only seven others, and floating for days
! in an open boat with only keg OF
, water. He is familiar with every coun-
try on the globe and is now making his
/ SO trip across the Atlantic, so his
Y "reminiscences and descriptions are
: very entertaining and instructive.
! The trouble between France and
= Dahomey is attracting attention now
to the latter country, and he lived
I there at one time for fifteen months
D he has since published book on it,
: entitled "Dahomey as it is" He was
: made king of one of the provinces by
g the King of Dahomey, and holdse con
: cession Of 40 miles square, and it Is
, interesting to know that he is the only
: Englishman holding slaves by permits
: sion of Parliament. He has about 400
Y of them, and occupies this unique posi-
ton for the following reason: When
prisoners of war are brought in he is
allowed by the Dahomean King to
= claim some, and as long as they are
in his possession they are saved from
: decapitation, otherwise they are put
t to death.
We had on board also the manager
{ of the Indian Exhibit of the Worlds
/ Fair, gentleman thoroughly CONVEX
e SAINT with life in India, and who will
t shortly return to America with the
: specimens now being shipped from
Y that country.
0 We were also unusually lucky in
n havin0 fvo ~ tbraa OoOd yOca1ictS n n