The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-13
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HER VOYAGE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
Whales and Icebergs Enliyen tha
Trip-An Ocean Hero and a
Texan Poet.
s. S. STATE OF NEBRASKA,


July 80. 1894. !
Passengers on board the State of Me-
hraska have just terminated a delights
full voyage across the Atlantic.
The weather during the trip was very
fine, old sailors having informed US that
it never was more so. The ocean avs
eraged as smooth and calm as the Hud-
son River in early summer.
The party of which 1 am a member, is
under the leadership of Mr.. Frank
Baker of New York. 1t consists of twen-
ty-three persons. eight of whom are
clergymen. Owing to these gentlemen and
Mr.. Bakers untiring efforts, the OUT
ward voyage was a great success, and
we have every reason to believe there's
majority of the party being gentlemen, it
is needless for me to state that the ladies'
We're exceedingly well taken care of.
Our first evening out, the appearance OF
several whales broke the monotony OF
sea life. Later the same night, brill
liantly lighted steamship-the Lucania-
passed by ON its way to New York The
following day two sailing vessels were
sighted, and here ended any indication
of life on the ocean outside our own ship
for eight days; on the ninth day, how
ever, three-masted schooner was
espied off the coast of Ireland, and after
that, the appearance of vessel at diff
ferent intervals lost all its novelty,
When the surroundings at any time DUR
ing the trip grew at all irksome, our at
tention was directed at once to games
and music.
ment of some kind given in which the
passengers found it a real pleasure to
take part. On Sunday morning services
were held on board for all who desired
to attend. Early on the Fourth morn
ing the joyful shout, IAN iceberg in
sightu brought all on deck to view the
wonderful mass of floating ice. When
first noticed at a distance of about seven
miles, it appeared in height. to be about
fifty feet. AS we neared 1t, to our OBJ
servation it took the form of vast
Cathedral with minarets of purest snow
and seemed several hundred feet high.
The mercury at this period fell to forty
six degrees. During the day four others
were seen, the largest of them looking
like an immense crystal palace, beautiful
in itself, but lacking the picturesque
grandeur of the former The rest were
presented no particular form, whatever.
The Commander of the State of Me-
braska is known as Captain John Ate
Iantic Brown. His heroic act of saving
three hundred lives imperilled by the
foundering of the steamship Atlantic
off Nova Scotia about twenty years ago,
may not be familier to all on, land, but
it certainly is well known-though very
much against the gallant seaman's will
to the passengers on this trip.
We have, among the party, Mr. Law
TeIC0 0nlIlSHuOu OL 1GAdS, iAAOIO
arly known as the Poet Ranehman,"
and he has written poem commemorate
ing the Captains brave deed, and hon.
oring him for it's performance. copy
of this poem which was contributed to
the entertainment for the benefit of the
Sailors Orphans of Scotland, each pas
senger has been enabled to secure, and
it will be lasting memento of our trip
to the Continent. To our very kind
friend, Mr.. Baker, conductor of the ex-
cursion, we feel heartily thankful for
the extreme anxiety he has shown in
regard to our happiness. Concerning the
overland tour I'll write to you in day
or so. .
JENNIE A. HAMILL. 4