Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-11-02
ABOARD AN OCEAN GREYHOUND.
The Contrast Between Those on DECK ano
Those In the Stokehole.

The supreme development Of the mod
ern craft Of shipbuilding, an ocean grey
hound. is coming at full speed toward
Sandy Hook. Tho sea is oalm, and the
trip has been a smooth and short one,
and now as she draws near the shore the
belief that has found lodgment in every
mind during the past two or three days
that the record is TO be broken grows
stronger and stronger, and the passen'
gers crowd the deck, consulting their
watches from time TO time and discus.
ing with one another the possibility OF
lowering the western record. Within
two hours they will know whether or
not their hopes have been justified, but
lust now there is not a human being on
board, whether passenger or sailor, who
is not thinking Of the great chance that
lies before them.
The steamer Is crowded almost to its
fullest capacity. Some Of the passengers
arc returning home after holiday, and
there are others, Of foreign aspect who
are making their first trip TO America.
Tho quiet man in the pepper snd salt
suit, who stands by himself, Is q famou,
politician, who knows that he will be
met on his arrival by two or three OF the
magnates Of his party and possibly BY
a scoro Of reporters.
Not far from him is a foreign actress,
who has been carefully drilled By her
manager and will know exactly what
to say to tho reporters when they come
to interview her. She is prepared to love
America-provided, Of course, that the
American public is prepared 10 love her,
but she is . little anxious just now
as she thinks Of the ordeal Of interview
ing that Is before her. There Is an Eng
lish tourist, coming over TO shoot griz-
lilies on Long Island and bringing With
him an elaborate collection o. bathtubs,
walking sticks, hstboIes and gun eases.
He is talking to a serious looking Amer
lean whose acquaintance he has formed
on board, and who has just explained to
him that the rattlesnakes which infest
the New York piers are not really as
venomous as they are said to be.
"God bless me soul!' exclaims the
English tourist in a tone Of relief
The cooks and stewards are busy with
their preparations for tho last meal that
will be served on this voyage and as
they 20 about their laboI they talk
about the wonderful run that the ship
has made and hope Just as the paesen'
gers are hoping on the deck above that
the record will be broken
Down in the engine room the well
oiled and brilliantly polished wheels
and pistons seem to be working as II
they. too, were filled with the same
hope and the chief engineer wears an
anxious look as he glances with prao-
ticed eye at the indicator, which shows
the high pressure under which he is
running.
But far down in the hold is o conner
of the vessel, the glory hole to which
the we'll fed, easy going passenger gives
but little thought and into which ne
seldom seeks to penetrate. Yetit is here
that we find the true source OF tho Won
derful mechanical power that sends the
swift racer like thing Of life scros'
the sea from continent to continent For
it is here that the furnaces glow with
their awful heat, while in the fall glare
of the flames the half clad stokers stand
throwing into tho fiery depths shovelful
after shovelful Of coal. There Is nc
more interesting or impressive sight on
shipboard than this, and the landsman
who chances to look down into this pit
of fame and SCOT wonders how it Is that
men are able to work there and live
New York Herald.