Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-03

Observation-Disclosures Harbor al
Sydney-Palatial Homes Which
Line the Shore-Notable Catholic
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Season now
on.
The rapid transitions from ole Iati-
tude to another makes travelling by
fast steamers very trying for invalids
We left Fiji South Pacific baskins
in the radiance Of perpetual, summer
only to rush into the winter OF the
southern hemisphere. We had been
too fortunate in having such exquisite
weather for one day on shore (at
Suva to grumble when a regular del
uge Of tropical rain came down
on the following day. Inc sliding
doors which shut off the aft part of
the deck had to be closed and some
times We had to beat a retreat before
squal and take refuge in the music
room. A number of new passengers
had come on board at Fiji, besides
some shipWrecked Norwegians. Some
OF them had been making the tour of
the islands, some had been visiting
the French settlement-and famous
convict priSon-at Naumea, in New
Caledonia, and some were residents of
Fiji. To make up for the unaccus-
toned dreariness outside there was
more music and fun going on under
cover. The good, 'Waninas,' which
had sailed so smoothly for fortnight
was tossed up and down so that the
propeller was sometimes lifted out of
the water. We had no storm to cause
such commotion; but far south in the
southern ocean there had been terrible
tempestS and wild seas which troubled
the waters so far away. Happily we
We're all sufficiently sea-proof to bear
the rough play of old Neptune with
equanimity; but some ladies who had
embarked at Suva collapsed miser-
ably. On the following Sunday there
was turn out at the morning service.
but it was ludicrous to the company
to see the efforts made to preserve
their balance. They were swayed like
reeds in the wind when they attempted
to stand.
In the tropics we had none of the
brilliant sunset effects | had antici-
pated. Of course it was what passes
for winter there. The sunsets were
rather to be characterized as weird.
Strange cloud curtains spread across
the horizon, behind which the golden
orb set. Every evening strange new
forms appeared in those wonderful
Clouds; beautiful and visionary, hut
never dazzling. 1t was reserved for
these last clustering days to give us
the most glorious sunset Of the whole
passage. After sQually Gay the
wind fell towards evening and there
was a great calm; when the sun sank
like golden ball behind the northern
waves. After it had disappeared,
wavelets Of vivid light seemed to
squirt up from the unseen world into
which he had fallen, and they formed
themselves into cupOlaS and pinnacles
against background of purest gold
He seemed to be gazing across the
ocean into the new Jerusalem, so I'M
earthly was the purity and glory. The
clouds above shot forth wings of
flame, then the whole depend into a
blood red flame before it faded out
and the silver moon arose from bed
Of empurpled gray.
III spite of being kept back by the
SGT ally week, the Waninas was Up to
date at the finish, and exactly a
month after my last look in Badger
dom 1 had my first in Australia. On
the morning of August 9 a faint blue
line was detected on the southwestern
horizon, which gradually took shape,
till cliffs began to define themselves
white against darker background.
The Australians could make out the
outlines Of the heads very far
away-maSseS of rocks which form a
great natural gateway to the wonder
full harbor of Sydney, which. has no
rival in the world except perhaps that
of Rio de Janeiro in South America
but as I have not YET. seen Rio de ia
Metro 1 cannot decide upon their
claims.
About 1 p. N. we were sailing be-
IWStu Tie ueduS ILL LUZ view Oh q
great cliff to the left, which is so like
in conformation that a captain sup
posing he was making for the harbor
in rounding it, ran his vessel AGAINST
the rampant Of rocks behind it. Since
that awful shipwreck a splendid new
lighthouse has been built, which has
prevented all danger from such mis-
take. We were anchored in Hatson's
bay to await medical supervision be,
fore reaching the harbor. This was no
mere form as at Honolulu and T.. ii.
The doctor was received by the
steamers doctor and one of the Off
GERS with great ceremony. The pas
sengers were all drawn up in line, the
shipwrecked Norwegians looking for
lorn enough, poor fellows, headed by
their captain and mate, stewards,
stewardesses, cooks. All had to ap-
pear; then the doctor walked down the
lines inspecting every face quickly as
he passed. Happily all were well. 1t
must be a terrible trial to be sent ito
quarantine, when one is impatient to
be on shore and among waiting
friends!
The first view OF Sydney from the
sea is very grand, with its many
towers and spires and great buildings
of white sandstone crownino tho lono