Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-12-08
FROM PARIS, MAINE, TO PARIS.
FRANCE,
No. 3.
A STORMY PASSAGE.


for when but two days out the storn
which threatened gradually gathered
and though tossed and prostrated by th'
horrors OF approaching sea-sickness, w
tried 10 keep up courLge with tn
hope that 1t would soon be over, but Ill
ness increased with the violence OF the
storm, and at last we sent for the Ship
doctor-partly TO hear some word o
hope that the elements might be soothed
rather than for any soothing OF bodily
Ills, and perhaps 10 hear once more the
sound Of our own voice, for IL had beer
long weary hours that no human face
had come TO cheer our solitude, except
that OF the attendant whose multitude
nous duties TO others kept her on he'
rounds of duty almost constantly.
Imagine Yourself II you can, my friend
far out on the desolate raging sea ol
waters, thousand miles from the near
est land. tossed and racked by the pain:
and agonies OF fever and thirst and
sickness, AS well as by the angry feroc
ity Of the rolling waves, with no friend
ly hand TO soothe the aching head, o'
bring = cup OF cold water TO cool the
parched and burning lips; too weak &c
raise the head and touch the bell 10 cal
assistance. How often did the inarticu'
late exclamation recur: "Oh, for drins
of water from Cooper's spring lou
can guess how the four walls almost be
came prison, and We called u In i'm
aginstion the padded cell.
As the doctor enters enveloped In
storm-proof garments, we ask, trying u
keep up Il semblsnce OF unfailing spirits
IL he has been walking on the water that
he il thus clad in "the trappings and
suits OF woe" He says, mot exactly
on II, but in it." for the steersge decks
below are flooded, and he has been down
there TO care for the sick. He then ask:
IL we wish anything In his line, and We
saw, No, unless he Is a mind cure OF
other science cure, and can make US be-
lieve the sea Is smooth As glass and we
are not terrified out OF our senses. He
next asks IL we have eaten anything
and when the answer Is that We have
had nothing we could eat, he seems sur
prised that we could choose nothing
from their great variety. We answer
that their food Is so much more highly
seasoned thar ours In America that II
does not tempt sick stomach, so he
promises 10 order some Cruel.
Then we beg for something TO induce
sleep, for thus far Morpheus has wooed
in vain, even when Neptune was most
gentle in his caresses. Anything. We
saw. Ia bring oblivion and rest, from the
continued humping, pulsing and throb'
bing OF the ships machinery, whose
every stroke hits our spinal column like
blow OF the blacksmith at his anvil. He
administers few drops, which as soon
as his back Is turned are resurrected, and
when the cruel comes, the stomach sgsir
mutinies, for IL ia exactly what we In
America call paste, the same as tha'
used by paper-hangers, and We cannot
conceive why mortal man should wish &c
eat such stu II, unless TO paper the walls
Of his stomach.
The glories and Joy Of sea voyage
and the comradeships thus formed, had
often been painted To US in glowing color'
by friends who had crossed but as yet we
had failed 10 encounter any experience
we would wish 10 repeat, or companion
ship that could not be dispensed with
The two beautiful girls before alluded
TO had disappeared, also the stately
woman and dignified man, and we Will
venture 10 say that their heart sorrows
had paled into insignificance beside the
sorrows OF their stomachs. It's unroman-
tic, but It's true. We know by expert
ence.
But at last the ministering angel ap.
peared. This time not in the guise OF a
woman, but a man, and the only passen'
ger aboard-having crossed twenty
times before-who was not vanquished
by the demon Of the sea. Hearing oi
our severe and weakened condition nc
had many times come TO our door, but
finding il closed had turned away, not
having the courage to shock the propri-
eties by coming in; but this time, the
door being open, and the pitiable condi'
ton of the occupant being appar'
ent, prophecies were hung TO the winds,
and he walked in. and after that, hands
as soft and tender as woman,s osthe1
the throbbing temples, and administered
cooling drinks to the parched lips, AND
every delicaoy 10 tempt the appetite,
found its way TO our side. When asked
afterwards what made him so good he
answered that he thought Of his own
wife and daughters. Blessed wife and
daughters to inspire such noble charity
We never expect TO see him again, out
till the day we die we shall never 1orget
that good Samaritan.
By this time the elements that every
moment had gained in ferocity oursl
upon US, in all their fury, and we have
passed through that most thrilling ex-
perience, a storm at sea. 1t had always
been a hope that we might see one at
safe distance but to be In it and OF 1t Is
something we never wish TO repeat. No
tongue of fame and pen Of fire can dc
Justice to the reality, and any feeble At
tempts to portray the fury, the ven
geance, the majesty, the power, the
ferocity and the awfulness OF an angry
sea. can give no idea OF the mighty
waves as they leap up into the all
mountains high and lash the sides OF oul
good ship till she seems almost torn IL
shreds, and writhing and shrieking IL
the agonies OF death as anon she climos
TO the top of one gigantic wave, only te
be dashed down again by another, this
time il seems to the bottom OF the sea
but again and again she struggles up
and again Is hurled downward. then turn
ed on one side and then the other, hel
very portfolios dragging fathoms, II
seems. under water, AMI as she lurche;
from side to side, crash after crash OF
falling timbers and masts on deck II
heard. and every available thing inside
"a well, that can be wrenched from III
before secure fastenings. :,
The noble craft that before seemed &C
stsunch, now seems but an eggshell
For two DAYS and nights she made ne
headway at all, but stood in the same
place. literally engaged In hand-to
hand conflict with the mighty waters
And now comes the most tremendous ses
of all. which seems to completely envel
ope and engulf her from stern to stern
and the water pours down the stairways
through the passageways and INTO oul
very bedrooms. We surely think oul
hour has come, but they come to re-as
sure us and tell US there is no danger
but when with pale faces the attendant
get down all the life preservers, ant
show US how to put them on, we reius'
10 think longer that there is no danger
aud illness Is forgotten In the terror o
the situation.
For five days and nights this furiou
tempest ragged, and not soul on board
except those who manned the ship, coult
- L,o %ook an tuetant wttnOu