The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-08

stitch OF sail gone, and nothing OF the ng-
ging left but the Stumps OF the three
masts. Ten days later We were driven
back so miles at the mercy OF the winds
and the waves. and inside OF the next two
weeks We threw overheard fftyfour pas
sengers and sailors. who had died from
ship cholera and smallpox. out OF a total
OF 80. SO that I don't have any fear for
rough water myself; but my wife was in
very poor heath and had not quite re-
covered from a severe ssasickness on our
twenty-four hours run from AItata, and l
dreaded the passage in the row-boat TO the
steamer. She was 10 sail that night. and
We had either 10 face il OF lay over half
a month longer. had about loo pounds
of boxes. trunks, etc. Black Bob was TO
have it hauled 70 the landing and take US
out for 500. When the 'dunage' was
got down 10 the shore. Bob had his boat
ready and had several "carg adores' there
ready 10 carry II out 20 him; two OF the
boxes weighed 30 pounds each. But these
cargadores are as stout as mules, and one
of them got the first box loaded onto his
back and started for the boat. which was
out in the surf. But before he got to
n
with the box on top of him. Another one
got it on his back and carried it and the
next in safety 70 their place in the beat
When they were laid fat in the bottom
they stuck up several inches higher than
the side of the boat, then my wife's Sara
toga trunk. weighing 80 pounds. was set
up on top of one of them. Everything
else slowed away, Bob and his Mexican
assistant forward at the oars. my wife and
I in the stern sheets, and we set sail
These boats are very seaworthy. and are
their whole length. As we proceeded on
our way, every wave got a little larger
than the last one. and our little craft be-
gan 10 pitch and roll at a lively rate.
There was my wifes trunk. containing all
her wardrobe and valuables, sitting UP
on top of that box, without any fasten-
ings whatever, and every time the boat
took a pitch and a roll looked for that
trunk and its valuable contents taking a
header into the tumblinS waves. Finally
1 said TO Bob: That trunk is liable 70
slide off there any minute; IL ought 20 be
made fast in some way" He answered:
L
70 teh ship. and I'm going TO take you
and your goods TO the ship" This didn't
me very much; for by this time
We had gotten about half way out. and 1
could see the boats that were ahead of US,
and every time they pitched down over a
wave they went clear out Of sight, avn
ings and all. until they rose up over the
next one. AS my wife was entirely pros
trated, and required my whole attention.
I could do nothing 10 relieve the strain on
my feelings oncerning that trunk. which
7 expected TO part company with us and
go to the bottom at every next lurch.
And If it had. knew might as well take
a plunge and go TO the bottom with it.
The "C:ty of Sidney" had just come in
from San Francisco. and cast anchor a
little ways from the Acapulco, with the
stars and stripes flying from her mizzen-
mast. My wife got her eyes on odd
Glory and she braced up long enough 10
cry out, "Ohi do you see that hag?" i
suppose If she had felt IN tuneful mood
she would have sung, "Aint 1 glad to get
put o. the wilderness"
No one that has never had the exper-
ence can form any idea what kind OF a
business # IS boarding a ship from a row.
boat in a rough sea, the deck . feet above
the water line. the waves rising and fall
ing u or 10 feet and breaking in foaming
surges against the ships side; the ship it.
self heaving and rolling Ike a huge mon
ster. Add 20 this a helpless woman, and
1 Saratoga trunk with her all in IL sitting
upon top of a box without any visible
means Of support, and one may have some
faint idea OF how much fun there is in il.
But we were caught and landed aboard at
asst; and Bob and his mate pulled around
10 the other side Of the ship. where the
tweendecks. But how that trunk ever
stuck to its place is still mystery 10 me.
There were on board a goodly comph-
nent OF passengers, mostly from New
7 ork. There were also siXty-fve OF Uncle I
SANS naval recruits bound for the navy
-ard at san Francisco. They were a
.ough outfit. mostly New York Irish and
negroes. A number Of the passengers /
ost valuables during the trip, and the
embryo mariners got the credit Of having
'swiped" them.
We got away that night on our 400 mile |
rip and arrived at San Francisco after /
seven days pleasant sailing.
During four years Of pioneering IN a I
and of perpetual sunshine, and among a
,eople to whom clothing, Of any kind. Is
Tot much OF an object, We had not been
leeping quite abreast Of the fashions. aud 7
lbout the first thing 20 attract our at
ention on drawing up alongside the
wharf. where many people were awaiting. 7.
vas the garish, enormous, and 10 Us. out 1
andIsh apparel worn BY the women folks. |
I looked as n everything had branchet I
ID and bulged out into headgear and I
sleeves But after spending Eve days 81 4
san FranscO and riding hIther and 4
hither over the city taking in the sights. +
We kind o got accustomed 20 things ard I
.idn't scare quite 50 bad as a. first ]
wore a fashionable Mexican sombrerO and 1
was not an hour on the streets when a .
-oung rascal OF street Arab sung out a. B
ne. "Oh. where did you g; TIA, hat7''
And I had 70 hasten away % store and b
,uy ne a lei; hat. 20 avoid beng taken .
or a gawpirg idiot.
It's hard enough keeping Up with the
and wagon when We are doing our bes-
icks. but when we turn aside from the 4
procession 20 explore some u1frequsntsd 4
sgion. and wander into some boscage
ale. and become enchanted With the lofty
the sounds cataracts, the
forests. the fragra7ce and
,eauty OF the Wild fossrs, che tempting
ruIts and the Songs % birds % rare plum
g; beguiurE Us into a season Of forge
ulasss % The Struggle fo- the lead going
n n tie busy hzEzts % men Whsl Ve
e; back % The thorougafzre Ee are jusi
r time % see TIE taii-ead q ths procss-
Ton going round a distant -gra. and az
.ope % ever catching up gone u exc