The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-03-19
HEAVE..HO!
That Familiar Experience Aboart
an Ocean Steamer.

To THE EDITOR Again l send you
a short letter giving brief account OF
our wanderings on the Pacific Coast
NV last letter told of our being in San
Francisco. We stayed in that city
for lust week, and left there on the
steamer Columbia last Friday at III
a. m. These steamers are at war just
now. and we got first class accommo-
dations at five dollars for the trip
from San Francisco to Portland, De-
tween three and four hundred miles,
We were due at Portland Sunday
morning. So the company agreed 10
carry us that many miles and board
and lodge us for two days for five dol
lars. and the board was first class too
We thought we could stand the price
if the company could.
However, as the matter turned OUT
the company got ahead OF us some
what after all, for they arranged with
the weather bureau, and we had no
sooner started than very bad storm
came on, and although we did not get
in until Sunday night at 10 O'clock
none of our party ate more than one
meal on board, and that was dinner
Sunday night. The first to disappear
was Mrs. Beer. We had barely got
outside the Golden Gate before she
had pressing call to her State room'
and there she remained until we got
near Astoria on the Columbia River.
About half an hour later Mrs. Rowe be-
gan to feel very sleepy and look pale'
and when dinner time came she MADE
up her mind to go to the table. told
her [ would see her to the table but
[ did not care much for dinner, and it
being Friday I thought would tast'
Mrs. Rowe could not eat morsel and
then she went to bed until Sunday
night. Shortly after his Reverence
was on the broad of his back and
wishing that, though life is said to he
short, yet he would be content to have
it shorter still. The two boys were
next taken down. The Bishop was
not with us, he having gone by train
because time pressed him.
Friday the storm was bad, but Sat-
urday was worse, and Saturday night
was simply awful. The ship was roll
ing and pitching, and grooming, and
quivering, and the rain, and sleet, and
snow came down in regular success
sion-rain, sleet, snow; rain, sleet,
snow. The Stewardess next day told
us it was the worst night she had
known for years. l do not know how
much crockery was smashed, but to
Judge from the sound it must have
been crate full. Our baggage took
wings to itself and went flying around
our state room in a very animated
way.
All through this storm we had the
comfortable knowledge that our ship
was not in first-class condition. She
had been intended for repairs, her
rudder being insecure, but the "Queen"
that was to have taken the trip was
run into, just before we went on board
Friday morning, by another ship, and
so the Columbia had to 60. 1t was
quite pleasant therefore to lie there,
deathly sick, and hear the ship pound
ing and grinding, and not knowing
when something may break, and
leave us wrecked on the Pacific shore.
But "All's we'll that ends well' and
on Sunday night, sixteen hours late,
we came safely to the dock at Port
land, and found the Bishop there
waiting for us. The weather was
very cold, with high wind, and some
snow on the ground. Next morning
the Cinnamon we're going around,with
their noses stuck in the end of their
cuffs, keeping them warm with their
fists. I fancy shaved heads and slip
pered feet are not just the style for
such weather.
1 think my next letter to you will
be from Alaska, but possibly from
Tacoma. H. BEER.
TEKoA, WASH, MARCH 5.
COlJTHSInE TEAcAEDS