Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-01-01
FROM BLACK HILLS 10 THE xANpr.
Walter II. l:cnl Writes interestingly of His
Trip to the Trnnsva,i.

Walter II. isenl Writes Interestingly of His
Trip tO the Trnnsv;tal.
1t was damp. miserable February
morning that we boarded the big ocean
greyhound, paris" and gaZed for the
last time upon the welcoming
statue of Liberty. Eleven O'clock: the
anchor is raised: one harsh whistle and
we are off There on the dock could
be seen the aged mothers, sisters aud
brothers, sweethearts aud wives with
tear-stained faces, bidding their loved
ones farewell. For an hour or SO we
glide along the coast and then grldu-
Z. ally Americas shores are lost to us.
For eight days we are at the mercy of
the ibillows and one evening as the
golden rays of the setting sun spread
far and near, kissing with crimson radi-
. ance the foaming pillows that dash
against our hull, the brilliant lights of
the faithful Bishop light house CLEAN
out it's danger warming and acquaint us
with the close proximity of. the treach-
erous Seilly islands One by one we
pass the lights of the English coast
which can be dimly seen through the
heavy mist of the English channel.
We go to our berths with the hope of
snatching few hours sleep, and to
escape the turmoil on deck, as the
preparations for landing go on only to
find it impossible to doze off to the un-
musical lullaby of screeching fog
horn. The next morning we are study
ing antiquity and viewing the broken
down ramparts of the ancient citadel
of Southampton.
February 14th we bid adieu to this
primeval spot. We are transferred
from the docks to our ship, which lies
off the Isle of Wight, by tenders. After
the customary hour or SO of hum and
racket the tender gives us a farewell
salute and once more the perfumed
handkerchief waves it's fond adieu.
Soon the rythmical thump of the
engines can be heard rs she slowly
plies out into the boundless ocean and
as the dark pail of evening falls the
rich pasture swards and sombre forests
of "Merry England" are gradually
obliterated from our view.
What mixed and variagated' crowd
is thus gathered together! Nearly
every language from the gruff Celtic
to the soft, sweet tongue of the Span
lard is heard. Itbewilders one to know
what they all intend doing in that far
off land, but they all have ambitions
and great expectations, and many an
air.castle is built only to be shattered
in that land which flows with milk and
honey (the milk and honey being i'm
ported.) You find vocations as badly
mixed as the cargo of humanity
There's the author, the doctor and the
preacher, whose ambitions are wealth
and fame (making exception to the
preacherD the fanatical explorer
Many wakeful night he spends be-
tween the changing hours for dead and
buried slumber, wasting his logic on
some Elusive fortune he has planned
out on his map; tho cavalier. who in
tends gravitating into the Mashonland
mounted police; the political reformer
whose destination is the Transvaal
with his presidential aspirations and
the stereotyped stump speeches of
we'll known Black Hills politicians,
the valetudinarian who is seeking the
resuscitive qualities of more salu-
brious cline, which will transfuse that
hectic paleness with tint of health;
the enterprising Jew--not one but u
hundred-who goes with the intention
of revolutionizing the clothing busi-
ness; the prospector and miner: even
a first class Lodon comedy company.
All hearts seem buoyant with the
bright anticipation of their future
home until the authoritive old salt
with his endless supply of sea anec-
dotes, which are mostly Of fictitious
fabrication, commences narrating some
of his blood-curdling experiences in
the Bay of Biscay. OF course they
serve to intimidate us to certain ex-
tent, but are soon forgotten among the
many ludicrous events common the
first two or three days ut sea. For
instance, watching some poor unfortu.
nate, who has mustered up all his phil
osophy in endeavoring to conteract
the oscillation with view of receiving
some relief for that qualmy and tired
feeling. He gets midships. finds q
fixed spot, and inclines his body back.
wards and forwards with the roll of the
ship. He has an idea he is GONZALES.
cent when suddenly the ship gives q
lurch, he turns shade more pale and
his face assumes that II don't-care-a.
dam" expression, another lurch and he
is dashed against the side of the ship
and, alas, with dropping head, sue.
cumbs. Up come the facetious and
l0uuacious member Of Our crowd and