Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-07-29
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ODESSA, Russia, June ia TRIP
across the Atlantic has been described
by so many that there is nothing left
for me to add, only TO say that whoever
chooses to go by one of the North
German Lloyd steamers will make no
mistake. My lot fell TO the steamer.
Saale which l reached only an hour
before she left her dock Hundreds of
people were On the deck Everything
was moving rapidly. but no confusion.
Systematic discipline seemed to pre-
vail even 10 tila last few minutes in
which, together with the wagon loads
| OF mail, we also took something over
| four tons OF silver pigs and $500 900 of
! gold coin, which was sealed up in oak
| en- kegs about the size of nail casks
here is always the last passenger
TO come or board and l am always in
terested to see who he is and what he
LOOKS Ike.-all the mere so perhaDs
because was once tEat last passenger
and the close shave I had then has
always put me on board in ample time
ever since. This time the last whistle
had sounded; the bell had been
changed" for the last time: all visitors
and goodbye friends" h2d been hur-
ried down the gangway; the last mail
bag had reached the deck: rCnes were
thrown off and the only remaining
gal gway from which the last officer
Lad stepped aboard had been lo0sened
and lowered foot or more when there
vas great commotion among the
crowd below and there came dashinc
UP the gangway a young man in BIZ
cycle costume followed by neat lit
tie lady in wheel dress. Outstretched
hands helped them tC step to the deck
ana while the ship was moving, their
wheels were handled over the rail
from the gangway which was HANGING
ey its crane They lad my sympathies.
Knew how they felt Whether it was
case Of sudden matrimony or not
cannot tell, but this do know. it was
a case of get there
We had a beautiful day to leave New
York. a food of bright sunshine
brought out the hundreds of tall build
lhgs and steeples in bold relief against
the bright blue sky. The ships of ALL
nations crowded at their wharves
he Whirl CT life on shore and on the
water, the busy ferries, screoching
Tugs and Jaunty pleasure crafts made
UP scene long to be remembered. One
must always have a standard for COM
Parlson. This will do to compare cities
In foreign countries with. But T am
always comparing with Madison. This
Is on a grander scale, but no prettier
than our little gem of a CITY. We
soon catch last view of the graceful
brooklyn bridge; pass the statue of
liberty holding up the light that
grows no less for lighting the world
@nd which brings to our minds pleas
ant recollectio } of our French friends
Out by the frowning forts at the mar
rows and soon drop the pilot tevond the
NOOK and point our nose towards the
5,UO0 miles of water that stretches no
tween us and our first port Rut snch
III ocean as this is not the happy lot
VI many that cross it to see. Smooth
DIS the Hudson river, it's surface on1v
ruined by gentle breezes, we go on dav
after day without and of the usual
excitement Of an ocean VOYAGE Not
an iceberg, not a whale. and only once
Few porpise We're seen,-nothing to
DO hut to eat, read and sleep, while tho
great engines kept up their unceasing
untirlng thrOb, 81 to the minute. each
OF winch forced our great shin some
80 feet nearer to England Tho shin
was Kept scrupulously clean. attend
ants perfect, food splendid and too
much OF 1t; coffee as early as you liked
III the morning, breakfast at s. lunch
at 1880, dinner at e; coffee again in
the evening, besides broth and crackers
served on deck at 1C a. m, and p. m.
we had a fine band which gave cont
certs On deck at 10 a. m and at 9 D. m.
orchestra music at dinner. This
lazy life lasted until the eighth morn
Ing at o'clock. All was excitement
and all was obscured in a dense fog
we were in Plymouth harbor. A tender
was by our side. Letters. telegrams
passengers and papers came on hoard
STACKS of our mail, our treasure in sill
yer and gold and many of our passen-
gers left us, and in less than an bo1r
we were off again for Bremen. Now
tnere were things enough to ,ook at
and that day was the most Intarestino
OF the whole voyage. Steamers and
sailing ships were always in sight We
were OFTEN near the great chalk cliffs
Vi the English shore, and now and
tHeh running through large fleet of
hshIng smacks which in these watare
are all rugged with dull brown sails
Whlch, l am told, do Lot friebten the
nsh as much as white canvass. At ono
time could count 80 ships and steam
erS III sight. in the evening we were
opposite Dover and Calais and cou1d
see Doth the French and English
shores and before we were ont of sight
ooth OF their great lights were flashing
welcome CLEANS to the hundreds of
ships that crowd that narrow lane of
water
The next day we reach Bremen Ha-
ven and are taken up its narrow chan
mel on steam tender that came out
to take US off. We bid farewell to our
great ship that has dropped her
anchor to wait for the tide and soon
We are at the landing and customs
house. Here you cannot help admir-
ing the careful manner in which they