The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-07
RHEUMATISM ] |
that disaster did not occur, and am

but that disaster did not occur, and all
went we'll
AS we steamed out of New York harbor
the sea was comparatively calm, and after
we had an excellent supper and smoke
our spirits became exhilerated, and we
concluded that the sea voyage to Savan-
nah was likely to be delightful. My son,
oblivious of the future, wished that his
wife and children were with him to share
the anticipated pleasure. We retired to
our berth, but I did not sleep much be-
cause had had quite busy day and my
mind was considerably stirred up by the
novelty of the voyage. 1t commenced
raining about midnight, the breeze fresh
ened and was blowing a gale in the morn
ing. When we opened our state room
door, we could hardly stand in front of
the wind. The waves had risen greatly,
and white caps could be seen all over the
sea. 1t was plain that we were in a storm
of no ordinary dimensions. The ship rock
ed so that I could scarcely keep my feet.
After breakfast the gale was still blowing
and the waves still rising I sat on the
deck. about one hour with Father Linch,
who was very intelligent and
entertaining and, perhaps divert
ed my attention somewhat from my per-
sonal condition, but began to be sensible
that I was feeling badly and concluded to
so to my ROOM which / accomplished with
difficulty, feeling anything but comfort
abe. / Immediately laid down, ard in a
little while felt easier. My son soon came
in and said IT believe 1 will lie down, /
don't feel we'll" Then we both lay with
what suppose must call sea sickness.
Our room was on the second deck. The
storm increased in fury; great waves
struck the ship and dashed the water in
streams on our deck. and the rocking was
something fearful Our window was final
ly &bsed with an iron shutter, to prevent
f11or fVNr, doe II, COT N,rk Of
bed and found that it was extremely diff
ficult to stand, and my feelings so much
worse that was glad to get in a recum-
bent position again. My dinner was
brought to my room, / ate little, and 1t
made me feel worse, and / was glad TO
creep back to bed again, where I was a
voluntary prisoner for the balance of the
day and the following night My son was
not affected, up to the dinner hour, as
much as 1 was. He said: 81 don't feel
bad now. I think I could eat a turkey"
He went to the dining room and soon re-
turned, saying. instead of eating a tur-
key could not eat wing. am going
to bed and going to stay there"
The storm went on undated until night
One great wave dashed the water onto
the bridge above our deck and the ship
went down in the trough of the sea until
apparently it's upper deck was level with
the ocean. During the night the waves
and the wind gradually subsidized and in
the morning the sea only presented a
rough surface and what was of even
greater personal comfort to us, we were
feeling quite we'll and able to eat a good
breakfast. Neither of us could be said to
have been heart sick; we did not vomit,
although I felt that with the application
of my finger could have easily done it.
When we investigated the situation with
our fellow passengers we found that many
of them had suffered as much if not more
than we had. Not more than one-fourth
reported for dinner on that dismal day.
When omnipotence combined the ele-
ments and formed this world the vast
ocean began to roll and it has rolled down
to us through the ages; while the primi-
tive, fishermen were building their simple
boats to navigate its shallow shores; while
successive generations of mankind lived
and passed away; while mighty empires
rose and FELL while great cities become de-
populated and crumbled into dust this inn
perial ocean has ever rolled and even now
is washing the shores of continents and is
lands with its free and fearless waves as
it washed them on that day when the AL
mighty rested from his labor and called
all things good.
Much might be said about the ingenuity
of man in converting the ocean to his use,
in sending his messages. across the track
less wastes with the rapidity of thought
in carrying upon its bosom the peoples and
commerce ofthe world in the wonderful
ships and palaces that now float upon it's
waters, but I started out simply to tell
the experience of two uninitiated indiYid-
uals in the incidents of a voyage by sea.
The balance of the trip to Savannah in
the afternoon of the 21st was delightful
quite beyond the power of words to de-
scribe. Here we found a great commercial
port filled with large vessels from Euro
peen nations as well as our own, and great
quantities of cotton and naval stores
awaiting shipment Robert Mann.