New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-21
AN EXCHANGE OF CRUELTIES.
AND TIE ENGINEER WALKED
IN THE CAKEWALK

| turned from journey to japan. Here is q
story which she tells Of how she and
gineer Of the steamer in which she went sue
ceeded in making each other miserable.
"Shorty after leaving Hawaii" says Miss
Nelson, I'VE began plans for the ncver-omitted
concert for the benefit Of the Seamen's Hospital.
which in this case included a cakewalk on the
deck Now this cakewalk was the direct
OF the only excitement Of the voyage and il
| came about In this way: Mr.. X. the first as
| sstant engineer Of the Doric is a difIident and
bashful man. who invariably attends strictly to
duty and never INDUCES in the mdest
form OF Irritation with the young women of the
first cabin He bows politely to them all. but
avoids conversation, and after presiding over
his table at meals rctires TO his cabin or returns
ment The captain suggested to me the fendsh
plot Of getting poor Mr.. X. to be my partner in
| the cakewalk.
Il set about my task. and in "A few days had
made such progress that wagered the captain
box OF gloves on my success. when was
brought up with round turn By Mr. X in
forming me that he would appear only on con-
dition that stood the afternoon watch in the
engine room with him and the other assistants.
"T'he engineer considered the matter ended but
u''u'u 10 DO II, ana had the encOuragcmc Mt
and assistance OF not only all the officers Of the
ship. but all the passengers well, md when
presented nycclf at the cnginc-room door cs-
c"ri'd by the captain and nearly all the women
OF the saloon. and announced my intention 70
be assistant engineer for n watch it would lie
impossible to convey an Idea Of his cons.crna-
ton had. by the advice Of the captain
dressed myself in short skirted bicycle cos
nd he.
M. X sooL recovered himself sufficiently 10
invite us into the little room at the head Of the
iron stairway. and after hearing the hair-raisng
announcement tina, had come to stand the
whole fcur-hour watch in the engine room. he
took courage. saying: Mind you now. il YOU
leave before my watch is up dom, do the cake
walk
rs Il bargain said l. and the captain and
passengers abandoned to my fate.
"rhe engineer escorted me down several little
stalrways Of iron 1t seemed as though the air
grow hotter at every step. and the heat on he
handraIls was great that began TO fear my
hands would Doe hlistcrcd. Mr. ~ saw my trou-
blc. and bad ne remove my gloves and taking
some cotton waste, told me to keep a handful Il
it between my hands and the iron whenever
had occasion To touch anything did this
and found i quite comfortable. When we
reach The main 'ugin,-room tn great glistcn.
ing hoes revolving and the huge steel rods
dart.ng in AID out with a duil churning sound
almost made M comics. my d,:"at and start for
tn. co.i air Il ~. Geek. when the engineer SAID.
This way. phase" and away We went up over
the great engines and down back Of them to The
stok"hoc. whore a file Of men was opening and
shutting ih~ Ere door. shovc!rg IN coal r
fr d., le l.u D. lao,
WITH irons too heavy for me To l.rt We look,J
int the hurk'rs and saw man as black ~
ncet,,s "a Yelling the coal down TO WHORE tho
ir"u.u could ct IL.
Il was soon literally floating around inside my
clothing and when my torncnior thought had
been runish,d enough IN returned WIKI M TO
the cng.nc-room. cautiouing me- mt 10 touch
the handrlils or my hands would lee burned 20
a blister. as the iron was hot enough t. take the
flesh m the bones "" were IN one room where
the temperature was ISL degrees. and it almost
took my breath away Tho mon work there with
wet spongcs tied over their mouths
AFTER Mr.. Y thought had paid dearly
enough for my tcmcrty. he conducted To n
corner in tn" upper engine-room and gave me
chair and palmlcaf fan. with some iced lemon
ade 20 sip. cautloning me not to drink much at
a time, and made me quite comfortable COM
pared with what | had been After | had par
italy recovered from my trip. tn engineer COM
plimerted me- on my grit and offered To call
my wager won and allow t. 30 on deck but
would not give up. ar d remained on duty I'M
Ill the watch was changed. when | attempted
to 60 To my stateroom unobscrved for | was
about as bcdragglcd a specimen a. you could
easily imagine, but there no such good luck.