The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-29
ALDEN TO MARSEIIIES
Mr. Crews Describes His Passage mp
the Red Sea and Through the Suez
Canal-The Sail Down the Mediter-
ranean.
Suez, Egypt. June 4.

Suez, Egypt, June l.
Editor Messenger:
Since writing you at Alden W. have
had a pleasant and interesting voyage
OF 1.32s miles over the Red sea. Pretty
mountains and hills have been in
sight often on the way and the wealth
er has beer fair and comfortably cool
nearly all the time. The Islands call
ed the Twelve Apostles, the Two
Brothers island. two light houses and
some passing ships were the principal
things of interest seen on the way,
but the thought that l was sailing on
a sea that was made famous and has
remained so for thcusans of years by
the Bible account OF one OF the most
notable miracles ever performed by
the Lord in passing the children OF
Israel through il dryshod caused much
entertaining thought No passenger,
a minister included. could point III
about where the interesting event
took place more than that il must have
been near the entrance 10 the SueZ
canal. An Australian passenger re-
marked that no sane man now believ-
ed that such an impossible thing ever
happened. Another said IL must have
been the Suez canal instead OF the
Red sea that the Israelites crossed.
All are still we'll on board and hav-
ing, IL seems, a pleasant time. While
il has been very warm at nights,
neceSSitating many of the passengers,
leaving their cabins TO sleep on deck,
and having their sleep cut short by not
being allowed TO retire there till 1880
o'clock and having TO get up early for
the decks TO be washed yet this has
been made up TO some extent by get
ting maps during the day. eating and
engaging in various kinds OF amuse-
mentS.
AS many as seven times a day one
car eat bou this ship If he wishes
10 do so: Coffee at $50 o'clock, break
fast at $50, tea again at Hoo, lunch
at 100, tea at 400 dinner at $50.
cheese and crackers at 900. 1t is
said that there are only six occupa-
tons that can be INDUCED in by those
who travel by sea, viz: To eat, drink,
sleep, fiirt, quarrel or grumble, yet there
are other things which may engage
the mind. of the passenger. If he be
an observer of character he has much
to amuse him in studying the pecu-
liarities of his fellow passengers, for
in the compare lively smal compass
of the ships saloon he will probably
rub shoulders with a greater variety
of men and women han in most gath
eringS of a similar number of people.
While crossing the Pacific | had for
q cabin-mate a man who was a pho
tographer and who wanted TO pack
the room uncomfortably full of his
stuff, work at night while | wished TO
sleep and do some other things which
l soon gave him to understand We're
Objectionable to me and he soon made
other arrangements and we got on
very we'll after that. Many friend
ships and intimacies are formed on
board, which may last through life.
The town of Suez has a population
of some 1,4OO and stands in the middle
of a sandy plain at the northern eX-
tremity of the Gulf of SueZ or end OF
the Red sea. It is said that the
neat of summer is great and l certain
w find it so the short time l am stop
ping here, but the winter climate Is
| said to be remarkably fine and dry WITH
bright sunny days and cool nights
We are now some $500 miles IRON
London by the Peninsula and Orienta
route. AS at den no one is allowed
/ ashore here and a thorough Inspector
of the passengers has to be made be
fore we are allowed TO enter the canal
No business has been lone here excep
transferring some mail, taking on a fe"
supplies, etc, and we are now ready
to enter the famous canal, it beins
about 8 O'Clock p. m. and having reach
ed here at near HOO a. m.
Respectfully yours,
J. A.. CREWS.