The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1901-03-20

over the thousands of miles or wa
terry expanse that lie between At
lantic City and Lisbon, in old Portu-
gal. There will be much drifting on
the way across, for the currents OF
old Atlantic are VIGOROUSLY determin-
ed and must needs be reckoned with.
In fact, the currents will be their
main dependence. For instance, they
will drift down the eastern coast or
the United States and then by way
of the gulf stream across to the Azores
OF Western islands, from whence they
will make their way to Portugal. the
nearest portion of the mainland OF Eu-
rome. Their route. therefore, will be
almost tropical the locality Of flying
fishes and the nautilus, the locality OF
the Southern Cross and the hurricane.
There will be hard times on board
the Dark Secret if hurricane strikes
it. For even on a honeymoon there
must be a little chance for relaxation.
In - foot boat, containing two PEG
pie. their supplies of provisions and
water. there is not very much room
for hurricanes. So, as they will not
be welcome, it may be presumed they
will not come.
But even if no hurricanes should
come there is much that remains to be
wondered at in such voyage. There
is only q small lateen sail to give the
boat impetus, and Of course it will be
;oh vuhnn tho wind fS al
most fair for at other times it will
have no purchase to gain against the
wind. Even the most fortunate vOy-
ayers of old could scarcely lay claim
to fair winds all the time, so what
will be done?
Well, If the wind should grow to be
too contrary. the sail may be furled
and the little craft allowed to drift
1t can't lose very much, for the cur
rent off the south coast sets easterly
for the Azores and then sweeps in
broad, fanlike shape around them.
1t will thus be clear that aside from
it's romantic nature as a honeymoon
trip the voyage contemplated by Miss
Carpenter and Captain Andrews takes
on a fresh tinge of excitement by rea-
son of it's uncertainty. There is to be
no forcing their way through the foam
ing combs of a dead sea, no sailing on
the wind, but a sublime dependence
upon the currents and the eternal
steadfastneSs of Providence, combined
with an expectancy on the subject Of
their ability to indefinitely undergo
each others sole society. People who
have long been married may be skep-
teal on this latter head but those who
are about to be married will not.
Captain Andrews, who will be the
navigator of the Dark Secret, has the
advantage of having crossed the Allan
tic before in craft as frail as the one in
which he Is now about to embark as
well as in that very craft itself-with
this qualification, that in times past he
has always sailed alone. Whether the
presence of a companion will prove an
other advantage from the nautical
standpoint or a handicap remains to be
seen. OF supplies there will of course
need to be more. 1t would be ungallant
to say twice as many or twice as great
quantity. for that would signify that
the lady would eat as much as man,
a proposition that theoretically at least
is not tenable.
Captain Andrews made his quickest
trip across the Atlantic in 1893 in his
boat the Phantom Ship. This boat, too,
was only II feet in length, and he de-
clares her record Of "a days will be
beaten on the present voyage. On that
occasion a woman had volunteered to
accompany him, but at the time for de-
parture she yielded to the entreaties of
her relatives and friends and declined.
Miss Carpenter is not expected to
weaken at any time, as her intended
marriage would seem to guarantee.
The challenge of Captain Blackburn
of Gloucester, noted above, carries
with it the possession of a silver cup
and a purse, which Captain Andrews
and his expected bride will claim when
they get to the other side if they win.