The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-28
Five WEEKs ARRoAp.

4
man busy in his own every day affairs.
A week entirely away from ones occu-
patton, regular duties, daily newspa-
pers, old friends, would seem to give one
occasion to do those things which we al
ways think we will do when we have
more time. I had mapped out a course
of reading and expected to get through
some books which had always been on
the shelf. My schedule in this respect
was not followed. I found myself ex-
ceedingly busy resting, listening, talk
ing and acquainting myself with new
things and new people
The ship was city as well as hotel
ahoat. The captain was the mayor and
his crew were the councilmen, the heads
of the departments and all of their sub
ordinates. There were all kinds of peo-
pie af1oat. Some in the steerage were
olny paying twenty-five dollars for their
passage. One couple, on their honey
moon around the world. had secured the
captains quarters for a thousand dol
lars for the week.
On our return trip there were 2.529
persons aboard. quite a town itself. This
number included CAT first cabin passen-
gers, 352 second. $50 steerage and $50
u Cns 4C ANSW 4O4A pdPCko 0dIQ tAAlo
was the largest number of cabin pas
sengers ever carried by any ocean
liner. The number of pieces of baggage
was $500. which was also a record
breaker in that respect, and required 40
customs INSPECTORS to look after it on
the New York dock.
On our trip over while the sea was
smooth there was scarcely an hour Of
sunshine. The days were cloudy. but
the atmosphere as a rule sufficiently
clear to enable one to take in the entire
horizon which at sea is a radius of
about fifteen miles with the ship as the
center of the circle. Rain and fog were
frequent, the latter especially at night.
The fog whistle blew so often that we
did not notice it except when it ceased
its regular blasts.
The captain once spent eighteen hours
on the bridge, the narrow footway
across the forward part of the vessel,
above the topmost deck. Though clothed
in oil skins he was three times COM
PEELED to change his clothing, drenched
with the spray. His meals were carried
up to him.
When the days were pleasant Captain
Richter mingled much with the passen-
gers, dined with them and conversed
with them in groups about the decks.
He was naturally proud of his ship and
nothing seemed to please him so much
as a compliment upon the vessel and
it's superior speed and accommodations.
In fact in fair weather he added to our
pleasure by his presence and in foul in
sured our safety by his absence from
our comfortable quarters.
During a thick fog our state room on
the main deck, which holds the dining
room, was frequently shut off from
other parts of the vessel on the same
level and to reach which we went up
stairs and down again, AT these in
tervals the passage way was closed by
heavy iron doors. bolted at the top and
Sides a cushion of rubber intervening
between the door and the frame. This
was part of the system of bulk heads
and the precautions were taken so that
in event of collision with ship or shoal
the water might pour into one or more
sections and yet the ship remain afioat.
A surprising thing to US was the few
vessels we saw. On some days not one
was sighted and as many as three or
four during the day was an unusual
number. Early one morning 1 woke
hearing the fog whistle. which had evi-
IDENTIFY been going all night, still letting
forth it's regular, deep blasts. Like an
echo from a long distance 1 heard the
answering whistle of a steamer in our
vicinity. The reply became louder and
thus nearer and the speed of our vessel
was slackened. The closer coming the
sound of this neighbor of ours in mid
ocean, the slower we proceeded until
the engines stopped. AS the companion
whistle became fainter our ship re-
surned its course. When no other sound
was heard but that from our own steam
the ship again went ahead at almost
full speed.
On shipboard civil service rules are
strictly enforced. A commander HOLDS
his position by virtue Of sheer merit and
experience. The lives of over two
thousand persons and property aggre-
eating several millions are naturally not
placed in the hands of pure favorites of
the directors. The recognized term OF
service on the German ships before one
is advanced to the captaincy is eighteen
years.
The captain does not receive large
salary. but has opportunities for swell
ling his receipts to eight and ten tnous-
and a year. The amount paid him dt-
rect, I was told. is $4,000. He has II
handsome suite of rooms placed at his
Disposal: a bedroom. a sitting-roonn, d
bathroom and all the conveniences of
well appointed apartments in the best
hotel. If he does not choose to occupy
his sumptuous quarters he may take an
ordinary berth and dispose of his own
rooms for any price agreed upon with
those who desire his comforts without
assuming his responsibilities. He does
not always find applications and White
on some trips he may secure moderate
recompense. on others he receives
snug figure