Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-11-20
A CARGO OF WOMEN.
THE MERCER EXPEDITION OF
81 YEARS AGO.

and Women From Boston to Make Their
Homes in the Territory Of Washinston-An
Interesting Narrative Of the Voyage by tiar-
riet F. Stevens, One Of the Fair Arsonauts.
After almost innumerable postpone
ments, the good ship Continental left
New York on the 10th of January, at
ten minutes past three, P. M. Having
got fairly out into the stream, we
came to anchor. At 4 o'clock on the
following morning we began our voy-
age in earnest. During Wednesday
night severe storm arose, and many
of US experienced for the first time all
the horrors usually inaugurated by a
storm at sea. The banging and crash
ing were indescribable. The furniture
OF the cabin dashed against the state
room and then recoiled upon the
tables. At intervals came what ap-
peared to be the utter destruction of
barrels OF crockery and indefinite tin
ware. A piano minus its legs and
tin bath tub performed fandango on
the floor above us. But that which
most puzzled me and which / have
not yet received any satisfactory ey-
PLANTATION, was series Of grand cavalry
charges upon our doors, executed by
host OF junk bottles, apparently. This
was not the least fearful feature of the
night. The dining-room floor and the
upper state-rOoms we're converted into
shallow ponds. As wished to display
greatness of soul worthy of my pill
grim ancestry, remained very quiet
10 my berth, carefully analyzing the
uproar and comparing my own ex-
perience with various descriptions of
storms at sea which / had read. The
result was that severe storm was in
full career. but the good ship would
not succumb. Then. mindful of the
self-cOntrol inculcated by the blue.
laws, l said very quietly. Mollie, l
think there is Storm" al know
there is," was the confident reply.
During two days we were very sick,
helpless and wretched to such q de-
gree that but for the kindness of the
physician and the few passengers who
were ea.prOOf, / know not what would
have been our fate. On the 18th, be-
ing very desirous of seeing the ocean
before the agitation of the storm
ehouJA o,,hsiJo wo cout,;yoI - ont ~,
deck for few moments. The gentle
men were staggering about fearfully,
but few ladies were visible. In re-
turning to my state-r0om, the gentle
man who escorted me fell down stairs
Fortunately, was thrown on the op.
pOsite side and caught the rail. We
we're very glad we had been on deck.
The grandeur of the scene fully repaid.
us for the effort. The sea was Of an
intensely dark blue, save where the
great waves broke into snowy foam.
On Friday morning, the 10Th. we were
able by much effort to get ON deck
again, and as the sea was comparative
ly calm, we found it possible to re-
main. In two hours we were con.
valescent, and by afternoon quite our.
selves. Then followed a series OF the
most glorious days and nights one
could we'll imagine. The temperature
was like that Of New England June.
l would fain convey some adequate
idea of the glory Of the ocean, but
never did my poverty of language
seem greater than in the attempt TO
portray the measureless, blue, surging
world Of waters. feel that one Can.
not know the true majesty OF our ter
restrial home until he has passed
many days and nights upon the ocean
until be has eeen the awful beauty
OF its starlit nigh,-the glory of its
sunrise and sunset-its moon through
all her phases, from the delicate thread
OF light to her full-orbed glory, re.
flected in broad tract of ever.chaug.
ing sheen. The many-hued, ever NOV.
ing, limitless deep; it tells OF the
Eternal Father as no other feature OF
Earth can.
As we recover our normal condition
we began to look about us. With
great satisfaction we found that we
had q party of intelligent, amiable,
sprightly people. The unmarried Ia
dies are mostly from New England,
and can boast . fair share OF beauty,
grace and culture, which characterize
the best society of that region. 1t is
impossible that the lovely girls with
US should have left the East because
their chances of matrimony we're hope.
less. One must look for some other
motive. One need only observe their
lively appreciation of all that is grand
and novel in our experiences, to feel
assured that the love of adventure, the
ardor and romance of youth, are suf.
ficient to account for their share of
our Heeira. But are all the unmar-
ried ladies young3 Certainly not!
Besides your humble correspondent
there are several equally venerable.
Their bright faces. wit and sound
sense are, however, such that they
cannot fail to be desirable members of
society in q new country. Some of the
children are, particularly, lovely and
well.bred. The avidity with which
every one cares for and caresses them
is pleasant to behold. One young
married lady is totally blind-a pretty,
delicate woman, who entertains US BY
her intelligent conversation and skill
ON the piano. She has been educated
at an asylum for the blind. Several
of the gentlemen of our party have
fought for God, the right and the flag.
One gentleman tells me that the sum
OF service rendered by himself and his
immediate friends, during the war,
amounts to seventeen years. Many of
the ladies play, and since the piano
has been put upon it's legs and secured
by heavy wooden cleats against future
tossing OF the sea, music has become
one OF the chief amusements. On
Saturday Mr.. Mercer fornoad a eroou