Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-11-20

the great deep dawned upon US, grand
and calm. The services were ap.
propriate and affecting. Mr.. Mercer
who is a regularly ordained clergy
man of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, officiated at the improvised
desk, covered with the dear old flag.
Your correspondent presided at the
piano. All, l trust, raised their
hearts in devout gratitude to "the
Father of us all" This day and the
two preceding it, were among the
happiest OF my life. The delays had
become to our minds like the heart.
sickening telegram -"All quiet on
the Potomac" We were at last
really, as our California friend would
say, ION the float" 1 cannot describe
the sense of freedom from all the care
and constraint of life, the glory and
gladness of the days.
During the week something like a
regular system of life was established
among us. Some were still sick, but
the greater part OF the ladies had got
out working materials and were en-.
gagged in sewing, knitting and fancy
work. with reading, singing, playing,
conversation, and the never ceasing
wonders OF the world about us for en-.
tertainment, when tired of work.
Three days of this week the sea was
quite rough. The sky continued clear
and bright, and much laughter and
merriment prevailed. The second
Sabbath. January 2Sth, was as beauti.
ful as the first. Directly after supper
we went, as usual, upon the hurricane
deck, and little group of us had es-
tabliehed ourselves in q hfe-boat, and
were all happy and gay, when the fear.
full cry, "a child overboardl" sent a
thrill OF horror through the ship. My
friend Miss -, who was on the out
side of the boat, looked out upon the
water and beheld struggling with the
wild waves a human figure. In a mo.
ment the captain, officers and men
were upon deck. The engine was
stopped and the sails furled, and a
boat man ned and lowered in a wonder.
fully short space OF time. 1t was not
child. but young sailor, who had
fallen from the rigging. AS he passed
the ship Mr.. Mercer had the presence
of mind to seize life-preserver and
throw it toward him. We hoped
that it had reached him, and that he
would be able to sustain himself by its
aid until the boat could reach him.
With feelings that cannot be described
we awaited the return of the boat.
The sea was so rough that the captain
was obliged to recall the boat after a
little, lest it should be swamped. 1t
was very cad 20 see the meu return
without their comrade. The steamer
now made circuit OF the waters as
the last effort for the recovery, but all
in vain-a few moments had probably
closed the mortal career OF this soul.
For days after this the hurricane.deck
became deserted Is darkness ap.
preached. During the week we saw
long tracks and broad spaces of water
filled with very delicate seaweed, OF
q bright yeliowish brown. The gen.
tlemen amused themselves by fishing
it up. We were in the Sargossa Sea,
the lovely blue OF which contrasted
charmingly with this beautiful sea-
weed. One day my friend Miss NJ
gave me glowing accounts Of rainbow
tinted waves, but as had seen moth
ing of the kind attributed it to the
excitement Of the imaginative faculties,
consequent upon the peculiar devo.
ton manifested by a tall specimen oi
the genus homo. One afternoon,
however, Miss M came to me and
dragging me out to our favorite corner
Of the ship, babe me look for myself.
Surely there was no denying 1.-THE
waves broke into genuine rainbows
much to my delight.
Wednesday, Jan. 3lst, we crossed the
Equator, preluded by some talk Of
shaving la Neptune and fearful keel.
haulings. Thursday, Feb. Let, we saw
the Southern Cross for the fret time,
in this one of my long-chsr-
ished dreams. The larger of the Ma
gellan Clouds was pointed out to US by
the captain, and the next day read up
in Herschel, which our friend Mr.. l..
had had the good taste to bring along
with him. There is unanimous opin.
ion that we have been particularly
favored in regard to weather. After
the first storm we have had the most
gloriously bright. clear days and night.
Excepting three showers, of the most
refreshing character, we have had no
rain. The heat of the equatorial re.
gions has been modified by the trade
winds to such q degree that we might
fancy ourselves out upon our own wa
ters in the month OF June. The third
Sabbath, Feb. 4th, came clear and
beautiful. On the morning Of this
day we saw the coast Of Brazil for the
6rst time. All day we sailed within
about eight miles Of the shore. It was
q hilly, heavily.wooded country. For
more than three weeks We had gazed
upon an ocean-bound horizon. Now
the solid earth was good to look upon.
At night we saw fires along the shore.
How we longed to look upon that saw
age people! On Monday morning,
Feb. 9Th, we were informed that q
little stranger" had arrived during
the night-a little girl. The mother
is a pretty, lady-like Englishwoman,
wife Of shoemaker.
The ship itself, the good Continen.
tails fine sailor. She is ship OF
over 1900 tons, with staterooms for
about eighty passengers, so that we are
all as comfortably situated as people
can we'll be on shipboard. Our food is
not luxuriant, but quite varied and
abundant. Mr.. Mercer presides at the
head OF our table, easily and gracefully
dispensing the substantials. 1 have
the good fortune to sit near him and
endeavor to sustain my part of the gay
and witty conversation which enlivens
our meal times.
1t rained for three hours on Wednes.
day, Feb. 7th. Thursday the sea was
very rough, but the sky bright above
US, the passengers gay and happy, save
few ladies who always become sick
when the sea is rough. Poor things
There is a glorious exhileration in the
dash OF the great waves. Feb. 10th
was very exciting day. We were ra.