Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-09-27
Canned goods and pianos, pig iron

cOtuOn, uOuTs ecWiuS IL oShinSo, avn
bridges, furniture, steam engines, veg.
etables, big boxes and little boxes-a
vast assortment of products of this
busy world that must have been enor'
mously valuable. Of coure there was
not much sleep while the loading pro-
cess was going on. for the necessary
noise occasioned by moving the freight
was added to by the shouts of the ne
groes as they did their work. Finally
all was finished, and in the stillnes OF
the night, with the myriad lights OF
the harbor twinkling at US as we left,
we slid away and put out to sea.
Saturday morning found US far out
at sea. Not speck of land was in
sight. The sun was shining and the
breeze was fresh and pleasing. The
ocean was as calm as the Potomac riv-
er above the dam, and nobody with a
particle of self-respect could think of
getting seasick. There was scarcely
any swell at all, while not wave
showed white cap. 1t looked as if
we were to have particularly mild
weather and smooth trip and so it
turned out. Everybody was present
at every meal-which, by the way,
were quite good.
1t was a peculiar sensation to a
landlubber to find himself entirely
away from land. Water, water ev-
erywhere. Not an intimation that
there was solid ground anywhere.
Water to that point where sky and
water met-where they blended in a
haze that seemed very far away.
One would think it would become
monotonous, but it is not so. You
can sit for hour after hour and watch
the waters glide by and never tire of
it. The most insignificant things of
the sea seem interesting. The queer
fowl that fly about the chip or rest
upon the waves, even the sea nettles
that look like little parasols of jelly,
are worthy of attention, while tue
many distant sails or the ships that
pass near by call forth interest and
speculation as to what they are or
whittier bound. Oh, mol It's not a
bore. On the contrary, it is strange
and pleasing mixture of interest and
OF restfulness-an experience that
can be appreciated only by those who
have it for themselves.
Sa turday on the sea, with never a
sight of land, passed quickly and
pleasantly. There was a passing
thunderstorm with a brisk rain, but
this soon passed away. Someone
said he didn't see why it should rain
out there-there was plenty of water
without it and it wasn't even needed
to settle the dust. He said it ought
to rain on land, where the farmers
needed it. thought 80, too.
Saturday night was a memorable
one-always to be thought of because
of the amount of sleep that we didn't
get. We ran into a fog, and the
ships whistle, which was about a
thousand times more powerful than a
locomotives blast, kept US all awake
the whole night. This awful blast
was let loose every two minutes, for
there was no telling when we might
run into another vessel if we did not
warn each other by the fog signal.
1t was unpleasant, but necessary, for
you couldn't see ten yards ahead.
When we went on deck Sunday
morning, after our troubled nights
rest, all our vexations were ended.
The sea was blue and sparkling, a
fine breeze stirred the blood, and the
sun made path Of glory across the
swelling waters. Here and there
were the white-sailed ships-some
near and some far-and altogether
the scene was so beautiful as to seem
almost unreal. 1t seemed as though
the ships were painted ships upon
painted ocean, as some one has said.
All the day long the weather was
ideal, and though the sea seemed al
ways the same, yet it was ever chang
ing. Far ahead we would see the
faint, shadowy outlines Of a sailin g
vessel, and after awhile we would
pass it near by, all its sails set to
catch the favoring breeze and breast
ing the waves like giant bird with
snow-white wings.
Along about noon we saw the tip
end of Cape Cod, and after rounding
it we set our course for Boston. We
were sorry that the sea voyage was
almost over, but this regret was tenn
pered by the beauty of the approach
to Boston harbor. From the outer
light, nine miles distant from the
pier, the scene was one of surprising
loveliness. There are numerous is.
lands in the bay, number of them
crowned with forts and works of de-
tense, while on either shore are beau
tiful suburban towns or government
possessions. Our vessel made it's way
up the channel, past other vessels of
every sort, from rowboat to an ocean
liner, and soon it tied up to its pier.
The passengers reluctantly left their
temporary homes on the boat that
had carried US safely the 704 miles
between Baltimore and Boston, and
our journey was at an end, so far as
the sea was concerned. And as we
hadn't experienced the faintest sensa-
ton Of what might be called seasick-
ness, we all felt brave enough to I'm.
dertake trip around the globe.
IL IL