The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-17

The word turbine applies to the en-
gines; it means a rotary engine, the
same as is used on fire engines, and
they operate with a continuous roar
BY their use, the vibration of the or
binary reciprocating engine is dis
pensed with. The turbine, or rotary
principle has been applied to a few of
the big Atlantic liners and are said
to be successful when fast time IS de-
sired. The Victoria" the turbine
boat in which we crossed the English
channel is capable of tWenty-six miles
an hour, and was the first fast boat
on which I had been a passenger. Its
unusual speed was very noticeable, af-
ter riding on ships of fourteen to six
teen knots.
on a clear day, the English coast
may be plainly seen from Calais, in
France. and for many years there has
been talk OF connecting the two coun-
tries by tunnel. Although we were
promised a favorable passage. the boat
was light and bueked like a Wyoming
bTonchO all the way over. I wrapped
the Atchison girl up in a steamer rug
on deck, and managed to keep her
alive by continually saying; I'VE are
almost there" AS a matter of fact,
we were only ffty-five minutes in max
ing the run, but most OF the passen--
gers were violently sick. 1 stood 1t
remarkably we'll: I really seem to
have grown a. pair of sea legs.
You can no doubt recall in your
experience an incident that seems par
ticularly amusing: that causes you to
laugh months and years afterwards.
I saw such an incident on board the
Victoria on the English channel
ana dozen times since I have burst
out laughing, as 1t occurred to me. I
doubt If I can amuse the reader by
telling OF 1t: It was one of those in
cidents that must be seen to be ap-
preciated, but will try it:
In crossing the channel, travellers
Dr. IL
in the air. As soon as the passengers
begin to show signs of seaSicknesS, the
stewards rush about distributing tin
bowls, and, as these are used, the
sight naturally increases the sick
ness. One middle aged woman be-
came very pale soon after leaving, and
was the first to be given a tin bowl;
it was evident that she would soon
erupt. She held out, however, for
twenty minutes but at the end of that
time she arose, and staggered toward
the stairway leading below. Reaching
the turn in the stairway, she could go
no further, and, sitting down on the
stair, placed the tin bowl in her lap,
and began throwing up in it. Present
ly a man who hadn't any bowl, left the
deck, and started below. Reaching the
woman. he couldn't hold out any long
er, and getting down on his knees, be-
gan throwing up in the bowl In the
Woman's lap. The woman was so sick
that she paid no attention to the
strange man who was throwing up in
the bowl in her lap. Then another
man went hurrying down the stairway,
and he fell on he knees. and began
throwing up in the bowl in the wo-
mans lap. These three blocked the
stairway. and when a fourth seasick
passenger. a man, appeared, he could
not get by the woman; but he was very
sick, and could not wait, so, without
an Introduction to the woman. he
stopped behind her, and stretching his
neck over her left shoulder began
throwing up in the bowl in her lap
about half the time missing the bowl.
I was sorry for the four sufferers,
4 but thought It the most Iudicrous in
/ cident I had ever witnessed.