The San Francisco call., 1906-09-23

ara trased on the Hawaiian Islands.
That was the time when people WeIe
crazy about steamboats,, and tnousn.
nothing would do but steam. showed
them what a good. square rugged ves-
sci could dc. and they were SURPRISED
when I made the island ports very
nearly as fast as the steam boats. But
I was too ambitious. and wore myselL
out trying to uphold the reputation OF
my class. You see what have come
to, am dead already
Hell. or Sandy Hook
IT have a history. too" said the
Gerpaania, rodestlY. Il was once one
OF the finest ships under the American
flag I was one OF the western ocean
packets carrying enigrants from Liver
pool. You may have heard OF u.s. we
were the drst Of the greyhounds or the
Atlantic. and we had a reputation Tor
reckless sailing. am not clipper
built like my friend Sir Roderick. and
I may look little clumsy, but IN
my time could carry canvas with
the best of them 1t Is hardly the
kind OF language for lady TO repeat.
though Sir Roderick Is no doubt used
to it but Il have many and many
time heard the captain get his orders
To make hell or Sandy Hook in twelve
days have been told by ships coming
from the Atlantic that it is six days
now. but I can't help believing that
they. exaggerate. Twelve days Is as
good time as ANYBODY needs to make
across the Atlantic, and that was my
best record
II was manned by a class OF men
nIIed packet rats, because they did
not ship in any vessels except the pack
cts They shipped from their board
lighthouses and got their pay In
lump, so much for a voyage. Some
times they got It all in advance So 1t
was for their interest to make the trip
as quickly as possible, because the
faster they could get to land the faster
they could begin to earn more money
The. officers were reckless, but the men
were more reckless. They We're not
much on the uarlinspilSe. but they
knew how to. handle canvas They
Vca1ld put rackets on the halyard9,
binding them together In such fash
ion that they could not move When
the command was given to lower sails
they would haul In the halyards with
ali their might. but the sails never
moved That was only one Of their
tricks for making good time. no mat
ter what kind OF weather we had It
Is wonder they did not sail me- to
the bottom many a time, but I think
there must have been a Providence
watching over all those helpless emf
grants. and I may say that did my
best TO keep a level deck.
You. my friend glory in having
carried thousand coolies between
your decks. but I am glad to say wa Il
never in any such trade as that TIL
has Dcen my good privilege to carry to
America many thousands of her best
inircigrants people from England.
Scotland, Norway and Sweden. I have
seen many sad partiugs and many joy
full reunions. I have carried many
young men who were going to the new
world with nothing but their strong
hands and brave hearts to help them
make a fortune. Sometimes I have car
sried them back with their fortune all
made; sometimes. but not very often.
they would come back broken ir health
and spirit. and I would do my best TO
comfort them. / always felt so sorry
for the mothers; i lofged to tell them
that 1 would take care Of their boys
as long as they stayed with me. Often
there would be pretty sweethearts
weeping on the pier. but I did not pity
them so much. for I knew that In
few months I should take them over to
the homes that were being made ready
fci them
The Girl Who Crossed Alone.
II remember particularly one young
girl who crossed alone. She had golden
hair and rosy cheeks. and I could see
that every body liked her. and she
seemed to care more for me than fer
the people In the evening when my
bow. pointed straight into the sunset
she would come forward and sit by
herself looking at the red western sky
as II she wanted TO look through it.
Then she put her cheek against my
bulwark and whispered. Go fast. fast
faster. you dear old thing 1nen I
bounded forward until my spray few
like golden rain around her, and I
plowed long deep. hsht-green fur-
-. ~
was 80 a1xious- Her husband that she
had jast been married to had gone to
New York TO prepare a home for her
Now he was Ill. and thsy had written
for her..
In New York she left me, but when
was ready to sail again she cana
on board all dressed In black and cry.
Ing. Then knew he was dead, anA
heard her say. At least 1t Is a COM
fort to go back IN the same dear ola
ship. The captain squared his shoul-
ders and looked big: he thought it WA
: for his sake. but I knew better. Thas
same evening she came and put her
] head dowr on me and cried 1t was a
! great happiness to me that I could
{ comfort her. I have had so. many
humans about me always that I un-
derstand their language. and though j
j can't speak 10 them know how to
a make them feel that I s7mpathizs with
4 rnem-
j The passengers are what miss
{ most now; ! had grown so accustomed
( TO them
AS for this society you want TO
; start. IL you want TO preserve the ola
> traditions / am with you there. / wish
y | had kept record OF all the people
/ that travelled In me- But as for having
e my SAILS set and being sent out to sea
without soul on board / will saw
: right now that want none Of that for
e me- want TO, be where I can hear
= human voices, and I take a pride in
y being useful as long as there are two
:. planks of me hanging together
1T seems TO me the stars are getting
Z pale. and Is not that a streak Of arrsSs
p IN the east2 i believe we had bette
. slip back to our berths before they
0 miss US"