Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-07-05
ON SHIPBOARD
AND ON LAND
T. p. Cramer and Family Arrive
In Safety at the Formers
Native Land.
On Steamship "Statendam''
Near Scilly Islands,
June IS, 1907.

Editor Courier:
Our ocean voyage lis almost ended
and 40 hours more ought to briug us
close to Rotterdam. As a whole the
voyage has been of the ordinary kind,
the weather has been cool and mostly
cloudy and the ocean has not been
rough. The word rough" means
entirely different things to the cap
tain aud passengers, the latter being
of the opinion that We have had
pretty severe weather. The rolling
of the ship was severe enough to
make two thirds of our passengers,
sick, and in our own family d. ok
and myself have not fed the fishes.
1t is encouraging to be able to state
that the sickness has gradually worn
of and now most of the passengers
come to meals. Our second cabin is
very nice and clean, the furniture
nicely upholstered, and the meals
and service as good as one could ask.
So far have not heard complaint
from anyone. The ship is electrically
lighted throughout. has a powerful
engine with twin screws and is send
ing us towards our destination at the
rate of $50 miles per day. We have a
Marconi wireless service, and all the
way across we were in touch with
other steamships, one day with half a
dozen at one time. Today although
several hundred miles from land we
can send messages to UrOokhaven, Ire
1t is surely a wonderful invention
an dhas come to be of immense COM
meroial value. We have seen few
ships and most o. those sighted were
just on the horizoi. All the life we
have seen consisted of few small
birds and several schools of .dolphins.
The latter always caused commotion
on deck. Day before yesterday we
saw upwards Of 90 at one time and
they would leap clear of the water.
sometimes six in row, like trained
soldiers. This is the season when
seagulls nest and therefore they have
not been in evidence until today and
yesterday, when we were approaching
shore. The passengers have been very
congenial and do their best to make
the time pass pleasantly. We play
games on deck and yesterday the first
cabin had some athletic contests.
The steamer band plays twice each
day on deck and every other evening
gives us concert in the dining sa.
loon. After dark We have the
phosphonescence which looks like
stars in the water whenever the water
is disturbed bv the ship, or the beat
of the waves. It is caused by small
yellow fish which show this light
when alarmed or agitatei. At times
the water resembles milky whIteness
from this cause. This trip the show
has been nothing out of the ordinary
Tonight the second cabin passen-
gers give the usual entertainment and
concert which will help to pass the
time pleasantly.
If the weather clears we can see the
Scilly Island light before midnight.
If the rains holds on do not know
hoy close our ship will go as the
weather is thick aud the Clouds haug
low on the water.
We have had some sunshine, but it
is not the bright, warm Southern
Oregon kind. Since leaving home on
May 9th, we have not seen three con
tinuous foe days and most Of the time
has been chilly and wet. The damp
weather makes everything sticky on
the ship. and it is decidedly uupleas.
ant to get between damp sheets and
in the morning put on damp clothes.
We shall drop part of our passengers
tomorrow night at Boul0gne, France.
and then have 10 hours more to
Rotterdam. We hope the weather
will be good as the trip through the
English Channel is very fine under
favorable conditions.
An ocean trip is a novel If no,
always pleasant experience, but
we shall all be glad to set foot on
teara firms. Those who are sea sick
would give good deal If there was &
solid footing about half way across.
Velp, The Netherlands,
June II, 1907.
We have now completed the out
ward 1000 miles Of our trip and car
rest for about seven weeks. The las
two days on shipboard were yer,
pleasant and after we saw the Scilly