Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-23

We had been told that an agent of
the German line would meet us at Hull.
and when we reached that place in the
midst Of driZZling rain, we looked
about for dignified official, but only a
modest little EnSlishman accosted us
with the words, BE you the ladies for
Bremen" Assuring him that we We're,
he put cur luggage on what looked like
a banana cart, and telling us to come
on, he took a circuitous route through
tn. city Dutifully we followed him
wondering how much farther we must
60, when our guide turned round and
startled us by saying that he didn't
know Just where the Bremen boat was
a-lying, but he would find out. So he
asked a nearby lounger if he knew
where the boat was. and we were dis
mayed to hear the reply that maybe
she was over yorder and maybe she
had sailed an hour ago.
AS over yonder. according to his wav-
ering direction might mean anywhere,
we advised our guide to ask some one
better informed. but telling us that he
would manage to find it, he ploddetl
chcerily on. leaving us to come as best
we could, and sure enough he soon
brought us to where the "AlbatrOS"
was mocred. Our poor little man had
been so jOvial through all the discom-
futures and had so ungrudgingly pushed
our luggage for such d distance. that
we rewarded his efforts with q small
tip. and the greatest possible change
4 took place; off came his hat, he bowed
5 low to the ground. and assured us that
X he had known we were Americans he
would have procured a carriage for us.
Probably from our costumes on that
.sNuddy day he took us for emigrants.
We thought when we reached the
, "Albatros'' that all our troubles would
be over. but the captain informed us
that no passengers were expected. no
-preparationS had been made for any
yand there was no stewardeSS. yet he
added that if we wished to come on
sboardy he would make it as comfortable
tttSs possible for us. But for his bluff.
.SbeaFtv German cOuntenance. we would
have hesitated. AS it was we trusted
our German captain. as we trusted all
Germans in the days to come. and our
confidence was not misplaced. for we
always found them open as the day.
helpful to US and of an uprightncss that
'sNAA no ehC ~ piNsti NititiftH
When we were journeying to Hull we
had pictured vessel half the size Of
an ocean steamship. and we were very
much astonished to find a ship about
as large as the excursion steamers that
20 down Boston harbOr. There was
only one respectable State-rcOm. and
IN that we were put. There were two
PORTFOLIOS. one looking out upon the
ocean and the other upon the deck. Be
lore going to bed tue steward shut the
ocean one. fearing that the waves
might come in. but he said that the
other one would be all right ajar. so
after taking the unusual precaution to
put our suit-cases upon the lounge. we
We're soon forgetful of everything about
us. until we awoke with the impression
That the ship was wrecked and we were
drowning However it was not quite
as serious that. Only the waves
rising higher than usual had washed
over the deck. dashing in through the
port-hole and splashing our faces.
AS there was no stewardess we could
not call for help. so pressing our entire
weight upon the fasteninss, we at last
closed it. but not before our shoes were
swimming around in several inches os
water.
Our greatest trial on the North
Sea was the food we had. Not expect
ing any passengers they had prepared
iood such as a German crew would en-
JOY and we had orr first taste If the
Coarse brown tread. the highly
seasoned meats and the famous
purple cabbage We had the honored
seats beside the captain, who was
amused at our American tastes,
anu lissusted when we asked
him II he colored those cabbages,
dnu TO show us that it was their natural
eoior, ne had a steward bring in one
IRON the store-room and exhibited to
US its purple lines.
IL was difficult at first for the can
tam to understand us. He said he
ouid understand the English people,
Dut the Americans went so fast and
'"dno"ed so many of their words that