The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1910-11-17
# the Scandinavian-American steam

! viz vi liiS lpi iilNlptRi oSNeDttSiNiAS
of the passengers on these transat-
lantic liners is eating. 1t really SEEM
ed that we were eating from the
time that we came out in the morn
ing until VIC retired for the night.
Frem s to $50 in the morning break
fast is served, then at II o'clock
bouillon ard crackers are passed
around. At 1890 o'clock lunch is
served and at o'clock tea and cakes
are passed around on deck. Dinner
is served at 6 o'clock and at 10
o'clock at night sandwiches and cof-
fee can be had in the smoking room.
The Scandinavian people believe in
eating and eating often. Their cook
ing, especially of meats, is consider
! bly, above the average, and their
ps.> try can't be beat, but with all the
variCls meats and Irish potatoes and
fancy cakes and pies, there were
many times when we longed for
some good old fried chicken and
hominy and South Carolina rice.
We saw rice only once after we left
the States and this was served on
board the ship as dessert. 1t didn't
look right and didn't taste right, so
we let it alone. In the place of hon.
inv, rice, corn-bread and biscuits, as
we use them, they have Irish pota-
toes, and invariably serve hot meats,
with the potatoes, green peas, beans,
caulifower and such.
On our trip across the water, one
day was almost like the other, with
nothing to mar the pleasure and
happiness of the passengers except
the death of one of the passengers
in the steerage. This old man was in
the last stages of consumption and
was making a race with death across
the water in order that he might die
in his native land, Norway. Death
won, though, and he died four days
before reaching the oher side. Of
course his body could not be carried
for four days and consequently he
was buried at sea.
1t might be of interest to des-
cribe here the burial scene at sea.
In former days the burial service
was usually held at IL o'clock in the
day, but on account of the depressing
effect of such scenes on the spirits of
the other passengers, most of the
steamship companies have adopted
the new custom of burying the dead
about sunrise and before the pas
sengers are up and about the decks.
The body is prepared for burial in
the usual manner except that in
stead of being placed in casket or
coffin it is sewed up in a piece of
strong sail canvas, a weight of
iron being sewed in with the body
and at the feet of the dead person.
This piece of iron is usually part of
the bars or CRATE that has been
burnt out in the furnaces of the
boiler room. After the body and
this weight have been securely sewed
in, flag of the dead persons coun-
try is then wound about the body and
everything is in readiness for the
ceremony. The body is placed on
platform extending from the side of
! the ship, and this platform, when
tilted will allow the feet to slide feet
! foremost into the water. The band
first plays funeral dirge or march
and all of the officers of the boat
appear in full dress uniform. The
engines stop and the boat is allowed
to drift until the service is over. All
work on the boat is suspended and
! the captain reads the appropriate
burial service, after which the plat
form is inclined to the water, the
body slips off feet foremost, the en-
gines start as soon as the body dis
appears from sight and the boat
moves on. The band then strikes up
with lively march or two-step as