The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-11
ED HOWE'S NOTES.
BeIated Letter Concerning Ex-
periences on ShipbOard.
Tells of the EmbarkatiOn at
HObOken Pier.
THE MOLTKE CROWDED
Only Two Vacant Rooms on
ShipbOard.
Writer Marvels at Women Who
Enjoy" Sea Sickness.

o'clock In the old days, passengers for
the steamships were robbed by hack
grooms. but since the tunnels have
been built in New York, you can reach
a ship in Hoboken for 5 cents. Our
party of five left the Waldorf at $3.50,
followed by two porters carrying pack
ages. A half block away we took a
surface car, transferring presently to
the tube running under the Hudson
river. The first man who utters a
scream that the fare on the tunnel lire
between New York and Hoboken, New
Jersey, should be reduced to 4 cents,
should be smashed over the head with a
club. Capital, which is always being
abused, does many good things like the
tunnel between New York and Ho-
boken, New Jersey, and reduces prices.
Arrived in Hoboken, we walked a
block through a drizzling rain to the
immense Hamburg-American dock. En-
tering this, we walked another block,
and finally found a gangway leading
to the ship ''Moltke." Directly opposite
was a gangway leading to the ship
"Blucher'' which sailed the same day
on a cruise to South America. Once On
board, we began inspecting the various
rooms engaged by members of the
party, and found them satisfactory.
The passengers were arriving, and
dozens of stewards were out On the
dock to receive them. Close by was Iy
ing the Berlin of the North German
Lloyd line, and there was a great noise
in the river from passing tugs. No one
counted on much sleep that night, and
no one was disappointed. At midnight
the Educational Bureau came on board
with her friends, and I made another
tour of the ship with them.
Next morning at 7:30, while in my
room, 1 heard the ship band playing,
and hurried out. Not many were pres
ent to see us off, owing to the early
r. m nrlC
exactly sos a. m. we pulled the gang
plank, and slipped gently into the
stream. Then the entire Atchison
party went down to breakfast. I
found myself assigned to a seat at the
head of a table. At my right, Mattel,
and Miss Eleanor Ravens, of Leaven-
worth. At my left, Miss Isabel Walker,
her mother and her father. A good
many flowers, sent by admiring friends,
were on the various tables. The pas
sengers were a fine looking lot, we all
agreed. The ship also suited us; 1t Is 4
fine one in all respects. A mans figure
is prominent in the main assembly
rooms; Count Moltke, for whom the
ship is named, 1 imagine.
BY the time the pilot went off, at 10 a.
m, the women of the Atchison party
were in bed. and only the Atchison
men heard the band concert, which be-
gan at that hour. There is a band of
ten men on board, and it plays an hour
every lnOIIlllS, HUH ~ " Ii. Al Qlu-
ner. which begins at p m, the band
changes to an orchestra, and plays
during dinner.
Sunday, January %.
The weather is a little warmer this
morning. Al the breakfast table,
seven men, and no women. The men
include Judge Walker and myself. The
judge ate what 1 thought was an
enormous breakfast, but he didn't con-
slider it very much, for he said to me:
Tomorrow morning I intend to eat
about way that after eating his meals
in the dining room, he goes down
stairs and eats the dainties provided
by the stewardess for his wife and
headache, but otherwise is not seasick.
l feel tough, but am able to be on my
feet. The sea continues quite rough,
although the sun is shining.
A fat man who spends most of his
time in the smoking room seems de-
termined to drink himself to death.
There is gossip to the effect that he
was drunk when he came on board,
and he certainly has been drunk ever
since. His wife is fine looking wom
an, and frequently comes in the smok-
ing room to coax her husband to go
to bed. But ne won't do it; he prefers
to sleep in the smoking room, where
all the men can see how drunk he is.
He has a dissipated friend who comes
in occasionally, when they swear and
drink together. 1 have never seen q
more disguised looking woman than
the drunkarG's wife.
1t seems I missed a disagreeable ex-
perienee by rot going to dinner last
night: Judge walker says one of the
stewards had a fit, and, had I been
there. he would have fallen on me.
Nothing would displease me more
than for a steward to have a fit, and
fall on me at dinner.
This ship is fitted with a wireless
telegraph apparatus and every morn
| ing a sheet of "newss is posted The
news is III very brief form. and
doesn't amount to much. One of the
items posted today concerns the in
dignation of the mapor of New York
because the policemen use their clubs
| on offenders. What do passengers at
sea care for ews of that character
| Notice is also posted that we are in
communication with the ship "Bluch-
| err
Monday. January "a.
The weather is much milder this
morning, as we have been sailing due
south since a. m. Saturday, and most
of the sick passengers appeared on
deck before noon, although none of the
breakwast. Mrs. Walker was the last
to appear. and she said she was late
because she mad two of the biggest
babies on board to look after. 1 sup
| pose she referred to her husband and
| daughter. Practically all the paSSen-
gers are out and many acquaintance
are being made. 1 have met no one,
| except c. M. and L. S. Webster OF
| Shelbyville, Ill. The first named sub
l scribed for the weekly mad I like him
/ rather the hafr6r n two noe
sengers seem 20 come from every state
in the Union. In looking over the pas
( senger list, note that on the first
page we have representatives from
California, Pennsylvania. New Jersey
Michigan. Massachusetts,. Illinois
Maryland, Ohio, New York and Min
nesota.
There are $50 passengers on board
and only two rooms are vacant. There
/ are two dining rooms the Dassen gers