Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-10-07
A SEA VOYAGE.
Houston. Tex

Houston, Tex, Sept. %.
EDITOR CITIZEN:
Allow me a small space in the columns
OF your paper to speak of an ocean trip
which have just completed.
Taking Mallory steamer in New
York for Galveston, Texas, was a new
event IN the life of the writer, but for a
number of years have had longing
desire to see and sail over the beautiful
waters of the great Atlantic.
There had always been a fear within
me of such trip, but after an expert
ence of the kind, am ready to declare
that for pleasant, restful time nothing
can equal 1t. The start was made on
the steamer Denver, in charge of Capt.
w. L. Evans, August 2Sth, 1910, at /
O'Clock p. m. The ship was headed for
The deep sea and in few hours we
were out of sight of land with no
thought of seeing same for several days.
Soon the steward came round. and for
a small fee each passenger rents p
steamer chair. This ia his for the
entire trip.
1t does not matter about your business
affairs whep q boat trip like this is
taken, for there is nothing to do but
slt still and enjoy the scenery afforded
by the surrounding water by day and
the phosphorus spray at the PROV of the
ship at night as she cuts through the
dark water.
The first sight Of land was the Florida
coast four days after leaving New
York. We landed at Key West at 2 D.
IN. on that day and all were anxious to
set foot on land SO ashore all went
some taking car-rides through the town.
others visiting curio stores and othec
places of interest. l want to mention
that Big Key West cigar, about & inches
long and the size of broom handle.
that cost 5-cent piece. You smoke
on 1t for several hours and then it is a
fair sized cigar. A rather interesting
feature at Key West is when n ship
arrives about six dozen little negroes.
clad IN bathing suits, are waiting on
the dock and solicit passengers to drop
pennies or larger Coins into the water.
when they dive and gather them in
using their mouths for purse. Some
make from 81 to So day. The water is
said to be between 90 and Is feet deem.
Another unusual sight is the walking
dairles- Tho Cubans lead their cows
from house to house and milk a pint. n
quart, or whatever quantity the Gus
toner desires. did not see this. but
1t Is quite reasonable. From this port
large number of turtles are ship
ped. this being quite source of income
to the townfolkS,
Leaving Key West our ship was soon
in the waters of the Gulf Stream. The
waters were not so rough in the Gulf
Stream as other parts of the ocean.
but the weather was not as pleasant
and few nights passengers could not
sleep in their rooms as there was but
little air to be had and most every one
slept in their chairs on deck in the open
air.
One most pleasant feature of such a
trip is that every one gets acquainted
and are sociahle. Singing Southern
songs. playing games, reciting and
telling jokes made the trip pass only
too fast. 1t makes one feel that we
are one big family and right at home
on such voyage.
Now we come in sight of Galveston
and every one is busy. some packing.
some getting addresses Of acquaintan-
ces made, and others speaking of the
pleasant trip and how much it was en-
Joyed. The ship has been docked and
the gang-board lowered and this great
family as it appeared must saw good
bye as the time of separation is at
hand.
This ends the trip from New York to
Galveston. which cOnnumed seven 6avs
! could give a few other facts of inter
est, hut | will have more to say later.
L. b. CARTER,
(Formerly of Rehoboth Church. Val