The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-10

tensified by such rattling on the roof as she had never heard and which she afterward learned was sleet. The coverings were light, the beds not being prepared for such blizzard, and the girl felt that she might yet pay dearly for a trip that she had taken many times before under more pleasant circumstances, and which was not the novelty to her that it was to some on board. Naturally nervous as to storms, she leaned over to open conversation with the old lady in the berth below, who declared she was freezing and frightened, and had decided to arise and seek some warmth from the stove in the ladies' cabin, as the stateroom was as "cold as the north pole" This she did, and found other there to share her misery. She sought the chamber maid and sent for her husband, who confirmed her fears that the night was wild one, and that the boatmen were somewhat alarmed, though all had an implicit confidence in the master of that frail craft, for he had long guided 1t through storm and tempest, with never an accident to those aboard. The kindly gentleman ordered a hot drink for those gathered around the stove, and his wife carried glassful to her roommate. who lay shivering in that upper berth. After quaffing the stimu- lant, she too, descended and dressed and joined the cheerless crowd around the fire, which was drawing poorly. and continued to do so during all that miserable day, for the coal supply was running low, and those in charge were making an effort to have 1t last until the city was reached The men were crowded around the one stove In their cabin with as much zeal as the women sat around theirs.
 Morning came at last, and showed the trees and banks covered with ice and snow, which was a sight as beau tiful as it was unusual for southern eXcursionists almost on the banks of the Mexic gulf.
 At almost every landing crowds con- tinued to board the boat, and each party had a like tale to tell of a wild night spent on the river bank, await ing craft that seemed doomed and when they did get aboard there was little comfort in the cabin, with 100 or more trying to crowd around one little stove that shed a feeble blaze to distribute among so many. One cheery little maiden tried to drown the sor- rows of her companions by few notes on the piano-sadly neglected for this trip-but she soon sought that faintly glowing stove to warm her aching fin gers, and did not repeat her efforts. As newcomers arrived those around the stove moved back to let them warm bit, but if one gave up her seat, she never regained it. The passengers bravely tried to make the best of an unfortunate situation, but eonversa- tion,. even among women, was at low ebb that day, and even the good steamboat meals were not enjoyed as they usually were. The musical tones of the familiar whistle were mournful, and the bell tolled sadly when a land ing was made. The decks and roof were covered with ice and no one cared to venture out upon them. Through all that perilous journey the master of the boat stood to his post upon the hur- ricane deck where the gale had full sweep, guarding the lives entrusted to his care.
 At those landings where a long flight of steps led from the bluff to the wait ing boat 1t required some skill and more nerve to descend in safety with the steps like glass, but the officers or the boat were untring in their at- tentions, and rendered kindly assist ance to the women and children, by seeing them safely over the ice cov- cred gangplank. It required guide on either side to keep even the sure walker from being precipitated into the dark waters below.
 All through that dreary day the story of the lost purse went the rounds, and much sympathy was expressed for the loser. The obliging first clerk an old friend kindly passed her." with the promise to get a telegram through to her home. announcing her loss as soon as possible.
 Oh, for the beautiful summer days on this same craft, which so many could and did recall-while the wind still roared and the ice held under the leadened sky. The trip was made eau 1 tious1y and it was near midnight of | Sunday when the lights and spires of the familiar town made it seem like | mouse of refuge" to the nervous pas | sengers and the anxious crew, but | when the snow-covered boat drew up al | the wharf, it was to find the fair old city of the sunny south" locked in the embrace of the ice king. The whart 1 glistened in the lights cast by the boat and the task of disembarking wa. 1 fraught with some peril the officer. l assisting the trembling passenger:
 over the elistening blanks with grea | care. finally landing all safe upon tn, | snow covered streets of the city. Nt
 cabs and no cars were there to meet tn, | crowd who sought the hotels and tn,
 homes of their eXpectant friends ove l the treacherous streets, in almost tota i darkness, as the electric lights ha,
 been put out by the blizzard. and II
 many homes expecting visitors thu | faint glimmer of the Tight of othe | days" a candle shed it's welcome rays
 Friends were found huddled aroun, l grates and stoves, each with tale t.
 tell of the coldest day that had eve i dawned upon old Mobile-with tn | thermometer at 10 above zero-witl
 trains tied up. telegraph wires down
 and everything and everybody demor
 alized on the eve of the carnival, tn
 greatest festival of the old south in tn
 days of the early spring
 l To the curious it may be well to sa
 that after two days, wire was gottel
 through and reply came that tn
 purse had been found by the warehous
 keeper on chair in that little room O
 the bank of the river. its contents in
 tact; but a visitor to Mardi Gras mus
 have access to her trunk, wherein wer
 the street dresses. the reception toi lettes and the ball costumes prepare
 for the enjoyment of the grand carni
 val, so after much delay. a dray wa
 found to deliver that trunk, and a lock
 smith was secured to pick the lock.
 The blizzard subsided almost as rap idly as it had approached, and tn usual beautiful and artistic parade
 wound their way through the narro'
 streets, crowded on either side. regard
 less of the mud and slush of the thav
 and merriment reigned supreme in tn
 court of Felix, the Emperor of Joy, a .