The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-02-07
THE ODDS AND ENDS
or THE NOTEBOOK

Ineiaentx Stories % scasirkness
Jskca, Fog,. storms Glaciers and
Whales.
Take o bunch q from 50 % 70 pco'
Ole and cooped up IN a little river
town for two weeks, then put them on
n STEAMER for another two weeks, and
they arc bound 20 start something
They arc little less than school chill
drt.n after ALL
II was ii-day trip from 81. Mi
ehael to Seattle, and days before we
left the passengers began 70 speculate
on the possibilities OF bad storm in
the Bering Sea and q seasicknesS.
And Il was q funny proposition. Ev-
cry last one Of us dreaded storm and
hoped for a smooth voyage, yet those
wto dreaded II worst were loudest in
declaring we were sure TO get it. They
secmed to bc trying to bluff them
selves trying to scare up their own
courage by soaring the other fellow.
The trip across the bay TO Nome
was IA smooth as a duck pond and in
the stay at that port the most Of the
passengers began to fortify for the
long trip out in the open. Some fruit
eating, some laid in anti-seasisk dope,
como took liver pills and others Ep-
SONS. Each according to his own
idea.
Az Tor myself just didn't do any
thing. was passiyely and patiently
resigned. | knew would be the first
TO crawl into my berth and stay there,
for in the many trips on water had
ever been the first to leave the deck
and the last TO come back. II anyone
could be seasisk was anyone. So !
didn't dope, and when the toat pulled
out was fully resigned-"let 'er roll.
But contrary TO all predictions it
didn't roll. The Bering Sea was on
her best behavior and the croakers
could only alibi with wait till we get
down near the Uminak pass and then
well hunt our holes" So day after
day we steamed along, with very little
wind and with fogs settling down clos
er and deaser, aad when we nearcd
The dreaded pass there was nothing to
be seen but fog, and one Of the pas
sengers declared he could hear. it,
Tire boat kept reducing its speed
and tho fog whistles kept up q one
minute din, night and day. Every
body was asking where VIC were, and
none answered. heard orc officer tell
another that nobody knew whore we
were, bat that we should be in the
pass. That night the boat slowed
down to eight miles an hour
The next morning there was o gen.
eral feeling Of uncasiness III over the
ship and this was added to BY the boat
picking up . wireless order - 50 into
Dutch Harbor and take on beard 70
Japs that had come ashore in life
boat from the wrecked steamer Kct-
chira Maru. The boat went on the
rocks July % and the survivors had
been in an open boat for six weeks.
This order was later countermanded,
as another toat took them on.
Then a ships officer with boy dem
onstrator went into every berth and
showed the passengers how to apply
the life belts speedily. Next the anch-
or was swung out ready to drop and
third the crew was called out for fire
practice.
And with these, Nervous Apprehen-
sion had the run of the boat.
The anchor was about TO be dropped !
when suddenly the fog lifted for per- ;
haps Is minutes. 1t wasn't necessary /
70 take the nautical observations.
Dead ahead Of us, it did not look more I
than mile, was the rocky reef, and |
between us and the shore the coast
abounded with submerged rocks. )
That boat didn't even turn around
II simply backed up, and that very /
slowly 1t was very close call to add b
another 10 the many boats whose skel- t
etons arc strcwn along the rocky coast v
Of Unimak Pass. |
But now out Of danger, We returned S
TO seasickness. The ocean was little 3
rough and one by one-ladies first b
the passengers began to disappear S
from the steamer chairs. d
Ard began to feel like real prize s
dghtcr-I was staying" h
We had wealthy auto dealer nam e
"a Johnson from san Francisco, as t
passenger. he was a large, powerful "
man and as big joker as he was tall. q
And he was q raw joker. Re had O
made many trips on many waters and "
bad never been sick a woman might Il
se extended some charity, bat a man b
sever. ard he added to the misery OF G.
'vcry seasic1 rlan wbo dared to leave p.
MS door unlocked by regular calls a,
] rooued with him. and dreaded
he day when would 20 down for the Il