Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-10-07
THE LOG OF
A VOYAGE
Being the Story of An Ocean
Trip by Ye Editor Of
The Herald.
On Board R. M. S. Albania,
Tho Shin'S Log


The close of the first day out Oh
South Hampton and lovely moon
over a rolling sea. Beside the moon
shining evening star Boat full Of pas
sengers, nearly 400 in all, and every
body enjoying life.
The Albania is a deliberate old tub,
making about ~ knots an hour, but
a seaworthy boat and fairly comfort
able.
We embarked yesterday noon, Fri
day. at South Hampton, taking a ten
der to the steamer, eight miles down
the bay. After transfer of passengers
and baggage, a long run down the
sound, past the Isle of Wight to the
open channel A long wait at lunch
due to a new crew and rganizat1on.
The Seamen's strike has upset ship
ping and our crew is picked from 9TH
er Cunard boats. However, with good
staff of officers things are whipping
into shape splendidly.
Had a bad accident the first thing
out. While looking around for sup
plies a lounge steward named Brown,
fell head-long down hatch, MASKING
in his face, breaking an arm in two
places and crushing his side. He was
thought fatally hurt for a while but
when taken off at Cherbourg he
seemed to have a chance. I saw him
and his condition was pitiable.
Record Long Voyage Ahead
Apparently Columbus, the Mayt1ower
folks and other W. k. long voyagers
will have nothing on the Albania. At
70 knots an hour or less and 5000
nautical miles we will be $50 hours or
nearly IL days before reaching New
York. Nevertheless the fare is good
and after 2 night with three other
men in an inside stateroom, I have
a change of berth to an outside room
with but one roommate. He is the
customs representative for South At
RIGA and seems to be a fine chap. The
service is good and as we are in for
a slow trip we might as well make the
best of it unless the food runs short.
Personally have enough reserve fat
to stand a couple of days starvation
and the head steward assures me there
is plenty of water and other drink
ables aboard, so it's not so bad
Our trip across was on the Athena,
out of Montreal to Glasgow, crack
Scotch boat and the best in the north
ern service. The trip back is via the
Albania, destined for Australian SER
vice but pressed into transatlantic
on account of the big demand for pas
sage The Albania is probably the
worst boat in the service toward New
York-and the slowest. Nothing like
the two extremes for variety
Still Passing Ireland
We passed the Scilly stands off the
southwest coast of England, at 5
o'clock D. M, two bells on the second
afternoon watch. Left Cherbourg,
France, about a. NJ, after taking on
ITS passengers Ct counted 'em) and
their baggage. We had made 1876 miles
out of Cherbourg at S p. m. which
proves how slow the boat is.
Aug. 81, '25.
Monday-A rolling sea- mist, cloudy
sky and the 4th day out from South
Hampton. Where an ocean greyhound
would be within two days sail of New
York, the 1eisurely old Albania is not
far off the coast of Ireland and jog
ging along in an easy-going sort of
way. Well make New York all right
but I fear all the men will be dodder-
ing ancients with long white boards
and the women, mostly young school
ma'ams, will be old crones leaning on
walking sticks. They will return to
their schools to find the buildings
closed and their pupils bearded men
doing the work of the world or busy
mothers. A sad picture and why con-
tinue musing. Well get to New York
some time-We all hope.
This boat contains Americans main
ly, returning after a summer holiday
in Europe. Three-fourths of the $50
passengers are women. Ano three
fourths of the women are school teach
ers The boat would be about right
with 120 to $50 passengers. Overloaded
and with four people in a small state
room there is no room for deck games
or social activities. However, the Off
GERS and crew are doing all they can
to make it comfortable.
Officers Cans Be "Kidded"
Johnson, New York lawyer, and I,
kidded Tor tried toy one of the ship
officers in the wash room this morn
ing. j said he heard all sorts of
disquieting rumors about the Albania.
That she was riveted together by
women during the World war for the
purpose of being sunk by the Ger
mans. That somehow she missed her
fate then and that the Cunard COM
pany intended to let her sink on this
trip to carry out the original purpose.
Quite thrilling, Johnson and I agreed.
The officer, typically English, as
sured us we were all wrong. AS far
as being made by women, that was
absurd. A little overloaded, perhaps,
but a staunch, seaworthy boat and
quite fast. We agreed on the fast part.
said we were sure the Albania could
sail rings around anything on the At
i - L. u g
the Aquitania-that is given two
months start The E. o. gave us a
puzzled, compassionate look and
stalked away Never got us at ALL
Last night we had warm contro-
versy over the merits of Americas in
sistence on being paid her war loans.
Most of us stand with Coolidge. In
fact, this war debt refund is an inn
portant topic in England. Hardly a
place you go but what some English
man hops all over you because Ameri-