Year: 1871

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There was little incident occurred on
board the new steamer "William Crane,
on its return from Boston, some ten days
since, which is too pretty to remain untold,
notwithstanding the very natural sensitive
ness of the lady to whom it brought the
most sorrow and the most joy. The vessel
was on its first trip, and carried party of
excursionists, to some of whom the won-
ders and perils OF the great deep were en-
tirely new. When the great cyclone which
passed up the Atlantic coast ON the 3lst
ult. was encountered, about hundred
miles from the Virginia coast, there was q
great deal of terror among those not accus-
toned to seeing old Neptune in his wrathy
moods. The foremast of the vessel was
snapped off close to the deck, the awning
torn IN shreds, and the stretchers converted
into mighty whips, with which the storm
god beat the roof of the cabin until
the bravest began to think it
would come down in ruins about their
heads. In little while the gale had
passed, and to the great relief of the passen-
gers it was found that no injury had been
done to the vessel except that already mem
toned. The clouds broke away, and the
soft rays of the sun were struggling through
the mist and Lighting up the cabin windows
when suddenly there was commotion in
the vicinity of one of the state rooms
lady had been taken i'll. There was no
physician on board, but there were few
resolutc matrons, to whom experience had
brought both courage and skill, and it was
not long before the whole company was
made happy by the announcement, softly
whispered from the state room, "a baby
has come on board" The tiny little stran-
ger, ''born of the sunshine and Storm"
had not been expected so soon, but the
fright and the rocking of the vessel had
FASTENED its coming, and those delicate little
fabrics which the expectant mother had
wrought with her own fair hands, and
moistened with tears of hope and fear, were
locked up in sacred drawer three hundred
miles away. But even here womanly ill
stinct and skill were equal to the emergen-
cy. There was hurrying to and fro in
search of needles and scissors and thimbles,
trunks were sounded to their lowest depths,
and spotless linen brought to light from
which garments for the little fairy were has
tily cut and sewed together with nimble
fingers, and before the sun went under the
blue waters the white robes were put on,
and her infantile loveliness taken into an
adjoining state-room, where grand recep-
ton was held. Everybody on board-kind
hearted matr0ns, whose maternal sympa-
thies were touched, blushing young girls,
who only vaguely comprehended the mys-
terry, proud fathers, and ambitious young
men, who had not yet attained to the digni-
ty of fathers, the gallant Captain of the
steamer, and the weather-beatcn seamen-
all took look at the baby. A meeting
was held in the saloon, at which congratu-
lations were exchanged over the pleasant
event, and it was agreed testimonial
should be presented to the mother, to he
by her given to the daughter when she
becomes old enough to understand that
it is intended as souvena of the time
and place of her birth. With the consent
of the father and mother the passengers
named the baby Virginia Crane Suggested
by the proximity of the Virginia coast and
the name of the vesseD. Rev. I. M. Dud-
ley and Colonel Harrison Adreon were APP
pointed committee to secure silver cup
for the interesting infant. MIR. Webb, cor
ner Of Baltimore and Light streets, will
make the cup, and engrave upon it the fol-
lowing inscription "Virginia Crane -,
born August 81, 1871, on board steamer
William Crane, near the Virginia coast.
Presented by the passengers on the ship at
the time of her birth. Psalm lxxxix, g."


All the good people who love babies will
be glad to know that the precious little
stranger whose advent made such sensa-
ton on board the "William Crane" is in
creasing in loveliness every day, and that
her mother is quite well.