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ON THE “STAR OF PERSIA.”
j BY JOHN ItOSS, BLACK, UA.
I The good steamship “Star of Persia”
Bay in the commercial dock, Belfast,
|reid^B,loadirigfor ify chum and I.havingcompleteda Port Parry, Australia,
three
[mouths [rosy cheeked vacation gil ls, in good the land cheer of potatoes,
and unex¬
celled hospitality, concluded to make a
[trip. After board looking and her made all over, we step¬
ped on the our requests
known. We found captain aft, who
[proved Lose to be every “Gentlemen, inch a gentleman. He
and said, I am glad
[you have come, as it was my mission to
Uo ashore now and hunt men for these
[positions.” [the He touched the bell, and
steward placed refreshments on the
[tiible. [trip, We signed an agreement for the
after which we three went ashore to
Luke preparations tor sailing the day
following.
I The vessel was barque rigged, able to
[carry [beskM* a tremendous amount of canvas,
engines o 1 1.000 nominal horse
Lower. The Captain said, “Gentlemen,
Hook at her, the water line is perfect, tl e
[angle of her masts could not be better.
Look how nicely she lies astern; look at
[her clipper-cut bow,” etc., and spoke in
[such endearing terms that any onfe not
wit I marine phraseology
have thought he was talking of a
daughter, or bis wife, or some
friend. Lie finished his eulogy by
our opinion. Our answer was,
until we are through the Bay of
when our opinion will be given.”
M.v churn and I had sailed the Atlantic,
and Baltic, but the Biscay
was dreaded, hence our answer.
We got rigged out for the trip, got our
on board, and were ready for
our trip of several thousand miies. Flags
the red ensign floated at
her peak, and at the fore-royal mast head
the Blue Peter (signal for sailing) was
rippling against the light azure of the
The pilot came on beard; be had
[on a tall rusty hat, and his face looked
as if it miSht have been carved out of a
[large piece of blue-mottled soap. He
ordered gang-planks I.auled in, bow and
stern lines to be cast adrift, and mounted
the bridge as one who had the power to
command. I had been sitting in thedoor
of the engine room looking at the scene.
It had been a picture of confusion, with
allsorj^of deck ropes’ shouting ends to knocking in the about; hold;
.men on men
'pigs grunting; babies crying; roosters
crowing and hens cackling; steerage pass¬
engers bound out as emigrants wander¬
ing dejectedly about; melancholy men in
slouched hats; pale-faced women with
hollow cheeks stained by recent tears.
cowering under the break of the poop and
gazing forlornly around them, and drunk¬
en sailors on the forecastle bawling out
coarse joking I are wells to friends ashore.
At last I get the bell to move, oil can
used freely, and ail pieces of the machinery
perform i heir duty well;,at last our voy¬
age has commenced. The pier heads
glide past the ship; people are standing
on the quay-side shouting to us, waving
bats and handkerchiefs, some of them
weeping, while our passengers in groups
along the line of bulwarks respond to
these f< a&wells by kissing of hands, cries
of “God bless you!” “Goodbye,” aitd
the like. The man is at the wheel, and
we are bound out sure enough. A little
snorting tug boat was alongside, going
down to Belfast Loch with us to receive
the pilot and any information tint any
one on board might want to send back.
As we came into North Channel the pilot
grasped the captain’s hand, atid,express
mg wishes for a good voyage, left us.
* I got through my first watch and took
a seat on the quarter-deck to look at the
few cabin passengers aboard. The first
was a gentleman with clean shaven
face and the unmistakable robes of the
Catholic church; two officers of theSalva
fciou Army going out to Australia to open
fire on hardened sinners; then a few gen
tlemen who were returning from a visit
to their old homes, and, lastly, three
young ladies who were going to finer
brothers in New South Wales. I also
took a peep at the steerage passengers;
and there I saw the women and children
all huddled together, and the men in an
other corner playing cards, smoking, etc.
An old woman with a red handkerchief
on her head asked me if L expected any
stormy^eather. 1 gave her as cheerful
a reply as possible, but inwardly pitied
them when we should get to the open sea.
The wind was blowing fresh, and the
officer of the watch was pressing on all
the canvas she could carry. A lot of
black loose scud was flying along the
marble face of the sky, and a gloomy
thickness to windward, whicli was a sure
promise of tough weather. The “Star of
Persia” was under all plain sail, even
fl!ying-jib „ and mizzen-royols . set, with the
“oldman” on the bridge and driving her
for every knot we could make. It was
certain!j u cose of growl .von may. but
go you must. L got to my post and
found things working smoothly; the
boilers steaming with open doors, which
proved to me atmospheric pressure and
a storm not far off. Got through with
m.v watcb^all right only lost a few pints
of sweat, took a bath and a drink of lime
juice and soda, lit my pipe and placed
myself to watch the approaching storm.
It was extremely graud! Ours was a
noble vessel, buoyant as an ocean bird,
and she took every surge with a magnifi¬
cent ease, falling away as it were from
the blow on her bow. then rising like a
thing on wings and full of life, never ship¬
ping a drain of water save right forward,
where now and then you would see spray
blowing over her like smoke. The ship
seemed to be almost on her beam ends,
but we were thrashing and foaming
through it. The huge sails were blowing
out like giant bladders in the grip of their
gear. The captain was standing near
the wheel shouting out orders to the 1st
officer in language not taught at Corinth
Sunday-school, and the orders were pass¬
ed on down to the sailors, who were de¬
livering their working choruses at the
top of their lungs. The wind shrieked;
the shaking of the loose canvass on high
might have passed for the discharge of a
battery of cannons; the foam flew over
us; the water washed in angry sobs along
the scuppers. After awhile the gale slack¬
ed off, and by 8 bells the next day every¬
thing had come to its normal attitude,
exc *P* the sea-sick passengers.
I looked down the booty-hatch at the
steerage passengers—it was a sight!—
Children falling down and squealing; many
heart disturbing lamentations arising
from such of the poor wretches as lay sick
and helpless in their bunks. Thesteward
was bringing their dinner. This was his
first voyage, and he had not acquired
the art of walking on a trembling deck.
He got past the hatch all right, but he
went down by ihe run and lay at the bot¬
tom in n lake of pea soup and chunks of
beef lying around bke pine burs on the
road between here and Statesboro, t had
to laugh if he had been killed. I suspect
from his language that it had been along
time since that young man had been to
Sunday-school.
We were now gliding alougtowards the
warm parallels. The breeze was hot, the
passengers were hot. and everybody was
out of sorts, 1 walked aft to the wheel
and the man who had his hands on the
spokes was muttering sea blessings to
himself, on the ocean life in general and
on the “Star of Persia” in particular.
The sun was about to go down; thegreat
luminary being poised like a vast target
of flaming brass upon the ocean line. I
noticed the chief officer staring with un¬
usual steadfastness at the horizon over
the stern and I sent a look in that direc
lion, when I observed that there was a
large black cloud sailing up the sky, ex¬
actly on a line with tlie course we were
making. Never before or since have I
seen a body of vapor with so ugly a look,
its brow was a pale sulphur color; its
wild, ext raordinary shape, too, made me
think of some leviathan flying beast, or
some huge and horrible creation descend¬
ing from another world: it overtook us
and seemed to stand still; it grew dark
very suddenly, leaving not the minutest
spot ot light in the sky. There was no
wind, but there was a heavy swell com¬
ing, on which the ship was violently roll¬
ing. There was something so subduing
in the impenetrable gloom, something
that lay with so heavy a weight upon
our spirits, that the noisiest of the crew
insensibly softened his voice to a whisper
when he had occasion to speak; even wlieu
the sailors were taking down the top¬
gallant sail, there was no singing out of
the ropes—they pulled silently as ghosts.
VVe commenced to smell sulphur, and the
remark was make that “old Jimmie” was
taking liis after-supper smoke and had
left the door open. I was holding onfo a
bela.ving-pin to steady myself when sud¬
denly a Jlight shone out upon the boom
iron. It, was ot a greenish hue, sickly
somewhat. It swayed as a soap-bubble
might ere it soars from the pipe out of
which it is blown. It was a corposant.
The electricity gathers on the points of
iron on board the ship, as physical geog¬
raphy will explain. The water was full of
fire and the atmosphere tingling with
electricity. All of a sudden we felt a blow
as though the ship had struck some float¬
ing wreck. In a minute the vessel was
wide awake, and all came on deck.sailors
running about and passengers full of ex¬
citement and fear. The sounding rod
was sent down the pumps; everything all
right; no water in the bottom oft-heship;
the hand lead was thrown, butnobottom
could be found. In the middle of all this
the heavens seemed to split open by a
flash of liglitiling, the wholeof the surface
of the ocean shone out to its farthest
confines to the crimson Maze, then a
crash of thunder—well named heaven's
artillery—came right overhead, and in
two seconds inorethoenormPusexpb sion
liberated the rain. It came down a very
Niagara; not in bucketfuls, but in perfect
sheets which flashed the fire out of the
sea all about us. It was grand
my power to describe.
As I was to go on watch at midnight,
I turned iu. Eight bells found me ready
f or mv watch. Ft was very hot; two fire
men were carried on deck overcome by
heat. Do not laugh when I say that I
winds and would cro^s the line soon. I
looked forward to having a good time
playing e ibbage, etc.,for five or six days
' l T^sMter is now too long. Will leave
you at the equator to got thawed out,
and finish the trip some other time.
S.J. GOLDEN, M, •r;
BAKER. ' •!
Fresh Pies, Cakes, I
Bans and Rolls j 1
cooked daily. A
3 r :
On South Main.
Headstones and Monuments,
1 am now prepared to furnish Headstones
and Monuments at lowest posible prices.
D. C. MOCK,
apltf BELKNAP, GA.
W. T. SMITH,
Livery Feed and Sale Stable.
Statesboro,
0. C.&H.L. ALDERMAN,
BUILDERS ANDCQNTRACTERS.
Statesboro, Ga.
Will build store houses and dwellings.
All work, for both, town and eottrty.
done on short notice. Satisfaction or
the prices and quality of work guaranteed
Buy the Best!
I desire to call the attention of ginners
to the only genuine
Davis Sea-Island Cotton Gin
manufactured and for Rale by
W. I). DAVIS,
Statesboro, Ga.
D.&s.s®sa
Schedule in Effect Jan. 8th.
No. 1. Leave Statesboro at 8:45 a. m.
Arrive 11:80 a. m.
No. 2. Leave 2:40 p. m.
Arrive 5:45 p.m.
On and after this date the 1). & S. train
will meet the Central “shoofly” every
Wednesday, leaving Statesboro 5 a. in.,
and returning 9 p. m.
Trains run by standard time.
J. L. Mathews. Agent.
BICY-C-L-E-S.
We have them all Sizes and Prices.
Can please anybody. Cushion
and Pneumatic tires from $15.00
to $125. Send for catalogue.
Our Prices Guaranteed THE LOWEST.
1
All Makes and Styles. Our prices
are from $10 to $25 less than
agents sell same Machine. Send
for catalogue.
R. G. WrIAYNE,
560 FOURTH AVENUE,
LOUISVILLE, KY,
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.
HOTELS
THE RUSTIN HOUSE.
Hiss Emma Grioer, Proprietress, - SiatesDero, Ga.
~~
House newly furnished throughout.
Tables furnished direct from Savannah
market. Nov. 28-1 .v.
*Lee Hotel,®
Statesboro, Georgia.,
Mrs. MARGARET LEE, Proprietress.
Tables supplied with the best the market
affords. Good board by the mouth at rea¬
sonable rates. Respectfully invite my friends
from the country, and the public generally to
stop with nit 1 when in t twn.
Times Hard
Prices Low
Only $!*> for a Superb M ason A
Hamlin Organ. 4 sets Heeds.
Jo .stops, HicU Case. $5 oa-h
and monthly. Reduced
from 8115. W kite Us.
Beautiful sterling Heeds, MirrorTop
only$t>0. 4 sets 11 Slops.
Write Us.
lively New styles at $65 and
>*7.x Write Us.
Elegant New Pianos only $225.
Wonderful at tho Prick.
Writk Us.
Tremendous bargains in nearly
new Pianos and Organs, used
a tride only. Wki re Us.
II you want a Piano or Organ
now is tlie time to buy It
right. Writk Us.
Write us anyhow, Trade Is
dull and you an’t ask more
qurstiom- annul Pianos and
Organs than we waul to an
ewer. Try it, please.
: I. JACOBSON
DEALER IN
CLOTHING,
DRY GOODS.
NOTIONS.
GROCE 111
TOBACCO \N0 mm.
! Fail to sec my Htoak OI\ ■ making purchnA s
i. JACOBS ! \.
marlSvl STATES*..')KO. GA.
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Bits. Caroler,
141 BROUGHTON ST.
vJO -
Ladies’, Misses,’ Children’s
Trimmed and Untrimmed Hats.
jjSgr Mail ordersreceive prompt attention.
MRS. E. N. LAWLER,
MILLINER,
SAVANNAH, GA.
GREAT REDUCTION IN RATES
‘ FOR 1894
AT
i
Savannah, Georg La.
Rates Reduced.
$1 aud $1.50 Per Day
According to Room.
B, L. H5B8ETT.
T V f
■ bea
IN Mil
r
.v—
service. that JAMES MEANS’ SHOES give splendid
We sell them, and onr customers all testify
that for style,, Stand wear JAMES MEAN6P
SHOES are unexcelled.
Give os a calL
t ■» \ l,IS BY
THE WORLD’S FAIR STORE.
D. P. AVERITT,
STATESBORO, GA.
Wholesale and Retail Mauufactnrer of
—AND DEALER IN—
Yell Pine Lnler
When yon want a bill of lumber get my,
figures. Both, quality aud price guar-4
•*
anteed.
A
ffi’O
mlM
AND ABSOLUTELY IT 13 I
SAVE^ The Best
SEWING *
m MACHINE
money MADE
,
WE OR OeiT'DEAliERS can sell
yon machine* cheaper NEW lha» HOME yonjra» la*
get elsewhere. The
Sewing Machine# for $15.00 ano up. Wp
Call on our agent or writs u*.
want your trade, and if prices, terms*
and square dealing will win, we with
have it. We challenge the world to
produce Machine a for BETTER $50.00, or $ 5 a °.OOSewin^ better $20.
Sewing Machine for $20.00 than yoa.
can boy from ns, or onr Agents. CO.} 1
THE HEW HOME SEWIHG MACHINE
OB.i3.OF, Mass. Boston Mass. « C JT??a1 9 tASs. N ’
1 t
for sale by
A. W. JOHNSON, AGE3T,
my.'l-fim Statehboho, Ga.