182 TEE REV. J. G. WOOD. 



estimable in its place, but that it was out of place in my room. I 

 hope never to have such another night. The wind was terrific, and 

 more than a storm. Pressure on the wind-gauge of twelve degrees 

 means a hurricane, and we had eleven degrees, and right in our 

 teeth ! China and glass were crashing all over the ship, and at 1.30 

 there came a terrific bang, followed by shrieks, and accompanied by 

 a torrent of water rushing through my room. Then the vessel went 

 up somewhere, and back came the water. Then there was a great 

 turmoil on deck, shouting and stamping of sailors, screaming of 

 women and frightened children, &c. Just to show what a storm it 

 was, I found an empty drawer from a room at some distance lying at 

 my door. It was all I could do to keep in my berth, and one lady 

 was pitched completely out of hers into several inches of water. It 

 was so bad that two boats were slung ready for immediate launching, 

 and a life-belt was laid out for each passenger. You may imagine 

 what a noise the Irish emigrants made. Knowing that I should 

 only be in the way if I gob up, I just held on tightly. There was 

 not much sleep for anyone that night. At daylight I got up and 

 found that the portmanteau had kept out the water, so that, except 

 soaking boots and slippers, no harm was done. Some of the 

 passengers, however, had nearly all their clothing spoiled, and one of 

 the officers was washed out of his berth. We had shipped a sea 

 astem, and it had broken into the main deck, sweeping it fore and 

 aft as the vessel pitched. Yet I had not the least indication of sick- 

 ness, though scarcely another passenger escaped. There was one 

 exception, a young lady, but old sailor. She foresaw what was 

 coming, and did not undress. About noon, the wind went round to 

 the north and the waves abated, but the long Atlantic swell con- 

 tinued until evening. Then, at the request of the passengers, I gave 

 another lecture. . . . 



Here we are, a week out, and barely half-way to Boston. We 

 only ran 213 miles in the last twenty-four hours an easy six hours' 

 journey by rail. It will be a very close shave for me to arrive in 

 time. The captain says that he has hardly ever been as late as 

 Sunday, but that this time he doubts whether we shall arrive until 

 Tuesday morning. Just fancy what it must be to those poor 

 passengers who are prostrate in their berths, and have had a week of 

 sickness. The ladies in the next cabin were too ill even to be 

 frightened. 



