18 EAST PRUSSIA TO THE GOLDEN GATE 



ery joint creak. Our progress was slow, as was to have 

 been expected under such circumstances, so that we had 

 scarcely covered a quarter of a German mile by one 

 o'clock, when we noticed the beautiful broad belt, which 

 the foam of the downs had spread in front of the high 

 coast forests of Swinerhoft. Capt. Eybe was kind enough 

 to lend me an oil suit, which enabled me to remain on deck, 

 notwithstanding the pouring rain. As it was absolutely 

 impossible even for sailors to stand up straight without 

 holding on to something, I took position alongside of the 

 wheel. By this time every living soul was sick, even 

 Grunhagen complained of indisposition and looked like 

 a corpse. I, on the contrary, did not feel the slightest 

 annoyance and even enjoyed my cigar as if I had been 

 sitting in Conradshof drinking a cup of coffee. 



The cabins offered a sight to behold : tables, chairs, sea- 

 sick passengers, men, women and children, everybody 

 and everything in utter confusion. It mocked descrip- 

 tion. At last we caught sight of Swinemunde, about 

 three p. m. Three-quarters of an hour later we took a 

 pilot on board and shortly after anchored in the Swine* 

 (pron. d "Sweenay"), between an English schooner and 

 a Prussian Man-of-War, the "Nix," which had arrived 

 from London about an hour ahead of us. The roughness 

 of the weather prevented our landing, and we set out 

 anew after taking a few more passengers aboard and fol- 

 lowing the course of the battleship which, like ourselves, 

 was bound for Stettin. The raging storm caused the ship 

 to almost become unmanageable. It had just struck seven 

 o'clock when, while entering the mouth of the river 

 "Oder," we experienced a terrific gust of wind which 

 tore the foremast completely out of its holdings. The 

 sails were beating frightfully, while torn fragments blew 

 off, to be carried far into the Bay. But a few minutes 

 had elapsed when of the once beautiful sail there re- 

 mained only a collection of tattered rags. This was, how- 

 ever, the only mishap that befell us during the voyage- 

 not counting a few little damages near Swinemunde. 



At last we reached Stettin, about ten o'clock p. m. It 



