A MID- WINTER OCEAN VOYAGE. 17 



lowed their good example. We were steaming away from Hat- 

 teras, when the demon of the stormy cape sent some of his 

 specimen blasts after us. Our cai:)tain deemed it best to " lie 

 to'' awhile until that "little spell of weather" was over. 



During the night nearly all the passengers were more or less 

 sick, and the cold was sufficient to freeze water on the deck of the 

 steamer from stem to stern. The next day the weather was all 

 that could be desired ; the atmosphere calm, agi'eeably cool and 

 bracing, while the sea was as smooth, quiet and peaceful, as if it 

 had not yet been awakened from a night of profound repose and 

 quiet sleep. 



The " City of Savannah " is one of a line of steamers built and 

 owned by the Georgia Central Railroad Company, for the trans- 

 portation of passengers and freight between Savannah and New 

 York. At an expense of one million of dollars — being one-fifth 

 of its capital — it secured the building at Chester, Penn., of four 

 steamers, named respectively, the "'City of Macon," the " City 

 of Columbus," the *' Gate City," and the " City of Savannah." 

 They are all substantially alike, and the last was placed upon the 

 line in the summer or fall of 1878, and the first about a year 

 previous. 



Our steamer was almost a novice upon the ocean. A few months 

 before in the State of Pennsylvania, and from the Avest bank of 

 the river Delaware, it first took to the water. Yet how grandly, 

 with an air of conscious power, it made its way over tlie path- 

 less, fathomless and boundless sea ! When no land-marks are 

 seen upon the horizon's verge, and no guiding stars in the sky, 

 it still speeds confidently and unerringly on its Avay over the 

 trackless wilderness of water. 



Born to an inheritance of labor, the aiithor experienced a new 

 sensation — he had nothing to do. He drionninod fJici'cfore to 

 make the acquaintance of tlie sliip, uud tlni.'^ ulilizc some of his 



