A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the MormonsWilliams, Elizabeth Whitney
History
A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the Mormons
Williams, Elizabeth Whitney
Beaver Island (Mich.); Latter Day Saints -- Michigan; Strang, James Jesse, 1813-1856
We were now crossing Saginaw Bay in a blinding snow storm. The whistle
was blowing almost constantly, and once we heard another quite close to
us. Women and children were crying in their state-rooms, others were
groaning in fear and sickness. Our boat was creaking and tossing,
sometimes on her side, when it seemed she would never rise again.
Sailors were running on the deck and orders were shouted by the captain.
Water was splashing into the cabins, glass was broken from the windows,
and cabin boys were hurrying about nailing up blankets. Dishes were
smashing as they fell from the lockers. Cabin doors could not be shut,
our boat was twisted, and it seemed she could not last much longer she
settled and trembled so at times, and then the great waves dashed all
over her.
PRAYING FOR THE STORM TO CEASE.
Our blankets were wet by water coming in upon us as Elizabeth and I lay
in our berth with our hands tightly clasped in each others. She had been
telling me about her home, mother, sisters and brothers. How they were
waiting and watching for them to come home, saying, "I know my mother is
praying for us." Then I said, "And we must pray, pray awful hard,
because my father, mother and John said if I was in trouble God would
hear me and help me, and I guess I will pray for our boat to be saved."
Elizabeth said, "Yes child, pray for us all." And I am sure God heard
the feeble prayer I made as I told him how sorry everybody would be if
our dear old Michigan steamboat went down. I felt no fear through all
the storm. I said to Elizabeth, "Now we must go to sleep." She kissed
me, saying, "Dear child, what a comfort you are to me." We were cold and
wet in our berths and now the boat seemed pitching and tossing another
way. Her head would go down so far it seemed she would pitch over head
first. Many were screaming in the cabins. Mr. Crane with my brother and
William were on the cabin floor near our door. Our door had to be tied
back to keep from slamming. My brother had the life preservers ready and
some had already put them on. Oh the praying and the screaming was
terrible; but in the midst of all I went sound to sleep. When I awoke
our boat was still. We had weathered the gale.
AT PRESQUE ISLE DOCK.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account