United States -- Description and travel; Voyages and travels
On Monday, at 9 o'clock, the deck of the bark Candace was covered with
ladies and gentlemen, and clergymen of several religious denominations,
viz: Rev. Mr. Kidder, of the Methodist communion, Rev. Messrs. Spaulding
and Loomis, Secretaries, and Rev. Mr. Parker, all members of the board
of managers of the American Seamen's Friend Society, and their devoted
friend and countrymen, Lin-King-Chew, who has been untiring in his
kindness to them, in order to accompany them to Sandy Hook. Professor
Loomis, the missionary to seamen in the port of Canton, recently
appointed by that Society, was also there. A deeply affecting incident
was there witnessed. During the progress through the Narrows to sea, a
deputation from the Chinese sailors was sent by them to Capt. and Mrs.
Richardson, then on board, begging them to take their friend and
countryman, Lin King-Chew, to their house, the Sailor's Home in Cherry
street, and take care of him while he was in America, as he was in a
land of strangers, and they felt so much love towards their friend, that
they could not leave him behind, unless they were sure he would be with
those whose sympathy and kindness they had so recently experienced. It
was truly an oriental idea expressed by one. He wished to take with him,
and plant in China, the American "cry tree,"--meaning the willow, for he
could not leave them without crying, and as it grew, he would be
constantly reminded of his feelings when he left America.
The wind being light and ahead, it was necessary for the steamer Jacob
Bell to take the Candace out as far as the lightship, 10 miles beyond
Sandy Hook, and 23 miles from the city, that she might have a good
offing. On reaching this distant place from the shore, it was observed
that a little bird had left N. York with the ship, and was now perched
on the end of one of the spars aloft, as if intending to make the voyage
with her and the Chinese sailors to their homes.
Before the steamer left her, at the request of Capt. Gardiner, after the
crew had been all assembled near the captain, and the Chinese sailors
were arranged, Rev. Mr. Parker commended her crew, passengers, the
Chinese sailors, with the Rev. missionary on board, to God's protection,
in the beautiful prayer of the Liturgy for persons going to sea,
concluding with the Lord's prayer and the benediction.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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