The wanderings and fortunes of some German emigrantsGerstäcker, Friedrich
General
The wanderings and fortunes of some German emigrants
Gerstäcker, Friedrich
Germany -- Emigration and immigration -- Fiction; Immigrants -- Fiction
For, some sailors letting themselves suddenly down the two hatchways, as
though they had descended from the clouds, soon disturbed the
tranquillity which, notwithstanding the confusion, seemed to reign
below; indeed some had passed the night in such break-neck positions
that they hardly dared to move when the dawn discovered their relations
to external objects.
However, compelled by necessity, most of them clambered on deck, and
left the luggage to the sailors, who chocked and made it all fast to the
uprights, with ropes and cords, so that it might not be thrown about by
a rough sea.
The committee, who had arrived about two hours earlier than the two
boats, had taken up their quarters in the cabin, where they had arranged
themselves tolerably comfortably, with the exception of the Pastor
Hehrmann, who, remaining true to the resolution, "that we all are
equal," would have no preference over the poorer class, and had taken
possession of one of the berths close under the after hatchway, as being
one of the most airy and healthy parts of the steerage.
Everything was arranged on this day; each person had a permanent berth
allotted to him, as also a certain allowance of butter for the week, and
of beef or salt pork for the day; that done, Pastor Hehrmann read a
short prayer, and as soon as supper was over, most of the passengers
went to rest wearied with the exertions of the day.
Towards morning a light wind arose; sufficient to determine the captain
to get under weigh. The heavy anchor was weighed, and the majestic
vessel slowly stretched out towards the mouth of the river.
When they arrived there the breeze died away altogether, and the slack
sails hung about the mast; but at ten o'clock, when the greater part of
the emigrants were assembled on deck, some little black clouds arose in
the south-east, spreading themselves out and covering the whole sky; the
wind, with extraordinary rapidity, howled over the excited waters
towards the ship, filled the sails and laid her quite on one side, and
passed on over the as yet slightly curled waves.
At this stage most of the travellers who were below, more particularly
the female part of them, rushed out of the cabin, calling for the
Captain, "for," said they, "the ship is falling over." In vain did the
mate and some of the crew assure them to the contrary. "No, they had the
evidence of their senses that the ship lay all on one side, and of
course it must fall over, whether it would or no;" and then, alas! the
consequences which they painted were so dreadful, that they filled them
afresh with horror, and crying and sobbing, and no longer able to stand,
they held on by the water-casks which were fastened to the deck.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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