Blogs from Pacific, Oceans and Seas - page 12

Up very early and had a bath. Fine day. Wind a head of us, ship much steadier from extra cargo. Went on with my letter. Finished “Count of Paris” by Scott – do not care for it. Walked about during the evening with Miss Bailey, Miss Isaacs, a wild Jewess and Gore. Deck crowded with passengers. Turned in early.... read more

Fine day. Ship quieter, sea going down. Began a letter home in the afternoon, i.e. I commenced to copy out my log from where I left off. Some very heavy rain squalls came on in the evening. Had music, reading by Miss Andrews (an actress) and recitations from Shakespeare by Mr Maddrick, in the evening. Some excitement caused by our near approach to Honolulu tonight and on turning in at 10.30, we were very near to that island tho’ it was too dark to see any lights. Days run 273 miles. Lat 147 from N Long: Honolulu. ... read more

Uncomfortable night. Steamer pitched and tossed and rolled very much. At 6 in the morning the engines stopped for an hour for some reason or other. Windy but fine day. Had Divine Service in the social hall at 10.30, music poor. Afterwards, the baggage room was opened. Got some things out of my portmanteau. Very dull work, Sunday at sea – best place would be to sleep through it, if possible. Damp disagreeable evening. Days run 254 miles. Lat 14.46N & Long 160.20W.... read more

Heavy rain and wind in the night. Dull disagreeable day. Read and finished “Preston Fight”, a stupid tale by H Ainsworth. Invested an other 2/- with like result. Just before lunch for some reason or other, the engines went half time for about an hour. There was champagne going about in the smoking room in the afternoon, given by one of the passengers. Had some but did not care for it. For the last time went in for the lottery. Squalls in the evening, wind and rain. Heavy sea on. Ship rolling and pitching very much. Good many people ill. Days run 268 miles. Lat 10.51N & Long 161.58W.... read more

Eyes again bothered me. Lay down for some time during the day. Quantity of Flying Fish about. Warm day. Invested another 2/- in the lottery and never saw it again. Read and finished “Geoffrey Hamlyn” by Henry Kingsley. Talked to the Miss C’s nearly all evening. Days run 277 miles. Lat 6.34N & Long 163.08W.... read more

Fine day but windy. Got up with a bad headache which got worse afterwards, especially the eyes. Lay down nearly all day. Put in for a sweepstake and lost it, 2/- share. Dark damp evening. Moon did not rise until late. Days run 276 miles. Lat 2.13N & Long 164.45W.... read more

Another fine day and not so hot. A meeting was called in the Social Hall to arrange for amusing the passengers in the evening. It was agreed that four nights should be set apart; one for singing and music, another for dancing, a third for charades and a fourth for sundries. Several speeches were made and resolutions passed. The Purser made a speech with a strong American twang about it, to open the subject. A chairman, managers etc., were appointed. I don’t think this will last long – there are too many professionals on board. In the evening had some charades - the words “Fiji Islands”, actors Mrs Fell, Miss Hamilton (the first is an actress, the other is a Californian lady), Mr Maddrick (an Englishman and a writer it’s said, for some paper) and Mr ... read more

Another very warm day. Spent the morning in reading the Life of Macaulay and in talking to Miss Bailey, who is about the nicest lady on board and that is not saying very much, for the female representatives are very so-so. A heavy rain squall came on about 12 o’clock sending us into the social hall with a rush. The Dining Saloon is very uncomfortable, close and awfully hot – what a blessing Punkahs would be. General and universal outcry about the bad food and bad ventilation. Made friends with another young lady in the evening. She is a Sydney girl, name unknown. A watch was put up for raffle by an American. Rumour says that he had been cleaned out at cards and not unlikely. Evening not so warm. Days run 280 miles. Lat 6.40S ... read more

Another warm day. Went in for a bath in the morning. Began 2nd vol. of Macauley’s Life. Felt seedy all day – eyes bothered me. Did not go down to tiffin. In the afternoon some glees were sung and during the evening, which was squally, the Dr drew an audience by his play and a lady who immediately followed him at the piano, cleared the hall by hers. A very warm close evening. People are beginning to get a little more friendly towards one another. Days run 288 miles. Lat 10.58S & Long 169.0W. ... read more

Splendid day and breezy. Had service in Social Hall at 10.30 but I was so busy reading that I forgot the time and did not care to go in after they had begun. Some heavy squalls in the evening. Had *Moody & Sankey’s hymns in the evening, fairly well sung by two or three people. It is getting very monotonous on board – everybody growling at the heat, the food, the ship and everything else they can growl at. Another warm night. Days run 290 miles. Lat 15.28S & Long 170.44W. Blog note:- Dwight L Moody and Ira D Sankey were American Victorian Evangelists who preached and sang to hundreds of thousands of people in America and England. They evolved and established their own style of Gospel hymn which became very popular and a major force ... read more