Entertainment, rough seas and visit to steerage

Entertainment, rough seas and visit to steerage

Diary page 4

evening cool and pleasant. Concert on second deck, fine voices, exquisite harmony, grand effect on the waters. Many of the choristers hanging over ship’s side in life boats. August 9th, heavy fall of rain early in the morning, sea rough, air still and sultry, do not expect great heat as we have been going from the sun, since last night, it was almost vertical yesterday. Sisters qualmy today. August 10th, torrents of rain in morning fine later on, look over ship’s side, see several nautilus. In afternoon rain comes down like a deluge – freshens the air. August 11th. Protestant service performed, muster of ship’s company before this, very pretty, number 145. We go to steerage where are a great many Germans, French, Scotch & some Irish, we converse a little with them. Just after dinner 7 p.m. steamer suddenly stops. Mr Ruthoeu First Officer & Mr Kelly chief Engineer fly from table. Sisters panic struck, however finish action they were at, then go on deck where they hear cause of stop. Part of the machinery of steam engine got loose – all right in about a quarter or half an hour. Dr McMaster tells postulants that [we are stranded]

Sisters of Mercy

Sisters of Mercy Archive, Ennis Collection

Sisters of Mercy Archive

1878

Dunne, Joan

All rights reserved

www.sistersofmercy.org.nz

Manuscript

eng

image.jpg

XE/358C4

Australia, New Zealand