Across the Waters by Stephen N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 29, 1882

Across the Waters.

By Stephen N. Haskell

SINCE the action of the General Conference, last winter, recommending that I should visit the missions east of the Atlantic, I have tried to lay my plans accordingly. The time it seemed necessary to spend at Battle Creek last winter, and the work of arranging for the school at South Lancaster, made it impracticable for me to start earlier than May 7, though this was some weeks later than I at first intended to leave.

Bro. Gardner, from the Pacific Coast, arrived April 14. After a short interview, it was thought best for him to go to New York and secure our passage. This he did on the Lydian Monarch of the Monarch Line, which sailed April 29. Finding it inconsistent for me to leave at that time, I came a week later on the Persian Monarch of the same line. This company has six steamers which run between New York and London, a boat leaving Dock No. 2, Erie Railroad, Pavonia Ferry, Jersey City, and also Mill Wall Docks, London, once every week, and sometimes twice.

Having never crossed the Atlantic before, I cannot speak of this line in comparison with others. But Bro. Gardner has sailed on many lines, having made trips from the Arctic to the Southern seas, and to nearly all parts of the world. His testimony is that he never found a boat where the captain and all the officers were more kind, or seemed to understand better how to adapt themselves to the passengers in order to make it pleasant for them, than those on the Lydian Monarch. The sick passengers were cared for with all the attention that it was possible to render under such circumstances. Bro. G's wife being sick most of the way, they had an excellent opportunity to test the matter. Our present impressions are that there is no better line upon which our friends can embark to or from England than this. The Grecian Monarch, a steamer of superior accommodation and great speed is now being fitted, and will soon be added to their present number of passenger boats. So far as we are able to judge, we can recommend this line to all our friends who desire pleasant associations and a safe passage across the ocean. The steamers on this line are all large, new, steel ships, with iron masts, and usually make good time. The ones on which we sailed were four-masted ships, and four hundred feet in length. A part of the steamers on the Monarch Line are now fitted to carry freight rather than passengers. The one on which I sailed was thus fitted, having nearly three hundred fat cattle and seven hundred sheep, besides other merchandise, therefore my accommodations were not so good as Bro. Gardner's. The officers, however, did all they could to make it pleasant. The captain was especially kind. No fault could be found with the attention paid to the passengers.

The Persian Monarch was delayed by towing in the steamer Hanover. This boat was from the south coast of Brazil, bound to Antwerp, having on board a few passengers and a valuable cargo. Losing its propeller 1,100 miles from Falmouth, England, the nearest point of land, the vessel was for fifty days tossed upon a restless sea. Some captains might have "passed by on the other side," like the Levite mentioned in the gospel. But Captain Dunscombe, like the Samaritan, after going out of his way seven miles, took her to a place of safety. This was done with much difficulty, on account of the roughness of the sea, as the tow-line parted, and the hitching arrangements gave way twice, somewhat damaging the ship.

I left the steamer at Falmouth, and took the cars at 7:15 A. M., reaching Ravenswood about 6 P. M., May 23. Here I met Bro. Gardner. Found all well, and received a cordial welcome from the friends of the mission.

S. N. HASKELL.