Framingham State University - Dial Yearbook (Framingham, MA)

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20 Soon the waves began to wash over the upper decks, and the water poured in through the ports until it became necessary to close all ports and doors and the air was stifling. As it came on towards night the waves and wind were in a perfect riot, ports were dashed in as if they were match wood, heavy glass skylights as if paper. As I lay upon my berth listening to it all, I was startled by a heavy crash directly underneath my stateroom and a ripping noise outside. The ship trembled like a leaf but soon we could feel her gradually rising on the waves again. The crash and tremble had been caused by the shipping of a wave which had smashed in the stateroom below me, and ripped a part of the upper deck up, just outside of my room. The whole saloon was now afloat with this inrush of water, and clothes and suit cases and steamer trunks began to wander around at their own sweet will, their owners little caring whither they went, so busy were they trying to keep in their berths. Some of them managed to roll right over their bunk boards out into the water, and if you have once rolled out of a top berth I think you will agree with me, that itls a performance not to be indulged in too often. But after you have gone to sea and have become accustomed to its ways you learn how to stay in your berth and balance yourself on the end of nothing and still hang on. Between nine and twelve o,clock the storm was at its worst, a real live hurricane was upon us, the engines unable to battle against such a sea were stopped. Now was the anxious time for captain and officers, and the helmsman at the wheel, how much rested upon him! One single false turn meant the bringing down of thousands of tons of water upon the ship, from out of which she would never rise again. Trembling like a frightened steed she would ride on the top of a wave, then drop as the sea dropped. Imagine yourself tossed as a ball into the air and then coming down again. The jerk with which she landed was tremendous and we were black and blue from pounding on our berths. The force of the hurricane lasted for about three hours but for three days the storm raged and for three days no sky was seen, nothing but mountains of water. Un the fourth day the sun shone forth and the waves went down and we were allowed to breath the fresh air once more. Such a curious sight as we presented! Everyones, clothes had been soaked, some were not fit to put on, but all helped his brother in the common cause and we made no unkind remarks when we saw the fat man's suit walking off with the slim youth. As for myself, I appeared in a dress that had once been white,

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19 and digging their beaks into one's hand will tear the flesh off in strips. The passengers were greatly pleased with the birds, but I quickly interposed and gave them a very bad reputation. What was my amazement when the one near us allowed the first officer to take it in his hand and to all appearances was as meek and as gentle as a lamb! Indeed I think some thought I had slandered the bird most unjustly, and all the sympathy was with ihe poor pretty bird which I still looked upon with distrust and ept my distance. Meanwhile the captain, upon whose face for the past hour had been a look of grave concern, passed by, and the look, not readable to all, deepened when he saw the birds, the other one of which had also made a landing. And oh cruel and heartless man! he saw not the beauty in the pretty birds, but scowled in a dreadful manner. He had but to look at the birds and know, what all of us did not know, that those birds are never, except in great stress of weather, found more than fifty miles off the coast. He reasoned that bad weather and heavy winds must have driven these birds from their course, and they stupified and frightened, were suffering themselves to be handled without the slightest resistance. His glass and the increasing volume of the waves were fast prov- ing the correctness of his judgment. Soon the waves began to break in over the lower deck, and in one of the sudden lurches an exceedingly fat man fell out of his steamer chair and rolled down over the deck and only his excessive bulk saved him from rolling out through the rails. After that protesting was of no avail and we were ordered in, and, as the captain,s orders are law, in we had to go. The waves at this time, as they rose like huge mountains and shook their shaggy heads at us threateningly, were the most beautiful things I have ever seen. When we went in I found Mr. Blank huddled disconsolately on a settee in a corner of the social hall. As he had always been one to protest that he was not seasick, no, not he, and remember- ing his desire to get a photo of a wave, I thought it no more than kind to tell him of the fine specimens outside and suggest that he go to the door and take advantage of this opportunity which he robabl would never have again. Some men are the most Iingrateiiul, unappreciating, creatures that ever lived, for all the answer I received was a low grumble from which I barely made out -his camera wasfnft working. Things began to grow worse until at last we could neither sit up nor stand up, and as it was not very pleasant holding on to the floor every one sought his room and lay upon his berth.

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21 but now, alas, was fancifully streaked with red! from the dripping curtains, but red stripes seemed to be the prevailing fashion with the ladies on. deck, so I felt no ways out of place. Then began the work of drying, every available place was hung with garments. And the saloon! Where was its glitter and grandeur of a few days ago? Gone! VVindows broken, canvas over the' holes, Brussels carpets all torn from the floor, and really all that could be recognized were the staunch oak tables and chairs. The captain, when he appeared from the pilot house, was greeted with cries of welcome and one of the company shouted Hello captain, I prayed on that fearful night, first for myself and, then, for you-3' We were now many miles off our course, for as you all know, hurricanes travel in circles, and it was necessary to run the ship off her course to avoid getting back into that fated circle again. So, when we arrived in Boston two days behind scheduled time, in a battered ship, although our clothes had lost some style, we were thankful to be able to walk ashore in any kind, and it was a happy band that packed their still damp belongings and placed their foot on Mother Earth once more. Let me say in conclusion that I have had my wish, I am satisfied, and if any of you wish for a hurricane just keep on wishing, you may some day have the good fortune to have it granted you. N. S. D. 93' 93' Lumbering O me the forest has always been a source of great delight. My first real acquaintance began when I spent a year on the edge of a dense pine woods. I was! a very little girl at that time but I shall never forget the beauty of that playground. Just picture a tract of land covered with massive pines under which is a thick carpet of brown pine needles. The air was full of piney perfume while the wind whistling through the treetops was truly music. However, in a hard storm the music became a mighty roar.