William James Roe

“ Another hours, and our ship before a fair wind, and under a cloudy sky, was on her way over the broad ocean. The pilot leaves us, the captain takes command, the shores recede from view, sky and ocean alone surround us; and I, in common with most of my fellow passengers, ... our berths under very peculiar circumstances. The winds and waves have raised within us a commotion similar to the rolling without: that is to say, we are getting sea sick. ”

“ I have been lying in my berth in a state of quiescence, since Wednesday eve, and here it is Friday night-quiescence did I say?─far from it-no-I am not ashamed to acknowledge that I am subject to like frailties with my fellow mortals, I was sea sick. It is impossible to describe the feeling of sea sickness, so I will not attempt it. Every one knows that the malady is a subject of ridicule, and not of commiseration. ”

“ Wednesday, 22d ─Blew quite hard all night.─About 7 1⁄2 the steward woke me up with the announcement of a steamer in sight, a short distance ahead. I was on deck as quickly as possible; but the fog lay on the ocean, had not yet lifted, and the steamer was invisible; but at length we saw her slowly moving through the waves, against the westerly wind, some 1000 ft. on our left. Our ensign was dipped, and the compliment returned by the stranger as we came opposite. The wind was very fresh at the time; the sea was rough; and the snow and sleet falling directly in our faces ”