Maria Mitchell: Life, Letters, and Journals by Maria Mitchell
page 65 of 291 (22%)
page 65 of 291 (22%)
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opinion that this great boat will not get off at all, but will lie here
until she petrifies.... "March 24. We left the 'Magnolia' after four days and four hours upon the sand-bar near Turkey island, upon seeing the 'Woodruff' approach. We left in a little rowboat, and it seemed at first as if we could not overtake the steamer; but the captain saw us and slackened his speed. "Miss S. and I clutched hands in a little terror as our small boat seemed likely to run under the great steamer, but our oarsmen knew their duty and we were safely put on board of the 'Woodruff.' "March 25. We stopped at Cairo at eight o'clock this morning. Mr. S. went on shore and brought newspapers on board. The Cairo paper I do not think of high order. I saw no mention in it of the detention of the 'Magnolia'! "March 26. Yesterday we count as a day of events. It began to look sunny on the banks, especially on the Kentucky side, and Miss S. and I saw cherry-blossoms. We remembered the eclipse, and Mr. S. having brought with him a piece of broken glass from one of the windows of the 'Magnolia,' I smoked it over a piece of candle which I had brought from Room No. 22 of the Planter's House at St. Louis, and we prepared to see the eclipse. "I expected to see the moon on at five o'clock and twenty minutes, but as I had no time I could not tell when to look for it. "It was not on at that time by my watch, but in ten minutes after was so far on that I think my time cannot be much wrong. |
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