VALUE OF DISCIPLINE AT SEA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 392, 15 October 1880, Page 5

VALUE OF DISCIPLINE AT SEA.

Me. W. Fraser Bab tells an exciting little story in connection with a voyage by the Cunard steamer Atlas a few winters ago. The vessel had reached mtd-ocean, and one night, while the passengers were amusing themselves in the saloon by reading or playing cards, chpss or draughts, the weather being too rough to admit of their walking the deck, the boatswain came down and whispered the ominous words, " The ship is on fire, sir," in the captain's ear. The captain at once went on deck, and was followed by others to whom he had communicated the intelligence. There they saw a thick volume of dense smoke rising from the forward hatch. One of them returned to the saloon and told the horrible news. Anxiety was manifested as to how soon the fire would be extinguished ; but there was little excitement and no sign of panic, most of the players resuming their games and the readers returning to their books. Confidence was evidently felt that everything mortals could do to avert a calamity would be performed. In the steerage, on the contrary, there was ignorance without self-possession ; women shrieked, men ran about in aimless despair. The first class passengers, who wished to make themselves useful, and offered to aid the crew, were asked to help in carrying the terror stricken men and women and children from the steerage, where they were in the way, to the poop, where they would give less trouble. These passengers refused to be comforted or to be quiet ; their groans and lamentations alone disturbed the apparent harmony of the hour. ' vv The crew and officers were as cool and reticent as if nothing unusual had happened. The officer on duty walked the briage, giving his entire attention to navigating the ship ; the men on the lookout were at their posts, the engineers were in their places in the engine room ; the stewards were at their work, indeed, the business of the ship went on like clock work, while a fire was raging in the hold, and all on board were in jeopardy. At the end of half an honr the boatswain said the ladies might be informed that the danger was nearly over ; in truth, the fire had been thoroughly mastered ; and all the danger was at an end. It was ascertained that the fire had been caused by the ignition of some combustibles which had been shipped contrary to the company's regulations.

A conference of the English Mormons was held at the Goswell Hall, Islington, England, some time ago, at which the chairman remarked that, " To his sorrow he must add that their principles did not make any headway at all in Ireland." The Mormon leader* sorrow is our joy. Ireland has a creed, a faith. The names in her calendar are those of St. Peter, St. Paul, St. John, St. Patrick. For three centuries she has refused to change these for Henry VIII. Martin Luther and Queen Bess. There is no danger that she will now begin to blaspheme God and His saints by revering Joe Smith or Brigham Young. There are no Irish Mormons, and we thank Getf for it. — Catholic Herald. Joseph Daws, now an inmate of the County Poorhouse at Milwaukee, Wis., and decrepit and paralyzed, owned five banki before the war and was worth 6,000,000 dols. He was the founder of the Pennsylvania Savings Bank in Philadelphia, and also owned a bank in Detroit. At the beginning of the war he lost 2,000,000 dols. an a coal mine scheme in Logan County, Virginia, Other misfortunes followed until he lost everything, ' " ' " "