"I remember clearly lying in my berth early that Saturday morning (Nov.
26th, 1892, on the steamer Spree when she was one thousand miles out
from Southampton on her way to New York), congratulating myself that I
had gotten passage in so swift a ship, when my thoughts were stopped by
a great crash that shook the vessel from stem to stern.
"My son, William Revell Moody, jumped from his berth and rushed on deck.
He was back again in an instant, crying that the shaft was broken and
the ship sinking. Then ensued a scene the like of which I hope never to
witness again. There was no panic, but the passengers, who had scrambled
on deck at the first warning, looked at each other in an appealing way
that was, if anything, more terrible than demonstrative fear. The
captain told us there was no danger, and some of the second cabin
passengers returned to their berths only to tumble back pellmell a
moment later. The rising water had driven them out. Some of them lost
all their clothes and valuables.
"At this point the officers buckled on their revolvers, but there was no
need to use them. The people, though terribly frightened, did not seem
to realize what had happened. The women didn't scream, but stood around
trembling and with blanched faces. Nobody said a word, but each waited
for his neighbor to speak. We felt that we might be looking on our
graves.
"The captain told us at noon that he thought he had the water under
control and was in hopes of drifting in the way of some passing vessel.
The ship's bow was now high in the air, while the stern seemed to settle
more and more. There was no storm, but the sea, was very rough, and the
ship rolled from side to side with fearful lurches. I think that if she
had pitched at all the overstrained, bulkheads would have burst and we
should have gone to the bottom. The captain cheered us by telling us
that he thought we should run in with a ship by 3 o'clock that Saturday
afternoon, but the night drew on and no sail appeared to lighten our
gloom.
"We knew the ship was sinking when we came on deck, but there was no
panic. The big engines of the ship were all working at the pumps, but
the water was steadily gaining in spite of them. With each roll of the
ship it could be heard like the roar of the surf. All the day was passed
in anxiously watching for a sail. We could not talk of religion, for the
first word brought forth a hundred exclamations, 'Are we sinking?' Then
in that first night one woman went insane. It seemed an age until the
Sabbath morning came, When the vigil on the deck was resumed.
"I think that was the darkest night in all our lives. None of us thought
to live to see the light of another day. Nobody slept. We were all
huddled in the saloon of the first cabin--Americans and Germans, Jews,
Protestants, Catholics and skeptics--although at that time I doubt if
there were many skeptics among us. For forty-eight hours we were in this
mortal fear.
"Sabbath morning dawned upon as wretched a ship's company as ever sailed
the sea. There was at that time no talk of religious services. I think
that if this had been suggested then there would have been a panic. To
talk of religion to those poor people would have been to suggest the
most terrible things to them. Everybody was waiting for his neighbor to
say: 'Are we, then, doomed to die?'
"But as night approached I gathered those 700 quaking souls together and
we held a prayer meeting. I think everybody prayed. There were no
skeptics present. I have been under fire in the war, I have stood by
deathbeds during the cholera epidemic in Chicago, but I never was so
sorely tried. I could with difficulty command my voice as I read the
ninety-first Psalm. I read without comment, and then I prayed that God
would still the anger of the deep and bring us safely to our desired
heaven. The people were weeping all around me. I also read from the
107th Psalm.
"We tried to sing. I gave out the first verse of 'Jesus, Lover of My
Soul,' and General Howard started the tune. He sang the hymn through in
a strong voice, but very few joined him. Instead, the melody was
punctuated by broken sobs and exclamation of grief. That night I went to
bed and slept, I felt that everything would be all right.
"Never was a more earnest meeting held than this. All prayed together,
and I did not hear much talk of skepticism, I can tell you. At 2:30
o'clock in the morning a ship's light was sighted, and in a few hours we
were comparatively safe, although our danger was not over. The strain on
our minds was almost as great, and minds gave way under it. Two women
became violently insane and it was necessary to confine them. A young
man from Vienna threw himself overboard and was drowned.
"When we were finally safe in port we had a thanksgiving service, and
then such singing as there was--such praises that went up.
"We prayed that the ship be brought to a haven, and relief came on the
night after our prayer meeting. I am a firm believer in prayer. I always
have been. I believe and I know that God saved the Spree in response to
our prayers."
PUBLISHED BY
RHODES & McCLURE PUBLISHING CO.,
CHICAGO.
All handsomely bound in the best English and American cloths, with full
Silver embossed side and back stamp; uniform, in style and binding.
Together making a handsome library, or, separately, making handsome
center-table volumes. PRICE, $1.00 EACH. SENT POST-PAID.
[Illustration: Portrait of Lincoln.]
ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S STORIES AND SPEECHES; in one volume, complete New
(1897) edition, handsomely illustrated; containing the many witty,
pointed and unequaled stories as told by Mr. Lincoln, including Early
life stories, Professional life stories, White House and War stories;
also presenting the full text of the popular Speeches of Mr. Lincoln on
the great questions of the age, including his "First Political Speech,"
"Rail-Splitting Speech," "Great Debate with Douglas," and his Wonderful
Speech at Gettysburg, etc., etc.; and including his two great
Inaugurals, with many grand illustrations. An instructive and valuable
book; 477 pages.
[Illustration: Portrait of Moody.]
MOODY'S ANECDOTES; 210 pages exclusive of engravings. Containing several
hundred interesting stories, told by the great evangelist, D. L. Moody,
in his wonderful work in Europe and America. Hundreds of thousands of
copies have been sold. Illustrated with excellent engravings of Messrs.
Moody, Sankey, Whittle and Bliss, and thirty-two full-page engravings
from Gustave Dore, making and artistic and handsome volume. "A book of
anecdotes which have thrilled hundreds of thousands,"--Pittsburg Banner.
MOODY'S GOSPEL SERMONS. As delivered by the great Evangelist, Dwight
Lyman Moody, in his revival work in Great Britain and America, Together
with a biography of Mr. Moody and his co-laborer, Ira David Sanke.
Including, also, a short history of the Great Revival. Each sermon is
illustrated with a handsome, full page engraving from Gustave Dore. The
book also contains an engraving of D. L. Moody, Ira D. Sankey, Mr. Moody
preaching in the Royal Opera House, Haymarket, London, Chicago
Tabernacle (erected for Mr. Moody's Services) and "I Am the Way." A
handsome and attractive volume of 443 pages.
MOODY'S LATEST SERMONS. As delivered by the great Evangelist, Dwight
Lyman Moody. Handsomely illustrated with twenty-four full-page
engravings from Gustave Dore. 335 pages.
MOODY'S CHILD STORIES. As related by Dwight Lyman Moody in his revival
work. Handsomely illustrated with sixteen full-page engravings from
Gustave Dore and 106 illustrations from J. Stuart Littlejohn. A book
adapted to children, but interesting to adults. A handsome volume.
Should be in every family 237 pages.