Concord's European Travelers Returning Home with Stories to Tell, Aug. 24, 1925

European Tourists Return to Concord. . . Their Boat Runs Into Terrific Squall at Sea and All Succumb to Sea-Sickness

After six weeks crowded with interesting experiences, part of the Concord tourists to Europe returned to the city Saturday night. Those returning were Miss Helen Marsh, Miss Margaret Hartsell, Miss Rebecca Dayvault and Miss Rose Harris.

While other members of the party stopped off in different places, Miss Dessie Dixon, who accompanied the Concord members as far as Salisbury, went from there to her home in Hendersonville. Mrs. Bessie McConnell and Miss Addie White are remaining for a few days in Philadelphia; Mrs. Bernard Fetzer, accompanied by Mr. Fetzer, who met the boat in New York, has gone to visit in Pittsburgh. Miss Ruth Crowell is spending several days in New York, and Mrs. Ada Gorman is remaining in Baltimore.

After the very calm trip to Europe, the party was caught in a short-lived by terrific storm on the way home and all had the experience of being sea-sick. The storm struck the boat, the Berengeria, about 3 o’clock Thursday morning and was of such unusual intensity that all the passengers were roused and rushed to the deck. The boat was careening at such a rate that it was difficult to even walk.

On the deck were hundreds of half-clad men and women who feared that the boat was sinking. As the motion of the boat continued, the people gradually became sicker and sicker. It was a rare sight, to the returned tourists say.

The squall lasted only five hours but the next morning at breakfast, only a few of the hardiest were able to look food in the face.

The tour of Europe was delightful throughout. Gay Paree was even gayer than had been expected and was decidedly shocking, it was said. Italy was beautiful, though very, very dirty. Holland and Belgium were all that was to be expected. All the children in Belgium wear black. England and Scotland proved intensely interesting.

All of the party which left under the chaperonage of Mr. Blanks have now returned with the exception of Mr. Blanks and Martin Cannon Jr., who are making a tour of Scandinavian countries and will sail this week for the United States.

From page 3 of The Concord Times, Monday, August 24, 1925

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