A Bad Start.

"After leaving Gravesend on February 14, 1876," writes Mr. Buckton, "we had very good weather and light winds, and everything promised a pleasant trip, but the night after sailing we had a collision with another ship and the Bebington had a big hole punched right in her bows. Everyone thought she was sinking, but after a while the officers got things quietened down, and the ship was headed for Portsmouth, which we reached late on the following night. the Bebington must have been pretty badly knocked about as it was ten days before she was ready for sea again. While the carpenters were busy the passengers were kept on board, but were allowed to go ashore in relays.