A great hurricane was sweeping the Gulf. A wireless message had been received that the storm was terrible, and warning us to prepare for it before leaving the port. The blackness was awful on the waters as we went out. As we moved slowly out of the inner harbor, some battleships were having target practice at sea. Two submarines partly submerged, were slowly moving along to keep ships from coming too close to where the sailors were shooting.
The Lord said to me, “Just as those submarines are placed here to protect the ships from the shooting, so I will place My angels around this ship and the storm shall not molest you.”
“Only believe and rest in Me.”
The passengers were frightened, and the captain gave orders to have the storm doors and windows put in, and the ship made ready to meet the terrible hurricane. But on we sailed, and the storm moved on in front of us, all the way to New Orleans. Only once did we get into it a little for a few minutes. The rain came down in floods, the wind blew with great force, thick darkness settled down over the ship, and we were tossed by the great waves that arose. Many became sea-sick and ran to their staterooms for life-preservers. The captain gave orders to have the life boats in readiness.
As we passed into our staterooms, not to get the little cork-and-canvas life preservers that were lying there, but to get in touch with the One Great Life-Preserver, who said He would give His angels charge over us, there came into our hearts a sweet rest and peace. After prayer we arose and went on deck. As I passed through the door I met the captain, who said, “I have been looking for you and your husband, that you might pray for our ship to be saved, as there is no other hope.” He himself lifted up his hand and asked God to drive back the storm. Just then the blackness swept off the decks, the ship straightened up, and the sun smiled down upon us. Surely God giveth His angels charge over us, that we should not dash our feet against a stone.
“Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest Rock of Ages, I’m hiding in Thee.”
From that time on we were sailing just behind the big black hurricane. A ship that had been following us was caught in the storm, and for three days and nights they were lost and had no hope of being saved. A young man from this ship rode on the train with us from New Orleans to St. Louis. He told us of the terrible things they suffered. How they all had life-preservers on many times, and were ready to get into the life-boats, as they thought the ship would go down.
On our ship every passenger, officer and member of the crew took tracts and Testaments and read them. The captain told us he was glad to have someone on the ship who knew how to pray. On the previous trip he brought some women from Colon who were dope fiends. The whole boat was in a terrible uproar all the way, and he feared God would let them all go down for such wickedness. He himself knew something of the power of God. He took a Bible and tracts and asked for some of our books for the ship’s library. Shall we not give these men some good books to read at sea?
The gambler, whom I heard say we were always talking about the Lord, came to me and said, “I want to get some papers and a Bible. I have always been a wicked man, but since I have been on this boat I have made up my mind to give my heart to God and live different.” He said he had a Christian mother who taught him to kneel at her knee and say his evening prayer, and he wanted to meet her in Heaven, for he knew she was there.