' '  The  glorious  Fourth  at  sea !  The  presence  on  board  of
a  Father  Kessler  of  Detroit,  a  splendid  type  of  a  German


The  Traveler  159

American  priest,  reminds  us  forcibly  of  a  memorable  Fourth
of  July  at  sea  when  our  own  Father  Kessler,  of  St.  Joseph's,
New  York,  knelt  with  the  crucifix  in  his  uplifted  hands
and  fervently  besought  God's  mercy  for  the  unfortunate
souls  on  board  La  Bourgogne  as  that  ill-fated  French  liner
gradually  disappeared  beneath  the  waves,  and  a  terrified
ship's  company  sank  into  eternity.  The  only  event  to
mark  the  day  were  some  athletic  games,  refereed  by  a
former  pugilist,  who  seemed  to  be  the  principal  attraction.
