Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-11-23
LETTER FROM IRELAND.
Coax. Oct. nth. 1874.

down the harbor. with clear sky aud
smooth water. At $50. breakfast was
announced, and VIC went down to our
first meal on board. and to have our first
good sight Of each other. While at
breakfast. We passed Minot's Light. and
in couple Of hours We were out of sight
of land. The operation of '.heaving the
log" was the first thing that attracted
our attention. and most of rs saw it for
the FIRST time, If the subsequent opera
tons were not correctly taken. it was
not for want of plenty Of supervision.
All the way down the harbor. and Tor
two days afterward, myriads of little
birds accompanied Us, perchlng on the
rigging, and all about the vessel, and so
tame did they become, that they would
almost allow themselves to be caught.
Our company comprised, besides Others,
two ministers. Greek student, engaged
In a revision of the Bible. and three
missionaries or teachers. bound for South
ern Africa so if We were not well in
structed. both religiously and mentally,
it was not the fault of the passengers.
The whole day Tuesday was delightful
indeed, with no wind, hardly cloud.
and less motion of the sea than Is ordln-
arily felt in our own harbor. The eve
ming was without a cloud. and afforded
hne opportunity for studying the stars.
The next day. Wednesday, was as fine
as its predecessor. as was also Thursday,
although during the forenoon of the for
mer quite pitching motion was felt,
which induced some to go below, but the
next morning. all was calm again. Thurs
day was specially distinguished by a Wis
it to the engine-room in the hold Of the
ship. The engine was very simple,
double cylinder one, acting directly on
the nam shaft, fitted also with eondens-
ing cylinders. all very simple and easy
to understand.
On Friday We experienced the first
symptoms of a rolling motion. which mo-
ton increased until Monday morning,
when it was necessary to tie the chairs
to the deck. and to put guards and ledg-
es upon the tables and then it was nee
essary to hold any liquid to prevent its
spiiling. Locomotion was difficult. and
those who did try it apparently gave ev-
idence Of "a drop too much, y if an IN
steady gait and inclination to tumble
are any criterion. This roll finally be-
came monotonous. and many proclaimed
themselves sick. 1t was amusing to
watch the expression ofcourage depicted
on Mr. BIS face as he stood upon the
deck. manfully struggling against show
ing any signs of sickness, and then to
notice how suddenly he remembered that
he had something in his state-room which
needed looking after. 1t took him two
days to look after it, and when he made
his appearance, he '.ha-ha-had a little
touch Of dyspepsia c''
Upon Tuesday the roll gave way to
its former pitch, which lasted until our
landing at Queenstown. The trip was
as delightful a one as is likely to be had
in a whole season, and l was well pleas
ed with my glimpse of a life on the
ocean wave
Tuesday was further distinguished by
the steamer running into q school of POT.
poises, giving Us as fine a view of them
as could be wished. The fish kept along.
side Of US for fully an hour, while hund.
reds of them could be seen at once, some
Of them at miles distance from the
ship. The water was rather rough, and
many extraordinary leaps we're made
The fish seemed to be enjoying them
selves hugely, and really looked as jolly
as fish could be expected to look il
fact, as happy as clam
On Friday morning a. ) o'clock, such
t of the passengers as were intending t
land at Queenstown. were put into "a ten
der belonging to the Cunard company
in Queenstown harbor, some four or fv,
5 miles from land |; and while the Siberi;
: was steaming her way to Liverpool, ",
were on our way to Queenstown.
t Queenstown, formerly called the Gov
, Of Cork, is situated on the south side 0
| Great Island, and received its nam
| from visit of Her Majesty some TWEEN
t ty-odd years ago. The town is built up
: on the slope of a hill facing the harbor
. and presents really beautiful view. l
> is much frequented by invalids, on ac
f count of the mildness of the climate
!. Among the islands surrounding Grea
: Island, are Spike Island. a convict dc
e pot; Rock Island. which contains a GOV
:, ernment magazine, holding usually abou
q 10000 barrels of powder; and Hawl
bovine Island, which contains a gov
d eminent storehouse, armory, etc.
The harbor of Cork is one of the mos
commodious in the whole of Great Brit
), ain, and is large enough to afford she
7 ter to the whole British navy. Admire
it Drake sailed into it when pursued b
the Spanish feet, and the Spaniards az
Re tually spent days in searching for hin
p and finally attributed bis Disappearance