Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-08-15

! vessei, anu we are Oh our course again through
the interminable fog There is nothing thai
strikes greater feeling of dread through q
passenger than the shrill fog whistle sounding
ominously in his ears day aid night, and this
| is particularly SO after misfortune like ours
You can hardly conceive how many imaginary
vessels we ran down or how many imaginary
| icebergs we ran into during the remaining
days of the fog. Occasionally the dense fog
would clear away tor few hours and we
would have q view OF the boundlessA ocean,
with not living thing in sight except ours
selves, shut in by the hemisphere of the sky
which seemed to be above and around us like
the cover to some great bowl.
During the voyage the passengers amuse
themselves in various ways, with games, read
ing, music, conversation, and one day the
lawyers, Of whom we had an abundant supply
on board, gave US moot court, which was
scarcely less amusing than some of the trans
actions of the real ones. They also interest
themselves in watching the sky, the record Of
each days course, the officers as they take
the position of the ship at noon. the varied
working Of the vessel and the wonderful don.
Key engines as they raise aud lower the sails
and apparently do all the heavy work on the
steamer. Occasionally we see whales spout-
ing in the distance, and some with well de-
veloped Imagination see icebergs IN the far
away horizon. They also note the increasing
length ofthe days as we sail north. the an.
parent gaining of time as we 90 toward the
east, and the gradually increasing cold. i.
At length one morning our captain informs
US that in the afternoon we shall probably
see land. What thrill goes through us as
we think of seeing land once more and this
time the shore of that old world whose won
ders and beauties have for so long a time
filled our imaginations. How eagerly we all
watch in the direction where the land will
probably appear, each one hoping to be the
first to see the rugged shore and green hills of
Ireland. At length some one calls Gland in
Sight - and we all strain our eyes in the di-
rection indicated but we only see what seems
to be light cloud resting upon the water.
Much against the evidences Of our senses we
are persuaded that this is land. the green
shore we had pictured in imagination. and
with a sigh of disappointment we turn away.
The captain promises to have us called at
two o'clock the next morning Git is broad day
light here by two o'clock to see the coast off
the Giants Causeway. Coming on deck at
this early hour we find on all sides of us. in
some places less than one fourth of mile dis.
tant, the rugged and abrupt shore and out
lying islands Of the Irish coast, which have so
many centuries battled with the full force of
the Atlantic. II is a dangerous coast in
storm, but we steam along in quiet sea, and
wonder at the giant mass of black rock along
the shore and admire the green fields and
white cottages ofthe peasants st
The almost constant mist and fog which is
found on the Irish and Scotch coasts, give an
intensely green color to the grass and trees.
so that the hills az we look upon them for
the first time after our long voyage, seem the
greenest and most beautiful we have ever
known, and give US a most pleasing welcome
to the old world. We pass near the Cause,
way, close enough to see its remarkable
basaltic formation which extends along the
coast for several miles. The high rocks near
which we occasionally SAIL return a quick,
sharp echo to the shril whistle of the steamer,
and this echo is sometimes family repeated
from some more distant rock.
BY eight O'Clock of as lovely day as Scot
land ever saw, we are coming up the broad
Firth OF Clyde, with the beautiful green hills,
and back OF them the rugged mountains of
" Bonnie Scotland " visible in the distance.
For four hours we sailed through as fine a
stream, with as beautiful shores as the sun
shines upon, and we do not blame the Scotch
man for loving his native land, since we
strangers cannot help joining him in its add
miration. We reach the harbor Of Greenock
at the mouth of the Clyde, which is probably
the most important seaport of Scotland. 1t
is constantly filled with steamers OF all sizes,
more than hundred daily plying to all parts
Of the coast and, indeed, of the world.
Greenock is noted particularly for ship build
ing and sugar refining. There is, however,
little in the place TO interest the traveller, un-
less he wishes TO visit the Watt Institute,
established as memorial of james Watt, the
inventor of the steam engine, who was ma
tive of this place or il romantically inclined
he may wander into the cemetery Of the old
church where Burns Highland Mary" is
buried.
After sticking for nearly an hour upon the
bar at the mouth of the Clyde, we finally pass
up the river toward Glasgow which is %
miles from its mouth. On the left is the fine
resi- dence and grounds of Stevens the great
ship builder, and 1iI ectly in front of us up
the river the rock and castle of Dumbarton.
This nearly perpendicular rock rises from
the river several hundred feet, and was an
important fortress in early times in the wars
between the Britons and Scots. II has known
many masters in the varied vicissitudes OF
border warfare and is associated chiefly with
the daring exploits Of :he historic Wallace
whose massive two-handed sword is now
among the relics in its armory. II also
| figured conspcuously in the romantic history
! of the beautiful but unfortunate Queen Mary.
IL is even yet fortress OF considerable
strength and commands the passage of the
river. A little way above this is the ivy
covered end of very old wall said to have
been built by the Romans, and upon this a
| plain monument erected to the memory OF
| Henry Bell, who launched the first steamer
| on the Clyde. A few miles farther up on the
| opposite side Of the river we pass the resi-
dence of the poorest lord in Scotland. AS
we see his fine residence in the midst of a
beautiful park Of more than hundred acres,
we cannot help but feel sorry for the poor
fellow compelled to live in such place, and
our hand nvoluntarily reaches into our pock-
ct TO contribute penny or two to relieve his
distress. On either side Of the river are care
fully cultivated and very productive fields
which yield crops of hay that are wonder
to American eyes.
As we draw near Glasgow, yards for build
ing iron ships are on either side, and the con-
slant clang of hammers is desfening. More
than half the iron ships ahoat are Clyde built,
and although the times are hard in England
| ms well as in America, we saw nearly one
hundred on the stocks in various stages of
completion 1t is with the greatest difficulty
that the Clyde, which is only a small river,
can be kept open for steam navigation. A
large number of dredges are constantly en-
ployed in deepening the channel This work
which must be continually done over Is a
great tax upon the city Of Glasgow, but she
cheerfully assumes il for her supremacy de-
ponds on Keeping the Clyde open TO ocean
steamers. # I ta3 UE
By the help of two tugs, one at each end
of the steamer, we work our way slowly up
the narrow stream, and when within a few
miles of the city our vessel becomes firmly
fastened in the mud, the prov and stern on
opposite shores. We are transferred to a
tug, and our baggage 10 another and there we
leave our grand steamer which has carried
US so proudly over the ocean, ignominiously
stuck in the mud in the little Clyde, and with
many regret at parting with her under such
circumstances, and SO near her destination,
we steam up TO Glasgow.
After passing the Custom House, that bug
bear of travellers, we are at our hotel, gem
uine American house. The wife of the pro-
prietor is an American, and all the furniture,
which is new and of the Eastlake pattern,
came from America, the greater part being
made to order at Grand Rapids, Michigan,
The familiar look of things makes it seem all
most like being on American soil again.
And here in the midst Of these surround.
inys we will ciosa this laffar ), nrorn;o:.4. -