Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-07-23

Letter from Rev. Samuel McOune.
BooLAGH HOUSE,
FoNsTOWN, KILDARE, (
July 1st, 1880.
Editors of The indicator:
AS have many friends in Staunton and
elsewhere who are anxious to know some
thing about nay trip across the Atlantic !,
perhaps you would do me the favor to
publish in the columns of the VINDICATOR
short epistle from my pen. Should you
refuse this request am afraid it would
take nearly twelve months to give each
one that. asked me short history of the
voyage and my return to the Emerald Isle.
Knowing as do that your valuable paper
makes its way into many houses, have
no doubt that in this instance, it would be
better m. dunn Of communication than
the few private letters could write. At
the outset | would say that while my heart
was cheered and gladdened at the prospect
of visiting my native land. the home Of my
childhood and the friends with whom l
played in bygone years, still my spirits
were saddened as [ left Stony Run and
Mcdowell, the scene of my laborS and the
people of my charge whom love so well,
and whose kindly deeds are still fresh in
my memory. This feeling of sadness was
intensified as l left Stanton. the town
which love best of all others in America,
because when came to it at first strang
er, felt the pressure OF many warm hands
that were stretched out to bid me welcome.
cannot soon forget the kindly greetings
Of all the StauntOn people met, and am
under a peculiar debt OF obligation to the
following families for their marked kind
ness to me while [ was among you, name
ly: Rev. VIM. e. Baker and family, Miss
Baldwin and Miss McClung, Mr.. Wayt
and family, MrS. Kayser and Mr.. and Mrs.
BaylY.
But must hasten to give you some par
ticulars about my trip. On Monday, une
14th, we left Staunton and as the train
your beloved city as it gradually disappear
ed from our view. Travelling day and
night we reached New York Tuesday
morning and pat up at the New York Ho-
tel. Here we met for the first time since
our departure from Stanton the two
young ladies whose names, presume. are
familiar to most of the Stanton people,
Miss Barry and Miss Albert, the latter
graduate of Miss BALDWIN IS Seminary. We
enjoyed their company very much indeed :,
and sorrow filed our hearts as Mrs. Nc
CuuC tjuu L lOOh 1OdfO VI tllClu ttb SGuCCuo-
town.
On Wednesday morning, June 10th. at
IL O'Clock, we got on board the ocythia,
one of the best Cunarders and a favorite
ship on that li,.e [ might state here that
this line of steamers has been established
for forty years, and during all that time
it has never lost The life of passenger,
nor even a postal card. Other ships may
be gotten up in more magnificent style
and make speedler trips, but when the
question of safety is discussed the Cunard
line carries off the palm. At a quarter
past II O'Clock as we pushed out from the
shore the sky was clear and everything
looked bright and propitious. The Scythia
is 42O feet long, 40 feet wide in the middle
and "a feet deep under water. On this
trip she carried 268 cabin passengers and
over one hundred steerage. II seemed as
if we had on board people that were mar
ried and single, rich and poor, homely and
beautiful There we're different nation
alities represented on the Scythia, but
whatever the peculiarities of each, all were
united in such degree as to prove in some
measure the truth of scripture ''that God
has made of one blood all the nations on
the EARTH" We had the pleasure of be-
coming acquainted with the Rev. John
Hall, of New York, all IriShman and a
minister whose name is we'll known to the
people of Staunton, and might say TO the
people of America. He crossed in the
same ship as we did. In the present day
when there is such a demand for a flowery
and sensational style of preaching, l know
of no man better fitted to stand up fear
lessly and faithfully and preach the simple
gospel in all its purity and power than the
Rev. John Hall, and his crowded church
concluslvely proves that it does not al
ways need sensationalism to fill church
with attentive hearers. But must not
dwell on one topic too long to the eXclu-
sion of others.
A concert was held on ship board for the
benefit of the Seamen's Orphanage, of
Liverpool, England. 1t is noble institu-
ton, where the orphans of seamen are
cared for and educated During the past
twelve months 1000 British seamen per
ished in the sea. If remember Alright the
Scythians of old were bold and courageous,
and the Scythians on board our ship were
no less faithful and generous when they
contributed to this excellent institution
about $3.50.
Several of our party were sea-sick all
the time, but as I am myself stranger to |
that somewhat peculiar and unpleasant |
companion, was able in my own weak |
way to assist those who were suffering |
Mrs. Mcclure was seasick all the way, but |
az Oiet AASAeeiiu AooO uP Iiibo Wow tAo SlCh- |
ness departed, her spirits revived and her |
cheek resumed its native hue.
Our passage was almost a winter one. |
There were several days AID nights that |
seamen might term squally, and those not |
accustomed to the sea might call stormy, |
but, thank God there were no fogs and |
no lcebergS in our way. Our ship went |
out of her regular specified course at least |
100 miles to avoid the dreaded icebergs. |
One lady on board was very much excited |
about the pitching of the vessel. Her face
and manner indicated considerable dis
tress as she asked the captain ibid he ever
remember such a storm at sea as this?''
At the time | was led to think of another |
lady, who under somewhat similar circum
stances was anxious to fad out from the
captain of the ship on which she sailed
there was any danger of the ship
going down. To which the captain replied
hat she might look around and SEQ how
the sailors we're. "Oh! yes"
she said, ''but the sailors are used to get
ing drowned"
We reached Queenstown on Saturday
June 26th, a day later than the
lime the vessel was due. The morning was
beautiful and Queenstown harbor appear
ID to great advantage. Some Of the pas
engers. as we neared the land, remarked
hat the green fields did not bespeak much
anime, and think myself from all l Can
ind out that while there was considerable
distress In many parts of the south and
vest OF Ireland, still the suffering was by
10 means so general or so severe as was
epresented in many American papers,
We EXPECT before our retnrn RI VIRGINIA |