The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-05-02
THE LAST OCEAN LINER.
The Labrador Takes Out the Port
land Singers to Europe.


An Immense Crowd Sees Them Off-A
Party Accompanies Them Down the
Harbor on the Forest Queen.
A beautiful spring afternoon, the
south winds sharp enough to bring the
roses to the cheeks of the ladies who
filled the saloons and decks of the Lab
rador of the Dominion line, was the
condition of thiEgs yesterday afternoon
when Portland's favorite singers, Misses
Florence Knight, Katherine Kicker,
and Harry Merrill sailed on the crack
steamer of the line for Liverpool. Cap
tain McAuley had expected to sail at 2
o. clock, and conseq uently the friends
of the singers began to gather at the
ship by half-past one. But the steamer
was detained until 4 O'Clock in order
that she might take every advantage of
the tide, and by 8 o'clock the Grand
Trunk wharf, at which the vessel was
lying, and the ship itself, were crowded
with people. The stateroom assigned
tossMisses Knight and Kicker was loaded
with beautiful floral gifts. There were
bouquets and baskets of roses and pinks,
hyacinths, mignonette, violets and 9TH
er favorite flowers from the Williston
church, music committee, the Annex
of Congress square church, and.personal
friends and acquaintance, who wished
to send the girls off in good shape.
The ladies with MIR. and Mrs. Harry
Merrill, at first received their friends in
the gangway just off the ladies' recep-
tion room, and then, as the crowd be-
came so great, adjourned to the upper
deck forward, where there was more
room. Rev. DR.. Blanchard, pastor of
Congress square church, was present
and SO was Rev. Mr.. Pratt, of Williston.
The congregations of the two churches
turned out in full force and there were
large delegations from State street
church, and from Others OF the church
parishes. ne Haydn Association, Ros-
SIM Club, the Old Singers Club, and
other musical organizations were wen
represented. There must have been at
least thousand people who gathered to
say goodbye in the two hours prior to
the ships sailing.
At 8 p. M, the bell struck and the
hoarse cry of the officer of the deck was
heard shouting all ashore" At that
moment the steamer Forest Queen, Cap
tain Fisher, came up on the port quarter
of the Labrador, and large party went
ON board.
Among those who were on the Forest
Queen were: Mr.. and Mrs. z. P. Kicker of
Poland Springs, Misses Nettie and Sadie
Kicker, of Poland Springs, Rev. DR..
Blanchard, Alonzo Knight and wife,
Miss Pennell, R. H. Knight and wife,
Miss Alice Philbrook, CD. harrington,
VIII. Grenhalgh, Mr.. and Mrs. Alfred
Trott, CIV. Allen, Lieutenant C.N. Rob-
erts, Albert B. Hall, J. H. Webster and
daughter, John Torrance, Jr., INK H.
Pierce, Fitz H Jordan. H. W. barnard,
Miss Marion Dow, Fred N Palmer, Har-
ry Josselyn, j. j.. Gilbert. Harry A.
Shurtlef and wife, Fla. Neal, Charles
Baker, Miss Plummer, George S. Smith,
Mrs. Grin Fogg and daughter, Mrs. Bar
ker, Miss Farnsworth.
At p. M, Captain McAuley, in full
uniform, took the bridge, accompanied
by Pilot Oliver. The gang plank was
pulled ashore. The passengers, of whom
from Montreal, Gas the Labrador on this
trip goes direct instead of touching at
Halliday, gathered on the upper deck |
forward. ALI the other offers were at |
their stations resplendent in gold lace. |
The idlers hung over the rails gazing |
with curious eyes at the crowd on shore,
or stretched themselves at length on the |
bales of hay. The patient cattle chewed |
their cud or made their presence known
by occasional lowing. The bell in the en-
CINE room rang, and the huge propeller !
began to turn. "Cast off that stern |
line," rang out the order. faye, aye,
sir,n was the response. The huge rope
dropped into the water with a splash. A |
beam of sunshine shot out from under /
dark wind cloud and lighted up the |
polished brass work of the vessel with |
dazzling effect, and hundreds of hand
kerchiefs were waved, resem bling bill
lows of white sea foam, and the voyage |
Down came the blue peter
up went the Stars and Stripes to the
bang bang! went the
rockets, and the last steamer of the sea-
son was off, escorted by the Forest |
Queen.
When off Bangs's Island point, the
steamer slowed down. Mr.. Torrance and |
the pilot came aboard the Forest Queen,
cheers were given, handkerchiefs again
and the noble ship in few mo-
ments had entered on the vast Atlantic.
The Labrador took out 43 first cabin,
81 second ca bin and six steerage passen-
gers, full cargo and 400 head of cattle.
SUPERIOR COURT.