The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-25
The Trip Over on the Lucania Re-
plete with Incidents-Some of Those
Who Contributed to the Gayety of
the Voyage Picturesque First View
of the Emerald lsle-Other Features
of a Pleasant itinerary.

SWANSEA, :. W., Aug.

world over for being the home of the
Tammany tiger, will bless old Nep for
having preserved him from being a
source of nutriment for that species of
the iinny tribe that produces so much
bone, it is, indeed, a trip that is attend
ed with considerable pleasure and eX-
element.
The eXcitable throng which gathered
at the pier to bid friends adieu, the
muscular porters who are gathering
trunks and boxes Of all descriptions
and designs, the huge dimensions of
the vessel that is to be your home for
the next six or seven days, and the
busy seamen who are running to and
fro putting the last touches on her be-
fore she starts out on voyage that is
as uncertain as is the voyage of life,
all go to produce a feeling that words
are unable TO describe.
ON BOARD THE LUCANIA.
1t was my good fortune to be one of
the eighteen hundred souls that were
aboard the steamer Lucania when she |
sailed from Pier 40, North river, on
the ,twenty-eight day of last month.
The day was perfect Old Sol never
shone brighter. Amidst the footing of |
whistles and the thousand cries of |
'bon voyage!" we steamed down the |
bay and started on Il journey that for
six days at least, perhaps forever-who |
ON board could tell?-would cut us
off from all communication with the |
busy world.
Jollity and mirth, however, reigned |
supreme. Perhaps there were y few
who cast one longing, lingering look
behind as they thought Of the dangers
of the mighty deep and heaved sigh |
when there passed before them faces of |
dear ones that had been left behind. |
But this quickly fled and each one
seemed on one common purpose bent,
that being to getas much pleasure and
enjoyment out of the trip as possible.
Among the prominent people on
board probably the best known were
H. c. Frick, of the Carnegie Steel COM
pany eX-Mayor Grace and family, of
New York; Edward Stokes and Percy
A. Pyne, of the same city. The first
two days are spent in forming ac-
quaintances and after that everybody
knows everyone else and each one adds
his mite toward lessening what other
wise might be a mOnotonous voyage.
We We're fortunate in having several
good vocalists and elocutiOnists with
us, who aided us very materially in
helping pass the time.
TOM JONES A FAvORITE.
From our city we had II. H. Jones,
the genial treasurer of the poor board,
who at once became a favorite, and
many an hour sped rapidly by while
Tom was explaining the geological
conditions of the coal strata in the
keystone state. Rev. w. S. Jones,
pastor of the First Welsh Baptist
church, was also passenger, and his
knowledge of literature and literary
characters made him a very interesting
companion. We also had real live
prince with us. He was the son of
King Arssuah, of the Vel people, in
Africa, and had been to America to be
educated. He spoke English very flu
emily and was the center of attraction
during the entire trip.
1t is hardly possible for one who had
not crossed the Atlantic to conceive of
the proportions of these mighty YES
sells. They are in reality floating ho-
tells. The Lucania is 620 feet long.
She has registered tonnage of 10000
pounds, carries provisions enough to
feed $500 people for three weeks, con-
sumes 420 tons of coal a day, and on
this last trip when we left New York
she had 1000 cases of beer and ale, to
say nothing of the spirits and wines,
and on the following Thursday night,
before we reached Queenstown, the bar
looked as though the Rev. Mr.. Dony
was trying to enforce his Sunday OBJ
servance law on the deep, for not
drink was in sight. Everything was
empty.
The weather was more than could
be expected, not an hours rain from
the time we started until we landed
and the sea, with the exception of one
night, was as calm as mill pond.
THE EMERALD ISLE.
On Friday morning we sighted the
beautiful coast of Ireland and it was,
indeed, q sight never to be forgotten.
The green hills in the distance and the
pretty little farms that lay inter-
mingled among them, but which could
be seen very plainly by the aid of a
marine glass, made one think that it
was one of the fairest spots on earth,
especially If you had not seen land for
nearly week By noon we were at
Queenstown, at which place we land
ed four hundred of our passengers and
fifteen hundred bags of mail Before
midnight we were in the Mersey and
within sight of Liverpool, but did not
succeed in getting landed until Satur-
day morning.
The trip from the start to the finish
was one ofpleasure and enjoyment and
not one on board could be heard to eX-
press dissatisfaction with the officers
or crew. 1t would not surprise me in
the least to hear any moment of the
good vessel having gone TO the ottom
for when | left her she was showered
with thanks, praise, and congratula-
tons for having landed us safely, the
combined weight of which must GER
tainly exceeded her registered tonnage.
After having our baggage inspected we
parted going in all directions-some to
China, others to India, Africa, Rome,
Paris and London, the coal baron and
myself coming down into little Wales
to rest up among the hills and wales
before starting for the continent.
On Sunday next we are to have the
pleasure of hearing the Revs. Fred and
John Evans of America. They are to
be assisted by their two brothers, all of
whom will preach in this city.
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