The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-08
DAMON AND PYTHIAS.
a RACE CONFLICT AND HOW II
ENDED.
Ireland VS.. Iceland A Record of
Lord Dufferin's Diplomacy Not
Found In Blue Books.
BY GERARD Brennan.

Copyright, 1897, by S. S. McClure)
The man who told me this story has
been governor general of Canada and
he is marquis. and very great per-
sonage in the worlds eye, besides being
a grandson of that wonderful wit,
Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
Many years ago. before the marquis
of Dufferin and Ava had attained to
much fame or distinction, he made a
voyage to the island of Iceland. The
episode of Terry McGhee and Erik
Eckholm, a memory of that trip, is set
down herewith, taken faithfully from
their patrons lips.
Terry McGhee was a truculent, red
headed, strong armed youngster-the
son of a decent widow woman on Lord
Dufferin's irish estate.
When Iceland was reached, Terry ac-
companied his patron into the interior,
and formed one of the party which
Travelled from Reykjavik to the geysers
and back. It was after the visit to the
boiling springs that Lord Dufferin and
his companions came to spend a few
days at the comfortable farmstead of
Lovekking, near Thingvalla. The head
of that lonely. glacier-surroundedh home
was one Snorro Eckholm, a stalwart
Icelander lin his DAY champion
wrestler of the island), and the eldest
son of farmer Snorro was little Erik
Eckholm, an urchin of exactly the
same age as Terry McGhee.
The hospitality Of Iceland farmers is
matter of worldwide repute, and ev-
erything went merrily. for time at
least, beneath the roof of Lovekking.
The dried fish. mutton and skier cheese
disappeared rapidly before the hungry
travellers, and they were about to turn
their thoughts toward reDose, when
from the extremity of the common liv-
ing room there came the unmistakable
sounds Of conflict
Lord Dufferin and his host both
sprang to their feet, only to see that
the combatants were a little red-haired
lad of sturdy build, and an equally
stronghold boy with lank,
straight locks of yellow. In a few
words Terry McGhee, assistant cabin
boy on the Foam, had encountered Erik
Eckholm, son of the farmer of Lovek-
king with regrettable results.
Why is it that small boys, on meet !
ing for the first time, so frequently |
feel impelled to fight? Whatever the |
cause may be, on this particular occa-
sion, when the farmhouse guests looked |
around they found the two youngsters |
fighting furiously. Erik had the best |
of it when it came to wrestling, but az |
long range and in boxing, Terry Nc |
Ghee appeared to be the champion. |
Not for long, however. were they per-
mitted to fight. DR.. Fitzgerald. Lord |
Dufferin's companion, seized hold of |
the red-haired Terry. while Erik was
dragged from the fray by his Snother.
Then they were both well cuffed and
sent to bed, by way of punishment.
But Fate, in the person of goodwife
Eckholm, assigned to them the same
bed, and hardly had everyone retired
to rest, when the din Of battle broke
out afresh. Investigation showed that
Terry was pummeling Erik and Erik
Terry-each one with all his
might. Once again were they sep
arated, and this time different beds had
to be allotted to them. All was peace
until early morning, when the house
hold assembled for breakfast. Then,
Just as hosts and travellers had begun
to congratulate themselves and were in
the act of sitting down TO a hearty
neal, there arose a terrible outcry and
he sound of blows. Looking through
he window, they saw Terry McGhee
md the little Icelander engaged in
ierce combat, and cudgeling each other
'erociously with broken boat oars.
AT this Lord Dufferin threw up his