Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-08-26

Yacht or boat of some description Is
almost a necessity here, unless one would
miss a great deal of pleasure which can
he had in no other way. Until last week
we have been using an Old fishing boat
which is rented with the Manse, but. now
we have Il fine new yacht of 30 tons. She
has been newly fitted up and was
launched at Stromness a week ago. She
is named the "Walwyn" and is most
comfortable There is quite large sa-
loon and a separate cabin for ladies. we
had planned trip to the North isles as
soon as the Walwyn was ready. The
weather was perfect up to the day we
were to start which dawned very I'M
promising and before We were on the
Yacht a dense fog suddenly hid every
hing from view. However, we decided
to go on board and wait developments.
The fog cleared as suddenly as 1t came,
and it turned out quite a fine day after
all We went to Stromness frst as the
compass had not arrived from London,
and was expected by the Aberdeen steam
er next morning. We waited in Strom-
ress harbor that night but the compass
did not arrive, and there was no aiterna-
tive but to go without 1t and trust to
luck or Providence to get back in safety.
We had to wait until evening before we
could leave on account OF the TIDE SO
those of the party who We're energetical-
ly inclined went for q walk to the other
side of the island about three mics.
There are the ruins of an old castle
there, of which only the broken down
walls now remain.
The Stromness cemetery is close by the
SEA, and so we paid 1T Il visit and found
il in 4. most neglected condition, and it
is really a disgrace to the town. 1t Is.
however, no exception to the rule Tor
wherever you go the churchyaruS are In
the same condition, the tombstones fall
len and broken and overgrown with grass
and moss and weeds. The cliff on this
side the island is called Black Crag. and
from the top We had a fine view over the
me
looked as dark. mysterious and threaten
ing as ever. Returning to the Walwyn we
found that our skipper saw signs of fog
and thought it would be very risky to
go out of the harbor that night so we
had to stay where We were. We began
to think our chances of getting to Wes-
STRAY were becoming very remote as we
we1e obliged to be home by Saturday
night for we had the village parson who
acted as skipper with us and of course
NE had to be back in time to preach his
/sermon on Sunday. Finally on Wednes-
day morning We left StromneSS, and
made I'D our minds that as it was too
late to get to Westrsiy we might go as
far as Stronsay, but as circumstances
turned out We were glad to go where we
could not where we would. We were
hardly out of the harbor when the wind
entirely died away and 1T became per
fectly calm, and continued so. All that
day we drifted first one way and then
back again with the tide always hoping
that the wind would spring up and en-
able Us to get into some port. Finally
the sailors towed US into little bay and
there We anchored. Next morning there
\ was q little wind and We left very early
thinking we would go to Holm Sound
AUIam Sound the people here call it, but
Vt is Holm on the chartso Again the
hates, or whoever has control OF the
winds and weather. were against us, and
we were again becalmed for more than
half the day. The curious part OF II was
that although there was no wind and we
were hardly moving, yet there was
heavy and we were pitching and toss
ing in q most unpleasant manner. The
tide carried us towards the island OF
South Ronaldshay, and late in the after
noon a light wind sprang up and we were
able to get into the harbor of St. Mar
[garet's Hope which is the principal viii
Z lage ON le island. No sooner had we
cast an br than the wind began to
blow h. a gale: and We were very
thankful to be safe in harbOr. By that
time we had quite given up all hope of
getting to any of the North Isles. and
decided to spend the rest of the time In
fishing.
We spent Friday in st. Margaret's as
it>lained all the morning, and had lunch
a. a funny old fashioned little hotel
which was quite change after having
all our meals on board for nearly week.
We spent the afternoon in exploring the
town and as much of the surrounding
country as We had time for South Ron
aldshay is one of the most prosperous OF
the islands. St. Margaret's Hope Is a
very thriving little place, and has bank,
and very good shops. The cottages are
generally two stored instead of one, and
altogether everything seems to be in a
most thriving condition. The harbor Is
an excellent one and gives shelter no
many herring boats during the season.
1t was here that in days gone by King
Haco's magnificent fleet cast anchor on
the way to invade Scotland. We walked
TO Hoxa Head and round by Widewall
= a larbOr
runs far into the land, so far that when
we first saw it we thought it was a lock.
1t Is not much used as an anchorage as
the opening into the Pentand Firth is
just to the right of 1t, and there is danger
of boats being swept past the entrance
TO the bay and out into the Firth. On
our way back from HoXa We passed by
the 'Gloop as the inhabitants call a
very deep cleft. If you stop by it to lis
ten you can hear the sea roaring and
dashing underground a hundred feet be-
low. There is an underground passage
Through which the sea runs into this
cleft, and they say it lis possible for a
small boat to get through, but it did no;
look very inviting undertaking. South
Ronaldshay is very fortunate in possess
ing good high school for girls and
boys called Tomisoh's Academy. It Is
named after its founder who grew rich in
the employ of the Hudson Bay Company,
and when Me died about sixty years ago
he left all his money to found a school
for his native island. Having had no ed
Mcation himself he could neither read or
write and this gave him the idea of help
Ing Others to gain what he had missed
After our return to the yacht we fshed
dor silioek over the side of the boat
Inese iish are very good and resemble
whitebait except they are larger We
use rod and flies to catch them with
and 1T is great sport to watch them swim
after the flies take a look, and perhaps
a taste and then dart away.
The next day was Saturday and We
were bound to return to Orphir so we left
early, and fshed little on our way
home, but had not much luck, so we nut
on all sail and in little over an hour
were at anchor in Houton bay. All the
week we have hardly been out of sign.
of the Manse,, but in spite of not carry
ing out our plans we had a very enjoy
able and interesting trip.
VIA arA- <,orx.~.x.