The Republican journal., 1901-12-19
GLIMPSES OF IRELAND.
A Visit to the Great Shipbuilding City Of
Belfast.

Belfast.
1t was great disappointment that at
the close of our voyage from Portland
to Liverpool we passed up the Irish
coast at night. Before sunset we we're
in green water, suggestive of the Emer-
ed in darkness, with only the friendly
CLEAN from the lighthouses to indicate
its whereabouts. We did not know
then that fortune was to favor us on the
return voyage, or that opportunity
would offer to visit the Irish city for
which Belfast, Maine, was named.
When in Glasgow study of time tables
and tourist literature brought out the
fact that by taking train at $50 A. NJ,
at the station adjoining the hotel, we
could visit Belfast, Ireland, spend a
few hours there, and return to Glas-
gov some time before midnight. As
the round trip covers about 2s0 miles
l4O by water-it was evident that there
must be fast boats and fast trains on
GIllS lOulS. DuU bHlCC VI oul PolGy VI
twelve decided to make the trip-Chas.
Fred Joy of Chelsea, Mass, Chas. F.
Swift and the writer of Belfast, Maine.
While in England and Scotland our
party travelled third class on the rail
ways. the select few booked for Belfast
reveled in the luxury of first class
passage. 1t is said that only Americans
and fools travel first class in the Old
Country. We were Americans, The
journey by train to Ardrossan was in
teresting. Crossing the Clyde we had
a view of its shipping, steam and sail.
Then, to quote from a local publication:
There is the stored country, beyond
Neilston of the once turbulent MureS OF
Caldwell. And Kilwinning is famous
as the cradle of Freemasonry in Scot
land. and for it's ancient shooting at the
popinjay' with arrows. which furnished
Scott with the opening scene in his old
Mortality Eglinton castle, at hand
was the scene in 1899 of the Eglinton
tournament, when knights in armour,
after the manner of the middle ages,
tilted i'll the lists. Then the blue sea
comes into sight, with the Arran hills
beyond, and soon the pilgrim is speed
ing on his way to the country of the
Irish Scot
At Ardrossan We were to have en-
barked for Belfast on the swift steam
ship Adder" according to the adver-
tisements, but we found the ''Nulture'
in waiting, and thought that they were
not very happy i'll their choice of names
on this line But despite her name the
Vuture proved speedy, well appoint
ed a-going craft, and the latter quail
ity is necessary, for it is often very
rough on the Irish sea- On this occa-
sion a stiff breeze was blowing, there
was quite heavy swell, and the down.
casters were sure they "smelled fog" "
Fortune favored us, however, and the
sun shone out in time to light up the
Irish coast. The Vulture was we'll
supplied with very comfortable steamer
chairs and we began the voyage seated
on the hurricane deck, but were soon
compelled to seek more sheltered posi-
tions on the saloon deck, and part of
the time in the cabin or the smoke room
forward. The second-class passengers
occupied lower deck, from which there
was no outlook; and the third class
must have been still lower down, for
we did not see them. The voyage had
hardly begun when the tables were laid
for dinner in the saloon, but we had
resolved to dine in Belfast, and did not
partake of the steamers fare.
When about half way across we saw
what looked like large haystack rising
out of the water This was Ailsa Craig
Then. as we neared the Irish coast, ap-
ing abruptly from the sea, like minia-
ture mountains, and these the maps
told us were The Maidens. Next a
lighthouse perched on lofty cliff; and
this was Black Head. The country
hereabouts was hilly, bare of trees, and
divided into fields by hedges as in Eng
Land and Scotland Now the town of
Carrickfergus, with the ruins of Carrick
Castle, comes into view. Beside me
sat two men from this place, one of
them returning after many years alb
sence, and they had much to say of the
old castle and of other familiar haunts.
We were now in broad bay-Belfast
Lough on the map-and soon the steam
-er was in channel marked on either
side by gas-lighted buoys. These buoys
extended for several miles, and outside
of them the water was breaking here
and there, indicating shoals or reefs.
Next we entered broad canal, with
warnings on either side that steamers
must not exceed certain speed. We
were in sight now of the shipyards,
where the biggest steel steamships in
the world are built There were three
or four alongside the piers undergoing
repairs or having their top-work put on,
and perhaps a dozen on the stocks in