The Republican journal., 1901-10-31
If fare, and the absence of the ring-toss


of fare, and the absence of the ring toss
board.
Our party had become fairly we'll &C.
quainted by this time, and the hours
we're whiled away by an occasional re-
mark in a feeble voice from the next
steamer-chair, or compliment on our
personal appearance by the fortunate
individuals not afflicted by the con-
quering malady. Mrs. Laura c. Godfrey,
and Miss Godfrey, Bangor, Mr.. Chas.
F. Joy, Chelsea, Mass, Mrs. Anna
Boothby, and Mr.. Harold Lee Berry,
Portland, with our conductor, Mr.. F. A.
Elwell, and the Belfast delegation,
made up our party. By Monday morn
ing the seasick ones began to improve
and called upon the deck-steward for
more elaborate meals than previously,
or even ventured down to the table. At
noon we sighted the White Star liner
"Oceanic," and the steamer chairs and
ring toss boards were deserted while
every one strained their eyes in her
direction. Tuesday evening, while we
were out on deck ''star-g gazing" and
trying to recognize the ''Big Dipper"
in position entirely new to us, we saw
the lights of two steamers. We soon
gave the alarm, and everybody was on
deck in short order. The Captain told
us it was undoubtedly the Duke of
York's private yacht and her attendant
man-of-war, then on the way to Canada.
Wednesday morning early we were on
the Banks of New Foundland Fishing
vessels began to appear, and before
noon we had passed seven or eight, in
Guiding a dirty looking bark, which
proved to be a French fisherman. This
fleet called Kip]ing' Captains Courage
Gus" very vividly to our minds, and we
wondered which of the staunch look
ing little craft was the ''We're Here. :"
Thursday morning there was a high
wind and sea, but as they were both in
our favor no complaints were made
Sdptd1I MCCOlldlN lldu UWO
board'' diagrams made and he, himself,
initiated the young people into this
very interesting game, which requires
one smooth deck marked out in dia-
grams, eight fiat wooden disks, four
''shovers," a good pair of sea-legs, two
good eyes, two muscular arms, and
good judgment. Friday the sea was
still running very high, and the white
capped waves were very impressive
sight. During the day we sighted quite
a number of vessels. Among them was a
Philadelphia oil tank steamer, which
was pitching heavily and making, the
captain said, not over two knots an
hour. Saturday was an uneventful
day, the monotony being broken only
by meals, ''ring-toss' and shuttle
board" Sunday morning we awoke to
find everything enveloped in thick
fog, making it impossible to see the
Irish coast as we had anticipated doing
A very quiet day was spent, and after
gathering OH deck about seven, to catch
momentary glimpses of Kinsale light,
we all went down into the music room
and sang hymns until bedtime. Mon
day morning dawned almost as foggy
and disagreeable as the day before, but
shortly after breakfast Holyhead came
in sight off our starboard bow, and in
spite of the high wind and dampness
everyone was on deck, eager to see the
first land. All the morning the steam
| er was full of hustle and excitement.
Woodwork had to be washed, the fun
mel painted, trunks and bags packed,
and 'shore clothes donned. 1t was
| twelve O'Clock when we sighted the
| pilot boat, a staunch little steamer,
anchored in the middle of the Mersey,
and slowed down for the pilot to come
aboard. The strokes of two sturdy
oarsmen steadily decreased the dis
tance between us and our first CON-
munication with land for ten days, and
the excitement reached fever heat.
The anxiety of all on board to hear
| AC"o VI Jul Wdo lAuOuoC.
While the pilot was coming up the
ships side by a rope ladder one Of the
men in the boat shouted out to the
crowd eagerly pressed to the rail: 9Th e
American President is deadv' A moan
seemed to pass over the whole ship,
and after hearing the pilots brief
words, president Mckinley died Satur-
day morning." everyone went below, to
do little justice to their last meal on the
Vancouver.
AS we neared the immense docks and
storehouses of the Liverpool water
front the word Belfast" loomed before
us on the roof of an enormous building.
Not once, but twice, thrice, and four
times those familiar letters greeted our
eyes. How strange it was, that on ar
irving in strange country the name
of our little home city, nearly 5000
miles away, should be almost the first
thing our eyes should light on. That il
signified Belfast, Ireland, to other peo
pie, did not matter in the least to us
for those seven letters spelled ''home'