The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-25
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: QUEENSTOWN.

Washington, d. c., Feb. 24.--De-
scribing Queenstown, tho place from
which Consul Frost has sent SO many
messages telling of torpedoed ships,
the National Geographic society,
whose headquarters are here, says In
bulletin issued today:
Queenstown Is likely to be a GEN.
ter of news OF the German submarine
crusade, inasmuch as the ordinary
channels of shipping pass nearby.
THE town, numbering slightly more
than 5000 souls, has three fold
distinction as seaport, water
place and British naval station. 1t
Is a well-built and attractive place,
with a mild climate; and being built
upon an island, its streets rise in ter
races one above the other and offer a
superb outlook over the neighboring
waters.
within fifty years the place was
only small fishing village and was
known as the Cove of Cork Its pres
ent name was received in 1s49 BY
reason of Its having been the first
spot in Ireland upon which Queen
Victoria set foot.
1T still serves as the port of the
city OF Cork, from which IL is twelve
miles distant Cork itself is located
at the poir t Of entry of the river Lee
into the bay.
THE harbor of Queenstown is
splendidiy defended by two forts
Carlisle and Camden--at its entrance.
and by" Fort Westmoreland. which is
situated upon Spike island. one of the
group of three isles which make up
the government dockyard and con-
st.tute the fine natural breakwater of
r. ,ntt L.
find safe anchorage.
spike island. according to writer
In the journal of the Cork Historical
and Archaeological society, exceis any
island in the circuit OF the British Isles
in its chequered. albeit uneventful his
tory Upon no other island on the
irish coast he declares. have so many
strangers eyes rested. or SO few Ter
sons voluntarily set foot'--the point OF
the last comment being that here for
many years was situated the chief con-
Wet prison for all Ireland.
"Holy Isle"
II was once one OF the holy isles
OF the past along with Iona. Mont St.
Michel and the Skelligs and here a
monastery was built by St Mochuada,
who had received the island fr,n,
Cathal. King OF Munster, for that he
deafness. blindness and dumbness
From the seventh to the twelfth CEN
fury, however. the record Of the holy
island is a complete blank, caused. nc
doubt, by the disappearance OF the
monastery. AT the later date Spike
island became Anglo Norman spoil I'M
der the charter OF Henry IT--whence
another Hiatus or 3eB years taxes bface
In Its history; and II is recorded that
the place was infested by smugglers
Toward the end of the etghteenth
century the island passed to the crown
and ne time was lost in terrifying IT.
In 17Ts q battery of twentt -fou,. gun.
had been installed and In 1870 the po-
sition was named Fort Westmo.eland
BY the nobleman OF that family who at
the time was lord lieutenant OF Ire
land and visited the island
Two years before the queens visit
TO the town. Spike Island was made
Il convict depot. upon the adjustment
Of the transportation scheme Of punish
ment which had been in vogue. Cork
harbor had been a concentration point
for these unfortnnates. who were hud-
died Into a prison ship while awaiting
their deportation Soon as many as
$500 convicts were to be found at
Spike and they were employed at work
upon the sferttfcations. A system OF
od-conductt rewards was esta hltshed
and the length OF imprisonment and
the privileges TO be enjoyed were made
determinable by the conduct of the
prisoners while under detention The
Island ceased 10 be a prison in 1885
at which time was handed over to the
military authorities"