The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1919-10-16
Letter From Ireland

I trust you will please excuse me
for delaying so long in writing you
few lines (as promised by myself) to
give you little information with re-
gard to my trip ard safe arrival. ar
rived in Chicago about a. m. on Sat
urday, having left Kansas City the
previous day at 4:30 p. M, taking the
Grand Trunk, Ia direct route for Mon
treal) crossing to Canada at Detroit,
where the Canadian officers boarded |
the train to investigate, according to
law, but finding out there were no un-
desirables on board, we were detained
but few minutes, then proceeded
with full speed and no stopovers, along
the grand scenery of the Great Lakes,
until we reached our destination, Mon
treal, on the American continent, MAX
ing the trip from Chicago in twenty
five hours. |, along with few Irish
men with whom / became acquainted
on the train, had sufficient time to
take in the sights and scenery of
Montreal before setting sail, but the
street cars made nothing on us as we
decided that it was more celebrating
to walk, the weather being cool and
pleasant after nice rain, mot heavy,
but just enough to lay the dust). Then
we had two other advantages, first,
had nice exercise and saw better seen
cry, as we could put on the brakes az
any time we desired to have drink
of Canadian beer which touched the
right spot and fe.t most salubrious
after long continuation of hot, dry
weather.
Well, the editor said we were all to
go on board on Tuesday night, the
18th of August, but we did not until
the following morning at 8 ami all
passengers meeting with little or no
trouble or account of passports, ETC.,
but got right on board. 1t took nearly
three hours to get passengers and
baggage on board. We steamed out
about noon, having 1927 passengers
on board, including number taken
on at Quebec, and sailed dowE the st.
Lawrence river, taking In the grand
view of the great and monstrous
bridge across the st. Lawrence. This
was something new to many on board
A noted and far seeing Captain, Mr..
Roberts, thought that by sailing
through the Straits of Bell Isle, he
would be making a saving of 220
miles, and consequently shortened the
distance that much.
The captain, officers, stewards,
ETC., were most efficient, gentle, kind
and accommodating.
One spectacle, that attracted the at
tention of all was stupendous ice
berg a short distance from our boat,
which looked like moving castle, and
including what was above and beneath
the water was over four hundred feet
in height. BY taking an angle of the
object, our captain could easilymeas-
ure its dimensions as well as the dist
ance away. This spectacle was observ-
ed Eorth Of the Banks of Newfound-
land, the weather being most ideal and
everything that could be desired, as
wei, as the ocean being as still and
calm as a small lake in good weather,
so we made good speed, and landed
safe and sound at the expiration of
nine days, arriving at Liverpool at
night, or Thursday but did not land
until Friday morning.
Strictness, as regards law, or what
we term "red tape" manifested itself
in Liverpool more than anywhere else
still no one got into any trouble.
After getting through here immed
lately took the train for Holyhead,
Wales, and boarded the Mail Packet
for Dublin, again taking the train to
Straban, after which it took me little
time 10 get to Glenties county, Don
ega.. The train from Dublin to Derry
or Straban is a pretty fast one, max
ing mile minute, but creates a con-
siderable noise. The cars are nice and
shining, but rot so spacious nor dc
| they possess the Accommodations of the
U. P. trains, but the train from Stra-
ban to Glenties is as slow as the
freight from Hastings to Red Cloud
With regard to changes In this, my
native home, during my long absence
Of twenty-five years, they are so man.
and surprising that one could scarcel!
realize the improvements and genera
industrial improvement of the country
The war of course, as in every othe
= country, considerably retarded thei
$ progress in fuller improvement, be
! sides they suffered and sacrificed con
| siderable during the whole progress o
the war. l understand that Ireland
:, even if small in area, did quite 10
| for world democracy, though not con
scripted, many volunteered even il
the beginning Of the war. Hundred
of other Irishmen who were workin