THE 1887 VOYAGE OF JOHN JOSEPH LACE
One bark came quite close to us and I had the best and clearest look that I have had on the voyage. With a good pair of eyes
or good fitting glasses my enjoyment would have been much enhanced. The ocean this morning is as smooth as a millpond
and still lighter in color than yesterday. The deep blue color of the old briny mid ocean is fast disappearing. Land birds
are to be seen &-:1 everything points to a near approach to terra firma. One thing is quite evident to every man on board, that is, we are eating too hearty for our exercise.
Yesterday I forgot to mention that we have a passenger
in the intermediate, a lady from Worcester named Webb who knows several Burriville people and especially the Melvilles and the AlIens.
Mr. Gallup from Indiana is a very fine old bachelor gentleman, and I have had some very enjoyable talks with him.
He has been to Europe a number of times. Also among the passengers is a Mr. William Alleryson and wife formerly of Staffordshire, England who are going on a trip home to the old country. Every time I look at that man I cannot help but think him a dishonest rascal. He was one of the number said to be
hurt at the disaster of the Dedham branch of the Boston and Providence railroad and here in a few short weeks he is as well
as he ever was. After having recovered from the RR Co. $3,500.00 damages, netting more than $3,000.00 above doctors and lawyers fees. Such a man must be a mean one. He looks as if he would spend it as easy as it came and I truly hope he will.
Among the passengers are two Brown University students.
One a graduate of last month and the other just past his sophomore year. They are going on a bicycle tour through Europe. It is quite evident they are quite green, although Lathrop of Providence the younger of them will thaw out sooner than White his companion.
First land seen -at 4~ 0' clock p.m.. It was Fastnet Rock
with it's lighthouse with Cape Clear beyond which is said to
be the most SW cape of Ireland. They begin getting ready for
the landing of passengers at Queenstown and the trunks are being taken out of the hold. The seagulls are in plenty this p.m.
and the nearer we come to land the more plentiful they become.
Joy of the near approach of land is evident on the face of almost everyone. Although some are like myself would remain
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on board another week.
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