Copied From OLD DIARY NOTEBOOK 01
DICKSON W. KELLS. BALLYCONNELL, COUNTY CAVIN [CAVAN?] IRELAND
24th August, 1893
Jottings of a Journey from Ballyconnell, Ireland to Vancouver,
B.C. [British Columbia?]
Thursday 24th August 1893
Left the home of Dear Father and Mother about 9 o.c am day fine,
bid good by to all my old friends. Had a drink with Gouge Montgomery
and Frank Frehill in the latter's Pub. Bid good by with James Toomey
George Montgomery Frank Frehill and Michael Corry and my brother
Richard, at Ballyconnell Railway station, had good fun at R. station
before starting on board of train, with G. Montgomery playing pranks
on Jemmie Elliott of Knockadoos by sticking baggage labels on the
outside of his clothes, to run him through to Londonderry.
Met at Belturbet Railway station Alex Harper wife and family, also
Miss Lottie Gregg of Urna, and a Miss McManus Thomas Craig all of whom
were leaving for New York "was as far as Londonderry with them" parted
at Clones with brother Robert his wife & two children Lillev and Fred
parted with my dear father at Belturbet felt very lonely after parting
with my dear father mother brothers and sisters and dear little Fred and
Lilley. Arrived in Derry about 4 1/2 oc.pm. Stopped in a house along the
warf for the night in Derry owners name was David McIlwain, felt lonely
during the evening had a walk around Derry walls with A. Harper and took
a small bit of a stone of the ancient walls as a relick, bought a pair of
Kidd [kid?] gloves in Talbots & Co, to bring my sister Eva, gave 3/6 for
them, returned to Mcllwain and had supper, went to bed a little after 10
oc pm had a very good nights rest.
Friday 25 August '93.
Got out of 'bed about 6 oc am went out for a walk through the
City at 7 oc am, bought a penknife and gave a shilling for it, gave
Mrs Mcllwain 3/6 for 'breakfast "and dinner supper and bed; the previous
day went down to Montgomerys booking office to get my ticke checked,
Harper & wife & family Miss Gregg, etc. had left McIlwain's for the steamer
which was to bring them to Movill, [Moville?] before I got back to bid them
good by [goodbye?]. Got slightly acquainted with a Mrs Young, Irish Canadian
who was to be a passenger on the Vancouver to Montreal. Left Derry on the
steamer at a 11 1/4 oc.am for Movill, [Moville?] arrived at Movill [Moville?]
at 2 1/2 oc pm, and got on board the steamer Vancouver, which sailed at 3 oc.
pm felt very lonely, seen two old women on board of ship, one a Scotch woman
95 years of age, the other an Irish woman from Ballyhaise, County Cavan who was
82 years of age, had tea at 5 oc pm did not care much about it, evening
beautiful & fine, got to bed a little after 10 oc pm. had a very good nights
rest.
Saturday August 26th '93.
Morning a little dull, sea verv calm, day broke out beautiful & warm, there
was a good number of the passengers sick particullary [particularly?] amongst
the steerage, all of whom were nearly Russian Jews and Swedes French & Welsh
men some of whom were poorely [poorly?] clad.
Had a few walks on deck, felt very hungry for all of my meals, seen a good many
porpis [porpoise?] jumping along the side of the ship. Got acouainted with a
young man, a freemason, who was going to Montreal had a few drinks of beer with
him, went to bed about 10 oc pm had a good night sleep.
Sunday 27th August 93.
Morning a little soft looking had breakfast at 8 oc. am. day turned out fine and
warm, sea very calm, attended Divine Service, 'Church of England' had dinner at
12 1/2 oc pm felt in good form, had a few walks on deck. The Sweedans [Swedes?]
held a couple of prayer meetings during the evening, had tea at 5 oc pm, got
acquainted with a man from Toronto who was a freemason had a walk on deck with him,
seen a little bird fly along the side of the ship. At night fall there was some
rockets fired of board of ship, in returning a salute of a passing vessel supposed
to be the Sarnie Sat for a short time on deck, during the early part of the night,
went to bed at 10 1/2 oc. pm slept well.
Mondav 28th August 93
Morning foggey [foggy?], had breakfast at 8 1/2 oc am. the fog horn was kept
(sic) sounding, for a good while, cleared up a little in the middle of the day,
had dinner at 12 1/2 oc pm, fog set in again during the evening
Wednesday October 14th '96.
The Telegraphers Strike Settled
Authentic reports have been received from Montreal via Vancouver to the effect
that the operators striked was settled at Montreal this morning at 3 ock. a
basis of agreement having been arrived at between the C.P.R. authorities and the representatives of the 0.R.T. and other branches of the railway service. 0n the
strength of which agreement the operators have returned to work to-day.
Tuesday 17th Nov. '96.
First snow fell a good deal of snow the succeeding days of the week & froze.
Froze very keen from 21st until 28th. River frozen over solid. 11 below zero.
The last 2 entries were made when Dickson Kells lived at Port Kells, B.C.
[British Columbia?] Canada. The river in the last entry was the Fraser R.
