Bruce lsmay's Memories

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 September 1915, Page 3

Bruce lsmay's Memories

A TRAGIC FIGURE. There is one man in tiie British Isles, at least, to whom the memories of ii.u Titanic disaster are a dread and ewpresent readily (says the "New York World"). The man is Bruuce v isinuy. He was managing director oi the White Star Lino at the time of the Titanic disaster, and was among those saved when tho liner sank.

Until tho fatal voyage of the Titanic lie enjoyed all thy pleasures that lite can offer to an active, ambitious, successful captain of industry who at the same time commanded a very desirable social standing. Ho was a notable figure in tho yachting and racing world, he was a patron of polo, had his box at the opera, and during the London reason had as much social enjoyment t,s ho cared for.

Ho is never seen now in any of Ji's former haunts, and lie no longer cultivates sport. Ho has voluntarily withdrawn himself into" almost so elusion. He is li tragic figurejrhom earo and premature age have uhirked tor their own. A great part of tho year lie passes oftentimes alone, in one of Mte most remote, most unfrequented arJ desolate spots oil the west coast of Ireland. Here his sole employment is listing for day and weeks 011 end, occasionally with a friend, or perhaps t-wj, but for the greater part of his imc accompanied only by his servant.

•When the "'World" representative arrived in Galway and inquired at Ins hotel for the best way of getting to C'oii&telloe, where .Mr Bruce lsmay lives, the response was plain enough. "If ye mane is there a-any thrain or reg'ilar conveyance that goes there—why, there's none. AVliat the devvil wou'd a-anyone want to go to Gontelloe forAvhv. it's at the back of God's speed lint perhaps ye are a iriend of that Mr lsmay that lives down there " So said the surprised "Boots," and lie looked rather suspiciously at the representative. "But I'm told," lie went oil, "lie sees 110 one there at all, bui. he wanders along the sthream fishing from mornin' to night. He's very good to the poor cottiers round about there, but they do say lie's like a haunted anan." In fact, 'whatever drove Bruce lsmay to this remote, inhospitable shore, it •was a blessing in disguise to these poor people, and they appreciate his presence very keenly. Mr lsmay has been a good and considerate employer to them. Avliich is all that matters as lai as tliey are concerned. True, they do feel surprised that a "gintleman" thai might be enjoying himself in London or elsewhere should remain week after week alid month after month at Costelloc. Oftentimes the fishing is out of the question fOl days and even weeks together, but Al>lsmay stays there , all the same, walking along the shore most of his time, and only rarely seen going away en motor tours. Not many miles awa\ he could strike one of the lovelest bits of motoring country, with splendid roads, to be seen in these isles, but 't does not seem to attract him. All lie cares about is the solitude of Costelloe and the deadly quiet of its >irrounding waste.