History of the Union Jack and Flags of the EmpireCumberland, Barlow
History
History of the Union Jack and Flags of the Empire
Cumberland, Barlow
Emblems -- Great Britain; Flags -- Great Britain
Thus actually minute after minute the Anthem strain followed the hours
across this continent to the shores of the Pacific at _Victoria,
British Columbia_, where an open-air service was held in the Public
Park at the equivalent of 12.13 midnight at Windsor Castle. "Among
those present at Beacon Hill Park were the Lieutenant-Governor, the
Mayor, the Admiral and crews of the ships in harbour. At 4 o'clock the
bugles rang out, the royal standard was run up to the masthead, and the
National Anthem was sung with full force by an assemblage of 12,000
people."
From here, leaving the land, the Anthem wafted its way back to the
place of beginning, being joined as it passed by the R.M.S. _Aorangi_,
in lat. 32° 25' n., long. 147° 49' w., and by the R.M.S. _Empress of
China_, lat. 41° 16' n., long. 152° 30' w. until at length it came
to the little island which is as far on one side of long. 180°, the
central degree of longitude, as Levuka, from where it had started, is
on the other. Here the West met the East. As it is so typical, and as
the closing report, it may be well to give in full the letter received
from the lighthouse keeper on the island:
"WAILANGILALA LIGHTHOUSE, FIJI,
"17° South, 179° 6' West Long.,
"26th September, 1897.
"_To Barlow Cumberland, Esq., Toronto._
"MY DEAR SIR,--As you expressed a wish in your circular
to hear how the anniversary of the day on which Her Majesty began
her happy reign was observed in each locality, and also on board
passenger ships at sea, I hope you will be pleased to hear that all
your instructions were carried out here, as fully as circumstances
permitted, my situation here being unique. As this is the connecting
link between the western and eastern hemispheres it may happen
that you will find by overlooking the places where the ceremony
was observed, that my endeavours were successful in commencing or
finishing the general celebration of the world. Being only 54 minutes
west of the meridian, all ships passing either way ought to change
the name of the day on their reckoning while within sight of this
island. I obtained the correct astronomical time from the captain and
officers of the steamer that calls here every three months. A doubt
being expressed about the proper day, and as a good action could not
be performed too often, I observed both the 20th and 21st June in
the same way. I also had a bonfire lit on both nights, so that ships
passing either eastward or westward could see that the anniversary
was being kept to suit either contingency. I would have written you
earlier but there has been no means of communication between this
island since the 16th of June last until to-day.
"ALFRED FRENCH, _Lighthouse-keeper_."
Here the circle of the world was completed and the Anthem had come back
to the place of beginning.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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