The Emerald Excursion - Morna Sullivan

An Emerald Excursion

Captain David Eccles, late of the Royal Dragoon Guards and the North Irish Horse regiment died on Tuesday morning. It is believed he had been in good health lately so his death came as a great shock to his family, close friends and former colleagues.

The much-decorated and admired military man was last seen on Saturday 30th June on the evening train to Belfast, returning from a day excursion on the north Antrim coast. It is understood he had spent the day exploring the newly opened Gobbins Path. He was a frequent railway traveller on the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway and other well-known routes throughout Ireland exploring the many new excursions now available to day trippers. He had become well acquainted with many of the staff working at the various stations in the northern counties – conductors, guards and drivers alike. As a former engineer by profession, he was fascinated by the power of the steam engine to transform everyone’s lives in opening up affordable transport across the island. He also liked to witness at first hand the great feats of engineering displayed in the magnificent railway bridges and awe-inspiring viaducts. He was an avid follower of the work of Berkley Deane Wise and his dramatic masterpiece at the Gobbins Path was therefore of great interest to Captain Eccles. He was delighted to be among the first visitors to experience it.

(Image credit, Audrey Kyle Art)

Captain Eccles was often seen travelling on the railways alone and seemed to be happy in his own company. Often he made new friends along the way as he struck up conversation with fellow passengers. Apparently he was more recently seen travelling with one lady in particular. The identity of his lady companion is not clear, but many have seen her about Belfast in the last few months and in the company of Captain Eccles in various provincial towns. Wherever she has been spotted her exquisite wardrobe has been noted. A number of gowns and coats of velvet and rich silks decorated with fringes have been remarked upon. The ornaments on her hats have been commented on, ranging from exotic feathers and bunches of roses to a bird of paradise, certainly not often seen in Anderson and McAuley’s mantle department.

The guard at Whitehead station remembered Captain Eccles and his lady companion boarding the train and making their way to the dining car last Saturday. He described her appearance as ‘striking’ and noted that she was wearing an emerald velvet coat with a matching emerald velvet hat with long peacock feathers. He could not recall seeing them arriving in Whitehead together earlier that day. He admitted it could have been possible as the station was particularly busy that morning when the crowds flocked to the station to take the jaunting cars and charabancs to the Gobbins Path.

Some fellow travellers noted that they had spotted the couple as they made their way along the Gobbins Path that day. Indeed, it was difficult not to take notice. Again the ‘memorable’ appearance of the lady wearing the emerald velvet coat with the matching emerald velvet hat with long peacock feathers was noted. Some day trippers remarked that they made an elegant couple, while others noted that they did not consider the lady’s attire the most suitable for the terrain to be covered on such a trip in summer. One traveller remarked that the lady in the emerald velvet coat with the matching emerald velvet hat with long peacock feathers seemed flushed, perhaps from the day out in the sun and the bracing sea air. It had been the hottest day so far this year.

(Photo credit Gary McCabe)