One may end this imperfect chapter with two more tributes, themselves without any great literary merit perhaps, yet testifying sincerely, one thinks, to the love which Andrews inspired in everyone.
THE “TITANIC” AND THE “OLYMPIC” BUILDING
IN THE LARGEST GANTRY IN THE WORLD
Long ago, poor Doctor O’Loughlin wrote in collaboration with the Purser of the Oceanic some verses to be sung to the air Tommy Atkins. Doubtless they have been sung at ship’s mess on many a voyage, and perhaps have elsewhere been printed. One verse is given here:
“Neath a gantry high and mighty she had birth.
And she’d bulk and length and height and mighty beam.
And the world was only larger in its girth
And she seemed to be a living moving dream.
Then she rode so grandly o’er the sea
That she seemed a beauty decked in bright array.
And the whistle sounded loudly
As she sailed along so proudly,
That we all cried out ‘She must be quite O.K.’
Oh Tommy Tommy Andrews we are all so proud of you,
And to say we have the finest ship that e’er was built is true.
May your hand ne’er lose its cunning, we don’t care how winds may roar
For we know we have a frigate that can sail from shore to shore.”
The second tribute is taken from a Lament, written by the Island poet in the ballad form so popular in Ireland, and circulated widely in the Yard:
“A Queen’s Island Trojan, he worked to the last;
Very proud we all feel of him here in Belfast;
Our working-men knew him as one of the best—
He stuck to his duty, and God gave him rest.”