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1 October 1901 — Aboard May, Jersey City, New Jersey | |
Tuesday. 1st October [1901]. We breakfasted at 8—but our hostess had gone– Mr Griscom said good bye to us & went on shore at 9 when Mr Van R. went to fetch other guests who came with us to see the race. We started soon after to go down the harbour & arrived at the starting point of Sandy Hook at about 10– There was a whole company of yachts little & big—tugs & steamers full of people who had come out to see the race– The wind was very light when we started & did not freshen much & finally died nearly quite away. We followed the 2 yachts at a respectful distance kept away by certain ships whose business it is to keep the course clear. As the yachts had to tack backwards & forwards & the steamers could go straight ahead the latter had often to stop & wait. Outside Sandy Hook there was an ocean swell which was not very agreeable as the “May” lay to & waited. Mr & Mrs Cassatt from Haverford were on board with us & I & Mrs C. spent most of the day together. At 1 o’cl we had lunch & there was just at that moment a good deal of rolling so that I had to make a precipitate retreat from the table & retire to rest in my cabin. Happily my indisposition soon passed away & I was able to appear again on deck. The race was declared to be off as it cd not be run in the prescribed time—& all the spectators turned back towards New York. We were before long in the Sound in smooth waters & I did justice to 5 o’clock tea– The “May” is a charming yacht (steam)– Nellie & I had a large cabin with 2 beds in it, a washstand a hanging cupboard & 2 chairs. The Van Rensselaer large double bedded room was next in. The drawing room is large & handsomely furnished– We met some nice people whose names I have not retained– We got back to N. York abt 7 & Mr Van R. took us in a tug to the dock where the “Philadelphia” lay & put us on board & took leave of us. Mr Griscom had made arrangements for Mme Riaño, Nellie & me to sleep on board as we start tomorrow on our return journey to England. I found Emilia already there with her son & we were soon joined by Mr Samuel Bettle who stayed & entertained us at dinner– We had an excellent meal in the great saloon at one of the small transverse tables & we sat talking afterwards in the library of the ship. We took possession of our magnificent state cabins– A large room with bathroom attached & an outer sitting room with 2 armchairs & a table—a hanging cupboard & a tiny shelf. Each of us had an apartment like it & Baker my maid one almost as good only without a sitting room. We had rather fun in the evening trying to persuade Mr S. Bettle that I was not shamming or humbugging when I showed him my divining powers for finding water– When he left us with Juan for the night he was only half convinced. I had a large bed in my cabin wh is far less cramped than the single berth. I paid £50 for my passage & Baker’s. Mr Griscom gave Nellies to her free. We had a very smooth voyage & a very quiet one as there were only 35 1st class passengers & the 2 large long dinner tables were never used at all. The Captain (Mills) was a very nice man & very kind to us. The purser & 1st officer were also very pleasant. It was too cold for much sitting out on deck so we set a good deal in my room. I read aloud Hiawatha to Emilia Riaño & Nellie & I walked the deck a great deal. It was rather foggy most of the time & one day & night we had more of the “syren” than was pleasant, tho’ happily not continuously. On Sunday we had service & everybody was able to attend– It was read by the purser. On Monday the rolling began—but luckily the wind was in our favour & it did not hinder us & we had all grown so accustomed to the motion that we were none the worse for it & even not kept from our meals. Mr Bettle had given us a little table to ourselves & we were most comfortable– Notwithstanding that all was made so pleasant for us we were not sorry when on | |
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