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| Dora, Will, and children aboard the Dakota - departing Seattle. |
We went out to take dinner at the Taylor home stopping at the Gaily Supply House to see Vernie. She has changed a great deal since she left Pullman as she was only a little girl then and is now a young lady. The ride out took almost an hour and was through beautiful part of the city. Green Lake is in sight most of the way. We got off the car at Tahoe and had quite a little walk then to the house. The place is a lovely one with simply loads of flowers even in September. The gallery is in the same yard as the house and here I saw a number of pictures of old friends and acquaintances. We had a good dinner and while Mabel, Nettie, and Marjorie washed the dishes Mrs. Taylor and I went to call on Justine Hayes Thompson but did not find her at home. Mr. Taylor took a great fancy to the children and they seemed to like him. Dorothy found the two faced doll and he liked to tease her by asking her to kiss the black baby. She was very emphatic in her refusal however. We had some ripe strawberries from their own vines that were fine. Fred has two babies now. He lives in Spokane. Mrs. Taylor thinks Will has found his "Jane" too so there will probably be another wedding in the family soon.
At four we started back to the city having had a very enjoyable day. In the afternoon while we were out to Justine's, Anna Ellis telephoned. I was so sorry to have missed her. Coming in it poured all the way and we got sprinkled going from the car to the hotel. Will had come in earlier and after seeing about our tickets, luggage, etc. had invested in a full outfit for finishing pictures on shipboard. Mr. Lussier of Cramer Plate Co. said he knew Lee Munjon, the man Will is to work for and that we would find him O.K.
Our tickets, 2nd Cabin were $115 apiece with quarter fare for the children or $287 in all. Nettie got a metal doll head so in case one of the dolls lost its head I could mend it. She also got Marjorie a First Reader to amuse herself on the way.
September 20, 1905 ~ Wednesday
We ate our last meal on shore for some time. Took breakfast at the Toke Point Cafe and noticed at one of the tables a little girl with a Japanese nurse, who wore regular Japanese costume. I went up to a store to do a little shopping before we sailed and then had to hurry to get to the car in time.
We arrived at the dock about 9:30 where we found a large crowd gathered to witness the departure of the Dakota. We went aboard at once while Will looked after our trunks, Nettie and I went to our cabins. We found the steamer trunk already in 310 and we cached our other luggage and started up on deck. In the hall we met the little girl with the Japanese nurse with her mother and found they were going to Hong Kong. On deck everything was bustle and confusion. Mr. King and the S S Co. agent were looking after everything and was everywhere at once. An Austrian woman was having a dreadful time getting her affairs settled. She did not speak very good English and no one seemed to pay any attention to her. The Japanese girl took all the children over on a bench and Nettie and I were left together. Soon we saw Mrs. Taylor and Mable but they were not allowed to come aboard as it was getting near starting time. In a little while Bay and Mr. Hall showed up and I went down to the dock. Anna could not come and I was so disappointed as I had counted so much on seeing her. Bay said she was having her teeth fixed and was having a dreadful time. The babies were worrying for fear I had left them so I went back up on deck. Rev. and Mrs. Mason then appeared on scene. Soon everyone was ordered ashore. The last thing to come aboard was the mail for the Orient - 24 sacks for Yokohama alone. In the crowd on the pier were the Japanese Counsel, his wife and daughter were all dressed in American costume. The most of the Peace party were aboard and a great many Japanese were down to see them sail. We saw the satchel, an old disreputable affair that contained the peace treaty. It was carried by two Japanese and carefully guarded until it was turned over to the purser for safe keeping.
About 10:30 the gang way was removed and the big ship slowly started on her long journey amidst cheers and waving handkerchiefs. An immense crowd was gathered on the pier - some of the Japanese going out over the water as far as was safe. We stood on the deck as long as our friends could be distinguished and then went below to our cabins.
The babies and I had No. 310 while Will took
312 next door. Each room was fitted with an upper and lower berth, commode and
dresser combined fitted with a small mirror and a number of drawers, two
electric lights, water and a telephone. The berths were very comfortable having
nice big pillows, clean sheet, blankets, etc. Under each lower berth were two
life preservers. Around the walls were a number of hooks for clothing. Some of
the rooms have lockers but ours did not. The floor was covered with ingrain
carpet. Each berth had curtains much like sections in a sleeping car. Our rooms
had no porthole but were furnished with air through a ventilating shaft. The
doors were so they might be fastened open about six inches or closed and
securely bolted. Outside, the hall was covered with linoleum. The smell of
fresh paint was sickening. Marjorie had broken a bottle of peppermint just before
we started and the odor of this kept us from noticing the paint smell so much.
Our first meal was Tiffin (lunch) at 12:00 and was very good. Soup was the first course and we had soup all the way over for Tiffin and Dinner. At our table were Mrs. Wilson, little girl and Japanese nurse from Hong Kong, and ourselves. The chairs were so low and anchored so far from the table that the children had quite a hard time of it. There were white linen tablecloths and napkins, silver knives and forks, spoons and butter dish, and very nice china marked with a G.N.SS. Co. mark. In the room were two large tables and five small ones capable of seating 34 people. The chairs were revolving armchairs with reversible seats - leather on one side - cane on the other. A sideboard completed the furnishings. There were three entrances, one from the kitchen, two from the halls. Electricity, together with the portholes along one side of the room furnished the light. The service was all done by two Chinese boys who understood English very well. The first meal not many people were present as naturally everything was irregular.
After Tiffin the babies went to sleep and Will and I went up on deck and it was certainly delightful here. The ship rocked just enough to let you know you were on shipboard and the air was fine. We walked up and down drawing deep breaths and thanking our lucky stars that we had been permitted an ocean voyage. The air was cool and bracing and my coat felt comfortable. We marveled at the size of everything. There is truly nothing small about the ship, even her crew are mostly large men.
Word was sent around that there would be a chance to send mail ashore at Port Townsend so there was a scramble for postcards. We wrote 10 to our numerous friends and relatives. At 4:30 the pilot having brought us out to sea, was sent ashore in a rowboat that came out to get him. With him went a large bunch of postcards.
We had gone very slowly up to this time but now began to make time and were soon out of sight of land. We then went below to get settled in our rooms and get ready for six o'clock dinner. Nearly everyone was present. A Swedish missionary woman and a Dr. Cole from Manila were put at our table. Yei, the Japanese girl was moved to another table. After dinner I put on a kimono and was lying down when Mrs. Wilson came to see if I did want to go up on deck. I put on my raincoat and the children's wraps and started out. It was a beautiful night and we spent an hour on deck, then came below, went to bed and slept soundly for the night. Marjorie and Dorothy slept one at each end of the upper berth. I took the lower one. There were side pieces but we did not use the at all. I felt so happy all day and went to sleep rejoicing over my lot. Everyone we talked with in Seattle seemed to think we had a good proposition.
Our first meal was Tiffin (lunch) at 12:00 and was very good. Soup was the first course and we had soup all the way over for Tiffin and Dinner. At our table were Mrs. Wilson, little girl and Japanese nurse from Hong Kong, and ourselves. The chairs were so low and anchored so far from the table that the children had quite a hard time of it. There were white linen tablecloths and napkins, silver knives and forks, spoons and butter dish, and very nice china marked with a G.N.SS. Co. mark. In the room were two large tables and five small ones capable of seating 34 people. The chairs were revolving armchairs with reversible seats - leather on one side - cane on the other. A sideboard completed the furnishings. There were three entrances, one from the kitchen, two from the halls. Electricity, together with the portholes along one side of the room furnished the light. The service was all done by two Chinese boys who understood English very well. The first meal not many people were present as naturally everything was irregular.
After Tiffin the babies went to sleep and Will and I went up on deck and it was certainly delightful here. The ship rocked just enough to let you know you were on shipboard and the air was fine. We walked up and down drawing deep breaths and thanking our lucky stars that we had been permitted an ocean voyage. The air was cool and bracing and my coat felt comfortable. We marveled at the size of everything. There is truly nothing small about the ship, even her crew are mostly large men.
Word was sent around that there would be a chance to send mail ashore at Port Townsend so there was a scramble for postcards. We wrote 10 to our numerous friends and relatives. At 4:30 the pilot having brought us out to sea, was sent ashore in a rowboat that came out to get him. With him went a large bunch of postcards.
We had gone very slowly up to this time but now began to make time and were soon out of sight of land. We then went below to get settled in our rooms and get ready for six o'clock dinner. Nearly everyone was present. A Swedish missionary woman and a Dr. Cole from Manila were put at our table. Yei, the Japanese girl was moved to another table. After dinner I put on a kimono and was lying down when Mrs. Wilson came to see if I did want to go up on deck. I put on my raincoat and the children's wraps and started out. It was a beautiful night and we spent an hour on deck, then came below, went to bed and slept soundly for the night. Marjorie and Dorothy slept one at each end of the upper berth. I took the lower one. There were side pieces but we did not use the at all. I felt so happy all day and went to sleep rejoicing over my lot. Everyone we talked with in Seattle seemed to think we had a good proposition.
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