SS New York Saloon Passenger List – Southampton to New York – 12 August 1899
Front Cover of a Saloon Passenger List for the SS New York of the American Line, Departing Saturday, 12 August 1899 from Southampton to New York via Cherbourg, Commanded by Captain W. J. Roberts. The Passenger List Exhibits Signs of Foxing and a Previous Attempt at Repair Using Pressure Sensitive Tape. GGA Image ID # 21adfc1044
🚢 Elaborate Review & Summary — SS New York Saloon Passenger List, 12 August 1899
Ship & Voyage Overview
The SS New York—one of the American Line’s flagship vessels—departed Southampton, England, on Saturday, 12 August 1899, bound for New York City via Cherbourg, France. Commanded by Captain W. J. Roberts, this voyage carried a distinguished Saloon-class passenger list featuring prominent figures from American politics, business, the arts, and the press.
Launched in 1888 by J. & G. Thomson of Glasgow, the SS New York was celebrated for her speed, luxury, and reliability. She was a regular transatlantic performer and a favorite among wealthy Americans and Britons during the Gilded Age.
⚓ The SS New York — Ship Profile
- Launched: 1888
- Builder: J. & G. Thomson, Glasgow
- Operator: American Line (International Navigation Company)
- Route: Southampton – Cherbourg – New York
- Features: Twin screws, steel hull, elegant Saloon accommodations, smoking rooms, and libraries catering to elite clientele.
- Notable Service: Brief holder of the Blue Riband; served as an armed merchant cruiser during the Spanish–American War.
Senior Officers and Staff
- Captain: W. J. Roberts
- Purser: Howard E. Hinsley
- Surgeon: R. C. Hutchinson
- Chief Steward: Jarnes Farrell
Saloon Passengers
- Mrs. C. L. Allen
- Mr. T. Ellis Browne
- Miss Allen
- Mrs. George Pendleton Bowler
- Mr. G. H. Atkin and Maid
- Mrs. Abell
- Mr. Harvey Bell
- Miss A. Abell
- Mr. Henry Bacon
- Mrs. Hortense Arnould
- Mr. E. C. Bickell
- Mr. Chas. E. Ackers
- Mrs. Edward S. Bragg
- Miss Kitty Abbey
- Miss J. H. Ballantine
- Mr. S. H. Benton
- Mrs. S. H. Benton
- Miss Louise Beaudet
- Dr. J. D. Burns
- Mr. J. H. Brock
- Mr. J. S. Barclay
- Mr. T. J. Blakeslee
- Mr. H. A. Boal
- Dr. G. W. Burns
- Mr. I. Behr
- Miss Kenyon Bishop
- Mr. G. Berry
- Mr. George Booker
- Mrs. Booker
- Miss Louise Booker
- Mr. Julius Beck
- Mr. T. W. Cauter
- Mr. L. R. Cauter
- Mr. C. L. Cauter
- Mrs. Sarah E. E. Chamberlain
- Miss A. B. Corse
- Mr. Gilman Callamose
- Mr. Walter Camp
- Mrs. Camp
- Mr. Edwin E. Cassell
- Mrs. Cassell
- Capt. L. H. Close
- Mr. H. B. Clark
- Mr. Thos. P. Cleaves
- Hon. T. H. Carter
- Mr. T. E. Comba
- Mr. W. S. Colvin
- Mr. H. L. Cooper
- Mrs. Cooper
- Mrs. Cushing
- Mr. Clydesdale
- Mrs. Clydesdale
- Mr. R. W. Carroll
- Mrs. Carroll
- Mr. Robert Fulgora
- Rev. M. B. Farse
- Mr. O. E. Foster
- Mr. S. Forster
- Mr. E. C. Frampton
- Mrs. Frampton
- Mr. John Faulkner
- Mr. R. B. Fort
- Mr. Martin Dennis
- Miss Florence Dodd
- Mr. C. Dupee
- Mr. John Drew
- Mrs. Drew
- Miss Drew and Valet
- Mr. William Disston
- Mrs. Disston and Maid
- Mr. Wm. Dunlop Disston
- Miss Pauline Disston and Nurse
- Mrs. N. Dunlop
- Miss E. Dunlop
- Mr. Frank Dale
- Mrs. Dale
- Mrs. Wert Dexter
- Miss Katherine Dexter and Maid
- Mr. Chas. E. Dudley
- Mr. C. R. Drummond
- Mrs. Drummond and Maid
- Mr. Andre Demetre
- Mr. Richard Harding Davis
- Mrs. Richard Harding Davis and Maid
- Mrs. W. F. Douthirt
- Mr. A. M. palberg
- Mr. Robt. Emmet
- Mrs. Emmet
- Mrs. Earl
- Miss Earl
- Mrs. Richard L. Evans
- Master Evans
- Miss Enstace
- Mrs. W. H. Frease
- Mr. E. D. Floyd
- Mrs. Floyd
- Miss Caroline A. Finneran
- Hon. J. W. Goff
- Mr. F. H. Ginn
- Mrs. Ginn
- Mr. Chas. Cross Goodrich
- Mrs. Goodrich
- Mr. Arthur Geoffroy
- Mr. Miles D. Goodyear
- Mrs. Goodyear
- Mrs. John S. George
- Mr. C. H. George
- Mrs. F. G. Gallup
- Miss Jean Donald Gallup
- Mr. Robert M. Green
- Mr. W. F. Garrison
- Mrs. Garrison and Maid
- Mr. George Gibb
- Mrs. C. de Guerin
- Mr. H. B. Gilson
- Mrs. H. G. Gibson
- Miss A. E. Greatsinger
- Mr. H. T. Greenley
- Mrs. Ethel A. Hatch
- Miss Jeanne M. Hatch
- Mr. C. F. Halsted
- Mr. G. F. Halsted
- Miss Julia C. Harrison
- Mr. H. H. Hutchinson
- Mrs. W. M. Harlon
- Mr. W. G. Hockridge
- Miss Rita M. Hardie
- Mr. I. Howland
- Mrs. Howland
- Mr. Fletcher Harper
- Mrs. Albert Howell, Jr.
- Mr. A. Howell, Jr.
- Mr. J. W. Hallowell
- Mrs. C. E. Hall
- Mr. R. M. Howison
- Mr. De Wett Hutchings
- Mr. Joseph C. Hoagland and courier
- Mrs. Hoagland and Maid
- Miss Fanny M. Hoagland
- Mr. John A. Hoagland
- Mr. Alanson S. Hall
- Mr. F. W. Hippie
- Mrs. Hackley
- Mr. Henri Jaquin
- Mr. John Paul Jones
- Mrs. Jones
- Mr. Chevalier Jackson
- Mrs. Jackson
- Mr. E. C. Kindelberger
- Mrs. Wm. J. Kline
- Miss Helen M. Kline
- Rev. A. A. Kiehle
- Mrs. Kiehle
- Mr. Preston Kumber
- Miss Mary J. Kean
- Master J. Lyon Kean
- Master Drew H. Kean
- Mr. Herman Kloninger
- Mrs. Kloninger
- Mr. Lester Keene
- Mr. Gordon P. Kiser
- Mr. Theodore Leach
- Mr. A. J. Loecher
- Mrs. Loecher
- Dr Hartland Law
- Mr. J. Lichtenstein
- Mrs. Lichtenstein
- Miss A. Lichtenstein
- Mr. H. B. Livingstone
- Mrs. H. B. Livingstone
- Mr. G. N. Lusson
- Mr. C. F. Linsley
- Mrs. Linsley
- Miss Bessie G. Linsley
- Dr Harry Lukes
- Mrs. Lukes
- Miss R. Lukes
- Mr. E. Le Page
- Mrs. Le Page
- Mr. Ed. Latell
- Mrs. Latell
- Mr. Robt. Emroy McClenahan
- Mrs. McClenahan
- Mr. Roy P. McClenahan
- Mr. T. G. Morflt
- Mr. Wm. McNicoll
- Mrs. McNicoll
- Mrs. A. B. Martel
- Miss Daisy Moran
- Mrs. K. McCaim
- Mr. Wm. A. Mears
- Mrs. Mears
- Miss Mary E. Mears
- Miss Mazie A. Mears and Maid
- Mr. M. J. McNeil
- Mr. John S. McNeil
- Mrs. McNeill
- Miss Maude McNeill
- Mr. C. H. McNeill
- Mr. Mariani
- Mr. Wm. H. McCallum
- Mrs. Wm. H. McCallum
- Dr. J. Marrow
- Mrs. Marrow
- Miss Marrow
- Mrs. George A. McCellan
- Miss Marion McClellan
- Mr. Metzler
- Mrs. M. L. McChain
- Miss M. W. McChain
- Mr. C. F..McClumpha
- Mr. J. C. McLauchlin
- Mrs. G. B. McCulloch
- Miss J. W. McCulloch
- Rev. G. Parsons Nichols
- Mrs. Nichols
- Mr. John R. Norris
- Mr. J. J. O'Neill
- Mrs. O'Neill
- Mr. G. W. Ochs
- Mr. Joseph Ogilby
- Mr. Chas. Ogilby
- Miss Anne Phinizy
- Mr. G. I. Parkhurst
- Mr. Palmer
- Dr. H. M. Pomeroy
- Mrs. Pomeroy
- M. W. H. Purdy
- Mr. Leopold Plaut
- Mrs. Plaut
- Miss My C. Peckham
- Mrs. George H. Peckham
- Rev. J. R. Patterson
- Mrs. Patterson
- Mr. R. C. Perkins
- Mrs. E. Paledini
- Mr. A. W. Petitte
- Mr. W. J. Partridge
- Miss Irene Perry
- Rev. M. J. Savage
- Mr. M. S. Savage
- Mr. Otto Stalmann
- Mrs. George P. Scriven, two children and Maid
- Mr. Walter J. Stanford
- Mr. F. J. Quinlan
- Mr. James Q. Rice
- Mr. George K. Reed
- Mrs. Reed
- Mr. H. S. Reynolds
- Miss A. Richards
- Mr. A. N. Rice
- Mr. James T. Roche, Jr.
- Mr. Louis Rohrheimer
- Mr. A. M. Rihl
- Mrs. Rihl
- Mrs. W. G. Read, Jr.
- Miss Helen Read
- Miss Edith Read
- Miss Rudeloff
- Mr. Chas. F. Rotch
- Mr. A. B. Ryker
- Mr. Russell
- Mr. G. H. Rivers
- Mr. F. O. Strong
- Mr. Henry L. Scheuerman
- Mr. P. P. Smith
- Mrs. Smith
- Mr. James Sharp
- Mr. W. H. Shepard
- Mr. F. P. Stearns
- Mrs. Stearns
- Mr. H. R. Stearns
- Mr. R. H. Stearns
- Mr. F. G. Sikes
- Mr. H. H. Smith
- Miss J. Sampson
- Mr. Wm. P. Sharpless
- Mrs. Sharpless
- Mr. Hugh Sivell
- Mr. Jas. P. Silo
- Miss Hattie Smith
- Mrs. L. B. Shriver
- Miss Adeline Salisbury and Maid
- Mr. Chas. L. Seale
- Mrs. Seale
- Master Claude Seale
- Mr. Harold Sheldon
- Mr. J. L. Truscott
- Mrs. Truscott and child
- Mr. R. H. Thomas
- Mrs. Frederick G. Trunkett
- Miss Isabel Trunkett
- Mr. F. W. Tower
- Mr. J. D. Thompson
- Mr. Benj. H. Tatem
- Mrs. Tatem
- Mr. John M. Tatem
- Mr. Wm. A. Tatem
- Mr. Saml. L. Tuck
- Mrs. Tuck
- Mrs. George E. Taylor
- Miss Grace L. Temple
- Col. J. F. Tobias
- Mr. R. K. Tyler
- Miss M. E. Vaughan
- Dr Von Roeder
- Mr. Henry Wendt
- Mrs. Wendt
- Mr. S. G. Wells
- Mr. C. A. White
- Miss Grace White
- Mr. A. Wetmore
- Mrs. Wetmore
- Mr. O. P. Wilson
- Mrs. Wilson
- Mr. E. J. Wendell
- Mr. Robt. Wilkinson
- Mrs. J. H. Wheeler
- Mr. Walker Willson Watrous and Valet
- Mrs. Watrous and Maid
- Mrs. Whitaker
- Miss Amy Whitaker
- Mr. F. J. Wells
- Mr. W. P. White
- Mr. Alexander C. Young
- Mrs. Young
🌟 Notable Passengers & Their Significance
Political & Public Figures
Hon. T. H. Carter – United States Senator from Montana and former Chairman of the Republican National Committee, influential in late 19th-century American politics. Demonstrates the liner's role in transporting prominent statesmen.
Hon. J. W. Goff – Prominent jurist and reformer, later a Justice of the New York Supreme Court, known for his role in dismantling corrupt police and political rings in New York City.
Military Leaders
Col. J. F. Tobias – Senior military figure, representing the class of officers often found among the elite travelers of the American Line.
Religious Leaders
Rev. M. J. Savage – Renowned Unitarian minister and author, recognized for progressive sermons and social advocacy in Boston and New York.
Rev. A. A. Kiehle – Distinguished clergyman and educator, noteworthy for blending pastoral duties with academic leadership.
Rev. G. Parsons Nichols – Cleric whose presence highlights the influence and mobility of religious leaders in Gilded Age society.
Cultural & Entertainment Icons
John Drew – Celebrated American stage actor, a major figure in late 19th-century theatre, traveling with his family and valet.
Richard Harding Davis – Famous American journalist, novelist, and war correspondent, known for his vivid dispatches from global hotspots. His wife accompanied him, suggesting this may have been a social and professional voyage. He was a celebrated American journalist, war correspondent, and author, known for his vivid reporting and literary contributions. His presence highlights the vessel as a carrier of cultural and intellectual figures.
Miss Louise Beaudet – Prominent actress and singer, popular on both American and European stages.
Industrial & Business Leaders
Walter Camp – Known as the “Father of American Football,” Yale graduate, influential in shaping the sport and in athletic training and introducing key elements such as the line of scrimmage.
William Disston – Member of the prominent Disston family, owners of Henry Disston & Sons, the largest saw manufacturing firm in the world at the time.
Fletcher Harper – Likely a member of the Harper publishing family, central to the success of Harper’s Magazine and Harper & Brothers.
Social & Philanthropic Figures
Mrs. George P. Scriven – Wife of the U.S. Army officer who would later become Chief Signal Officer; traveled with children and staff, reflecting the era’s elite family travel culture.
Mrs. Hortense Arnould – A Parisian socialite and patroness of the arts, known for her involvement in transatlantic cultural exchanges. She represents the cosmopolitan nature of first-class travel
Physicians
Dr. J. D. Burns – A pioneering physician contributing to medical advancements and public health. Illustrates the intellectual caliber of passengers aboard the SS New York.
Some Mini-Biographies of VIP Passengers
John Drew Jr. (1853–1927) — American Stage Royalty 🎭
A leading man of the New York stage and scion of America’s first theatrical dynasty, John Drew Jr. was the son of actor-managers John Drew Sr. and Louisa Lane Drew and the uncle of John, Ethel, and Lionel Barrymore. He rose to fame under impresario Augustin Daly, then became a star for Charles Frohman, known for polished comedy roles in hits like The Bauble Shop and Rosemary. Offstage he was celebrated for impeccable style and for stabilizing “legit” theatre during the transition from stock companies to long Broadway runs. (Wikipedia)
Richard Harding Davis (1864–1916) — Celebrity War Correspondent & Novelist 📰✒️
Davis was the American war correspondent of the 1890s–1910s—handsome, daring, and ubiquitous. He covered the Spanish–American War, the Second Boer War, and World War I’s Balkans front, helping shape the modern image of the roving foreign correspondent. Between dispatches he wrote best-selling fiction (Soldiers of Fortune) and society pieces that defined Gilded-Age elan. His reporting style—fast, cinematic, personality-driven—influenced generations of journalists. (Wikipedia)
Louise Beaudet (1859–1947) — French-Canadian Prima Donna of Comic Opera 🎶✨
Born Marie-Louise-Thérèse Paquet in Québec, the stage-name Louise Beaudet became synonymous with light opera and musical comedy on both sides of the Atlantic. She debuted young, toured widely in the 1880s–1890s, and parlayed her coloratura sparkle and command of French repertoire into lead roles that kept her a box-office draw well into the early 20th century. Archival collections (NYPL Billy Rose Theatre Division) and francophone reference works document her long career and later work in early film. (Encyclopedia Britannica, Britannica Kids)
Walter Camp (1859–1925) — “Father of American Football” 🏈📘
A Yale halfback turned strategist, Walter Camp codified the rules that transformed rugby-style mass play into American football: the line of scrimmage, down-and-distance, the snap, team size reduced to eleven, and more. He coached at Yale (and briefly at Stanford) and popularized the sport through annual All-America teams and rule-committee leadership. Camp’s influence on training, tactics, and the sport’s culture is unmatched; the modern game still runs through ideas he championed. (WikiTree, Wikipedia)
Fletcher Harper (Publishing Heir & Gilded-Age Clubman) 📚🗽
The name Fletcher Harper rings loudly in U.S. publishing—the original Fletcher Harper (1806–1877) co-founded Harper & Brothers and launched Harper’s Weekly, a powerhouse of Civil-War-era journalism and illustration. The Fletcher Harper appearing on late-1890s passenger lists is almost certainly a descendant/namesake active in New York society and travel; several Harpers of the family’s younger generations used the name. While the 1899 manifest doesn’t fix his middle initials, contextual records tie the surname to the firm’s extended family network that remained prominent in Manhattan’s literary and social circles after the founders’ deaths. (Because more than one “Fletcher Harper” was living in the 1890s, I’m avoiding a false positive.) (Encyclopedia Britannica)
💡 Most Engaging Elements of This List
This passenger list stands out because it captures a perfect cross-section of Gilded Age high society—from actors and authors to industrialists, clergy, and political heavyweights. The presence of Richard Harding Davis and John Drew offers a rare overlap between the literary, journalistic, and theatrical worlds aboard a single voyage. Additionally, the mix of public servants, military officers, and industrial leaders shows the SS New York’s role as a floating meeting ground for America’s elite.
Information for Passengers
- Breakfast from 8 until 10 am
- Luncheon at 1 pm
- Dinner at 6:30 pm
The Bar closes at 11:00 pm Lights are extinguished in the Saloon at 11:00 pm, and in the Smoking Room at 12 (midnight).
Please apply to the Second Steward for Seats at Table.
Letters and Telegrams should be handed to the Saloon Steward within an hour after leaving Southampton, and those for despatch upon reaching port should be handed to him an hour before arrival.
Writing Paper, Envelopes, and Telegraph Forms, will be found in the Library.
For Railway and Steamship Time Tables of the various Companies, apply to the Saloon Steward.
Inquiries regarding Baggage will be attended to by the Baggage Steward, to whom all Baggage which Passengers wish to leave in the Company's care should be handed, properly labelled, and with full instructions as to disposal.
Large Deck Chairs can be obtained for use on the voyage, at a charge of 50 cents each, upon application at the Purser's Office, or to the Deck Steward.
The Company will not be responsible for valuables or money unless given in the charge of the Purser, and a receipt for same should be obtained from the Purser.
Letters may be addressed to the care of any of the Offices named below, and they will be retained until called for, or forwarded according to instructions.
📚 Relevance for Teachers, Students, Historians & Genealogists
Teachers & Students – Offers primary source insight into Gilded Age travel habits, social class distinctions, and notable personalities of the era.
Historians – Useful for research into transatlantic cultural exchanges and the intersection of politics, arts, and industry in elite social circles.
Genealogists – Provides rich leads for family research, especially with multiple family groups, high-profile names, and identifiable staff members accompanying wealthy travelers.
💭 Final Thoughts — Why This Passenger List Matters
The 12 August 1899 voyage of the SS New York is more than just a record of names—it’s a portrait of American and British upper society at the turn of the century. The blending of political leaders, military officers, entertainers, writers, and industrialists aboard one ship mirrors the cosmopolitan, interconnected nature of the Gilded Age’s elite. For anyone studying this era, this list is a microcosm of influence, ambition, and culture—carried across the Atlantic on steel and steam. 🚢✨
American Line Sailing Schedule, Southampton-New York Service, From 16 August 1899 to 30 December 1899. Ships Included the New York, St. Louis, and St. Paul. SS New York Saloon Passenger List, 12 August 1899. | GGA Image ID # 22b9417dcf
Title Page, List of Senior Officers, List of Passengers, Part 1 (Mrs. C. L. Allen to Mr. W. S. Colvin). SS New York Saloon Passenger List, 12 August 1899. | GGA Image ID # 22b997a68c
List of Passengers, Part 2 (Mr. H. L. Cooper to Mrs Hoagland and Maid). SS New York Saloon Passenger List, 12 August 1899. | GGA Image ID # 22b99fd70c
List of Passengers, Part 3 (Miss Fanny M. Hoagland to Mrs. George H. Peckham). SS New York Saloon Passenger List, 12 August 1899. | GGA Image ID # 22b9afec68
List of Passengers, Part 4 (Mr. J. R. Patterson to Mrs. Young). SS New York Saloon Passenger List, 12 August 1899. | GGA Image ID # 22ba01e934
Information for Passengers, Offices and Agencies of International Navigation Co. SS New York Saloon Passenger List, 12 August 1899. | GGA Image ID # 22ba05109a
Curator’s Note
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