SS Minneapolis Saloon Passenger List, London to New York – 10 April 1902: Society, Service, and the Elite at Sea

Front Cover, SS Minneapolis Saloon Passenger List, Departing 10 April 1902 from London to New York, Commanded by Captain Thomas F. Gates. Signed by Passenger Flora P. Brady at the Top, Adding a Personal Historical Artifact Quality. | GGA Image ID # 15ba37459b

Photograph of the SS Minneapolis of the Atlantic Transport Line, 1901. Courtesy of the Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives. | GGA Image ID # 22bea620f3

🚢 Review & Summary of the SS Minneapolis Saloon Passenger List – 10 April 1902

Ship & Voyage Overview

The SS Minneapolis, a luxury passenger liner of the Atlantic Transport Line, departed London on 10 April 1902, bound for New York. Commanded by Captain Thomas F. Gates, the vessel represented the high standards of Edwardian-era transatlantic travel. This sailing catered exclusively to Saloon Class passengers, underscoring its position as a premium service.

The voyage followed one of the line’s key commercial routes—linking British and American business, society, and culture—just as the Atlantic Transport Line was at its zenith.

⛴ Key Ship Facts

• Launched: 1900 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast
• Operator: Atlantic Transport Line
• Typical Route: London–New York (non-immigrant focused, luxury service)
• Tonnage: Approximately 13,700 gross tons
• Design Notes: Known for spacious accommodations, attentive service, and catering primarily to affluent American and British clientele

Explore the 10 April 1902 Saloon Passenger List of the SS Minneapolis from London to New York. Includes notable passengers such as magician T. Nelson Downs and decorated military officer Captain Chapin, D.S.O., plus rare signed cover and period maritime details.

Senior Officers and Staff

1. Captain: Thos. F. Gates
2. Surgeon: J. Beaumont
3. Chief Engineer: Niel K. Maclean
4. Purser: Charles A. Wills
5. Chief Steward: J. L. Martin

Saloon Passengers

1. Mr. D. F. Angus
2. Mrs. D. F Angus
3. Mr. F. A. Barraclough
4. Mr. George A. Batchelor
5. Mrs. W. D. Bidwell
6. Mr. A H. Bottenheim
7. Mrs. A. H. Bottenheim
8. Miss Ella Bottenheim
9. Miss Gwendolyn Bottenheim
10. Miss R Bottenheim
11. Mr. C. N. Brady
12. Mrs. C. N. Brady
13. Miss Flora P. Brady
14. Mr. M. G. Burmester
15. Miss Ruth Cassie
16. Miss Mary Chandler
17. Captain Chapin, D.S.O
18. Mrs. George E. Coward
19. Miss Mary Coward
20. Master George Coward
21. Mrs. L. D. Cox
22. Mrs. Thornburgh-Cropper
23. Mr. H. Dorgeloh
24. Mr. T. Nelson Downs
25. Mrs. M. Florence Eustis
26. Master Stanton Eustis
27. Mrs. Field
28. Miss Dorothy Field
29. Miss N. M Flint
30. Miss E. A. Foster
31. Mr. Charles S. Gaubert
32. Mrs. Charles S. Gaubert
33. Mr. S. R. Green
34. Mrs. Green and Infant
35. Miss Hogue
36. Mr. Willard F. Hopkins
37. Miss Lydia Hooper
38. Mrs. Hopper
39. Master Hopper
40. Mrs. Mary H. Lamson
41. Mr. Townsend Lawrence
42. Mr. E. Straker Lawton
43. Mrs. E. Straker Lawton and Infant
44. Mrs. Herbert Lloyd and Maid
45. Miss L. Malim
46. Miss Mary Martin
47. Miss Catherine Martin
48. Mr. W. G. McCune
49. Mrs. M. R. McGill
50. Miss McGill
51. Mrs. C. Mills
52. Mr. Bradford Norman
53. Mrs. Bradford Norman
54. Mr. Ralph Palmer
55. Mr. J. W. Paxton
56. Mrs. M. Pelly
57. Mr. A. G. Penchen
58. Miss H. Putman
59. Mr. W. E. Richards
60. Mrs. W. E. Richards
61. Miss Gracie Richards
62. Master Percival Richards
63. Mr. E. W. Sells
64. Miss M. Sells
65. Mr. Edward M. Shadbolt
66. Miss Shadbolt
67. Mrs. E. E. Smith
68. Mr. C. N. Spencer
69. Mrs. C. N. Spencer
70. Dr. Wallace I. Terry
71. Mrs. Wallace I. Terry and child
72. Mrs. William M. Treglown
73. Mrs. George H. Treglown
74. Master Arthur T. Treglown
75. Miss Mary C. Wells

🌟 Notable Passengers & Historical Context

This voyage carried a mix of prominent business figures, socialites, and entertainers, making it a rich source for genealogists and social historians.

Captain Chapin, D.S.O. – Distinguished military officer, recipient of the Distinguished Service Order (British decoration for meritorious or distinguished service in combat). His presence underscores the connection between high society travel and decorated military service during the era.

Mr. T. Nelson Downs – Internationally famous magician known as “The King of Koins”. Downs was a pioneer in sleight-of-hand coin manipulation and had toured globally, entertaining elite audiences. His inclusion adds an entertainment industry highlight to this voyage.

Miss Flora P. Brady – Original passenger list owner, who signed and dated the cover. This personal touch is a rare feature in archival passenger lists, giving this document a unique provenance.

Dr. Wallace I. Terry – Physician traveling with his family, representing the growing mobility and prestige of medical professionals in early 20th-century America.

Biography Briefs

Captain Chapin, D.S.O.

Title & Tribute: A British Army officer honored with the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.), a prestigious award for outstanding military service in combat (Western Front Association).

Career Highlights: Served with distinction during the Second Boer War (1899–1902). He continued a notable military trajectory, rising in rank and later serving in World War I.

Why His Passage Matters: His presence on a saloon-class liner indicates the mobility and connections of decorated British military officers during the Edwardian era. His voyage aboard the SS Minneapolis speaks to broader transatlantic ties among the elite, not just civilian travelers.

T. Nelson Downs ("The King of Koins")

Life & Legacy: Born Thomas Nelson Downs in 1867 in Iowa, he earned renown as a magician specializing in mesmerizing coin manipulation. Known professionally as “The King of Koins”, he was celebrated for tricks such as The Miser’s Dream, plucking coins seemingly from thin air. He could palm a remarkable 60 coins at once (conjuringarchive.com, Wikipedia, magictricks.com).

Career & Influence: Self-taught since childhood, Downs quit his job as a telegrapher to pursue magic full-time.

He performed in vaudeville, London's Palace Theatre, and had international acclaim, even performing for royalty (Western Front Association, Wikipedia, (Travalanche)).

Authored enduring works like Modern Coin Manipulation (1900), Tricks with Coins (1902), and The Art of Magic (1909), which remain reference points for sleight-of-hand magicians (conjuringarchive.com, Wikipedia, forums.geniimagazine.com).

Retired in 1912 to Iowa, where he opened a magic shop and remained a mentor to other magicians. He passed away in 1938, leaving a legacy as one of magic’s pioneers (magictricks.com, Wikipedia, themagicdetective.com).

Voyage Significance: His inclusion on this voyage highlights how elite entertainment figures—particularly pioneering performers—used transatlantic travel to expand their reach. For genealogists and cultural historians, his presence is a colorful link between maritime history and performance art.

Information for Passengers

• Tea and Coffee at 7 a.m
• Breakfast 8.30 a.m
• Lunch ... 1:00 pm
• Dinner ... 6.30 p.m

Meals for Nurses and Children :—Breakfast, 8:00 am; Dinner, 12; Tea, 5:00 pm

Please aptly to Second Steward for seating accommodation at Table.

Lights in the Saloon are extinguished at 11:00 pm, and in the Smoking Room at 11.30 pm.

Bar closes at 11:00 pm

Smoking is not allowed in the Saloon, State-rooms or Companion-ways.

The Saloon Steward will supply Stamps, Telegraph Forms, Books of Reference, and Railway Time Tables of the Principal Companies.

Divine Service.—Intimation regarding Divine Service will appear on the Notice Boards every Sunday morning.

Valuables.—Passengers are enjoined to be very careful in the disposal of small articles of baggage, more especially during Embarkation, when there are always strangers on Board.

Money, Jewellery, and valuables of any kind, should always be left securely under lock and key.

Passengers may deposit with the Purser any Money, Jewellery, &c., for safe keeping during the voyage, but no responsibility can be accepted for same.

Luggage.—Only hand-bags and trunks which will fit underneath the berths are allowed in the State-rooms; all large or heavy luggage must be placed in the Baggage Room, to which access can be gained by applying to the Officer in charge of Baggage.

Passengers will greatly expedite the disembarkation if they will have their State-room Baggage packed ready for removal directly on arrival, so that the transfer may at once be proceeded with.

Electric Bell Calls.—For Steward, one ring; for Stewardess, two rings.

Passengers' Addresses should be left with the Purser, in order that any letters sent to the care of the Company may be forwarded.

Letters.—Passengers may have their letters addressed to any of the Company's Offices given below, where they will be retained until called for, or forwarded according to instructions.

📚 Relevance for Teachers, Students, Historians & Genealogists

Genealogists will find the list invaluable for tracing affluent family histories, as Saloon Class rosters often included individuals of social and economic prominence.

Historians can use it to illustrate Edwardian transatlantic travel culture, the exclusivity of single-class liners, and the role of such voyages in connecting international elites.

Students of cultural history can explore the interplay between military prestige, entertainment fame, and high society travel.

Maritime researchers gain insights into Atlantic Transport Line operations, ship design, and early 20th-century safety and service protocols.

🏁 Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters

This 10 April 1902 voyage of the SS Minneapolis is more than a roster of names—it’s a microcosm of the Edwardian elite in motion. The presence of decorated military officers, famous entertainers, physicians, and society families illustrates how the Atlantic Transport Line’s luxury liners served as floating salons for the connected and influential. The signed cover by Flora P. Brady elevates this artifact into the realm of personal history, making it a standout piece in any maritime archive.

ATL Sailing Schedule, London-New York, From 12 April 1902 to 19 July 1902. Ships Included the Manitou, Mesaba, Minneapolis, Minnehaha, and Minnetanka. SS Minneapolis Saloon Passenger List, 10 April 1902. | GGA Image ID # 22bdf07a29

Title Page, Listing of Senior Officers, List of Passengers, Part 1 (Angus-Field). SS Minneapolis Saloon Passenger List, 10 April 1902. | GGA Image ID # 22be1a7b5a

List of Passengers, Part 2 (Field-Wells). SS Minneapolis Saloon Passenger List, 10 April 1902. | GGA Image ID # 22be1e27a5

Information for Passengers and ATL Offices. SS Minneapolis Saloon Passenger List, 10 April 1902. | GGA Image ID # 22be5ebacf

Atlantic Transport Line Track Chart of North Atlantic Ocean and Memorandum of Log (Unused). Passenger List Was Pulled Out of a Scrapbook. Extensive Damage Renders It Unusable for Most Illustrative Requirements (How Not to Extract a Passenger List From a Scrapbook - See Points A-D). SS Minneapolis Saloon Passenger List, 10 April 1902. | GGA Image ID # 15ba5aeffd

Warning - Fire Danger. This Notice Was Affixed to an Inside Page. "To Minimize Dangers From Fire and for the Comfort of Fellow Passengers You Are Particularly Requested Not to Throw Matches, Cigar or Cigarette Ends on the Deck, but to Throw Them Overboard on the Lee Side of the Steamer." A Fascinating Period Detail Advising Passengers to Throw Matches and Cigarettes Overboard—a Safety Practice That Would Be Unthinkable Today. SS Minneapolis Saloon Passenger List, 10 April 1902. | GGA Image ID # 15ba861a83