RMS Etruria Passenger List - 30 April 1898

Front Cover to a Saloon Passenger List for the RMS Etruria of the Cunard Line, Departing Saturday, 30 April 1898 from Liverpool to New York, Commanded by Captain John Ferguson. GGA Image ID # 15a69aa98e

Notable Passengers: Herbert Wolcott Bowen, Edward Herbert Cozens-Hardy, 3rd Baron Cozens-Hardy, James Jerome Hill, Joseph Christoffel Hoagland, Walter Richard Wood, CM.

Senior Officers and Staff

1. Captain: John Ferguson
2. Surgeon: Francis VERDON
3. Purser: Andrew Milliken
4. Chief Steward: W. Atterby

Saloon Passengers

1. Mr. E. G. L. Anderson
2. Mr. J. D. Armitage
3. Mrs. Armitage
4. Mr. H. B. Ashmore
5. Mr. T. P. Bacon
6. Mr. R. J. Beechinor
7. Mr. James L. Bennet
8. Mr. G. F. Blake
9. Mr. Herbert Wolcott Bowen (Note 2)
10. Mr. John T. Boyt
11. Mrs. Boyt
12. Mr. E. Brusewitz
13. Mrs. Brusewitz
14. Mr. A. C. Campbell (Note 1)
15. Mr. C. W. Clark
16. Mrs. Clark
17. Mr. R. D. Clark (Note 1)
18. Mr. A. W. Clark
19. Mr. E. Couill
20. Count Franz. Deym
21. Mr. Henry A. La Fetra
22. Mr. L. W. Fox
23. Mr. A. V. Fraser
24. Mrs. Fraser
25. Mr. W. C. Gardiner
26. Miss J. Gordon
27. Mr. F. Guscotte (Note 1)
28. Mr. E. H. Cozens Hardy (Note 3)
    
29. Mr. F. O. Harvey
30. Mr. J. J. Hill (Note 4)
31. Mr. J. C. Hoagland (Note 5)
32. Mr. C. S. Holland
33. Mrs. Humphrey
34. Miss Humphrey
35. Mr. W. E. Killick
36. Major Laing
37. Mrs. W. V. Lawrence
38. Miss Lawrence
39. Mr. Austin W. Lord
40. Mr. S. Lucas
41. Miss C. M. Lucas
42. Mr. A. MacCorkindale
43. Mr. T. N. Mackinnon
44. Mr. A. T. Maitland
45. Mr. W. H. Marcon
46. Mr. P. L. McLaren
47. Mr. R. P. McLea
48. Mr. P. Mooney
49. Rev. Edward J. Moriarty
50. Mr. E. P. Morton
51. Mr. J. H. Murray
52. Mr. L. Nachmann
53. Captain Alfred Paget, R.N. and Manservant
54. Mr. J. B. René
55. Mr. A. L. Roberts
56. Mr. John Roger
57. Mr. G. H. Rosing
58. Mr. Safford
59. Mr. John Schneider
60. Mr. W. Seers
61. Dr. Stothard
62. Dr. Charles E. Smith
63. Mr. J. L. Thorndike
64. Mrs. C. F. Tucker
65. Mr. J. C. Updike
66. Mr. R. Thery
67. Mr. Walter Wood (Note 6)
68. Mr. S. S. Costikyan
69. Mr. Thos. Vooght
70. Mr. A. J. Townson
71. Mr. E. A. Kerbs
72. Mr. P. J. Dasey

Notes About Passengers

1. Liine was drawn through name - typically, this means the passenger was booked but did not board this vessel.
2. (U.S. Consul General, Barcelona) Herbert Wolcott Bowen (29 February 1856 – 29 May 1927) was an American diplomat and poet. He served as ambassador to Venezuela, and consul-general in Spain and Persia.
3. Edward Herbert Cozens-Hardy, 3rd Baron Cozens-Hardy (1873–1956)
4. James Jerome Hill (September 16, 1838 – May 29, 1916), was a Canadian-American railroad executive. He was the chief executive officer of a family of lines headed by the Great Northern Railway, which served a substantial area of the Upper Midwest, the northern Great Plains, and Pacific Northwest. Because of the size of this region and the economic dominance exerted by the Hill lines, Hill became known during his lifetime as The Empire Builder.
5. Joseph Christoffel Hoagland (June 19, 1841 - December 8, 1899) was the president of the Royal Baking Powder Company.
6. Walter Richard Wood, CM (1876 – 31 March 1981) was a Canadian active in the Boy Scouts. Born in England, the son of Richard Leonard Wood and Martha Glover, he came to Canada in 1920 and worked as a machinist with the Dominion Atlantic Railway. Wood was a lifelong member of the Boy Scouts and was still regularly attending meetings until the age of 101 and is still known as the oldest Boy Scout in the Commonwealth of Nations.

Passenger Recapitulation : Saloon 70; Second Cabin 105; Steerage 331; Total 506

Reconciliation of Saloon Passengers: 72 Names Listed + Manservant - 3 Not on board = 5

Cunard Atlantic Ocean Track Chart, 1898. Included Outward and Homeward Distances, and a Notice: With a View of Diminishing the Chances of Collision, Steamers of This Line Take Specified Courses According to the Seasons of the Year. Back Cover of a Saloon Class Passenger List for the RMS Etruria Dated 30 April 1898. GGA Image ID # 15a6a06b25

Passenger List Information

RMS Etruria Saloon Passenger List, 30 April 1898

An Exceptional Historical Relic of Gilded Age Transatlantic Travel

Front Cover, Saloon Passenger List for the RMS Etruria, Departing Saturday, 30 April 1898, Liverpool to New York, Commanded by Captain John Ferguson.

 

Description

This remarkable artifact captures a unique moment in maritime history as it lists the distinguished passengers aboard the Etruria—one of Cunard Line's premier Atlantic liners—on her westbound crossing during the height of transatlantic travel in the late 19th century. The front cover features an elegant Cunard emblem, while the interior reveals the meticulously detailed roster of the ship’s Saloon Class travelers, a veritable who's-who of the era's elite.

 

Historical Context and Provenance

The RMS Etruria, built in 1885, was a jewel of the Cunard Line fleet, known for her luxury, speed, and technological advancements. By 1898, she had become a favorite of the Gilded Age’s wealthy elite, as evidenced by the luminaries aboard this voyage. Departing Liverpool amidst the refined fanfare typical of Cunard vessels, she carried influential figures from diplomacy, business, and society to the thriving metropolis of New York.

This passenger list, accompanied by an Atlantic Ocean Track Chart, provides insight into navigation practices and the measures taken to ensure passenger safety, further enhancing its historical value.

 

Notable Passengers: A Gilded Age Elite

The Etruria’s roster on 30 April 1898 features prominent figures, each leaving an indelible mark on history. Below are the distinguished individuals identified as VIPs, along with the reasons for their prominence:

1. Herbert Wolcott Bowen
   American Diplomat and Poet
   U.S. Consul General in Barcelona, Bowen was a significant figure in American diplomacy, later serving as Minister to Venezuela during a critical period of U.S.-Latin American relations. His writings further underscore his cultural influence.
2. Edward Herbert Cozens-Hardy, 3rd Baron Cozens-Hardy
   British Aristocrat and Politician
   The heir to an influential British lineage, Lord Cozens-Hardy’s title and contributions to British civic life make his presence aboard this voyage a highlight.
3. James Jerome Hill
   "The Empire Builder," Railroad Tycoon
   Hill’s transformative work as CEO of the Great Northern Railway reshaped the economic landscape of the U.S. Midwest and Northwest. A key figure in American industrial history, Hill was traveling likely to further his transcontinental endeavors.
4. Joseph Christoffel Hoagland
   Founder, Royal Baking Powder Company
   An innovator in food production, Hoagland revolutionized baking practices. His travel reflects the international scope of his business and cultural interests.
5. Walter Richard Wood, CM
   Canadian Boy Scouts Leader and Lifelong Volunteer
   A pioneer of the Boy Scouts movement in Canada, Wood’s longevity and impact on youth programs resonate as an enduring legacy.
6. Count Franz Deym
   Austro-Hungarian Diplomat
   Representing the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Deym’s presence underscores the cosmopolitan nature of the Etruria’s clientele during this era.

 

Key Features of the Passenger List

• Elegantly Designed Front Cover: Featuring Cunard branding and typographic excellence.
• Detailed Passenger Roster: Includes notations and updates, reflecting the meticulous record-keeping of the time.
• Accompanying Track Chart: Displays outward and homeward distances, offering a rare glimpse into navigational protocols.

 

Conclusion

The RMS Etruria Saloon Passenger List for 30 April 1898 serves as both a tangible connection to the Gilded Age and a testament to the opulence of transatlantic travel during a transformative period in global history. The inclusion of prominent figures such as Herbert Wolcott Bowen and James J. Hill elevates its importance, making it a unique piece of maritime and cultural history.

This remarkable artifact is not merely a document; it is a narrative of ambition, exploration, and the enduring human spirit aboard one of the most illustrious vessels of its time.