J. W. Bailey Letter - RMS Saxonia - 1903

This letter, although brief recorded one of the roughest transatlantic voyages by the Saxonia from Liverpool to Boston. The newspaper clipping from a Boston newspaper was typical of the day as they announced notable passengers and spoke of the death of a passenger in Steerage during the voyage (7 March 1903) - a young girl from Sweden who was buried at sea.

The J.W. Baliey Letter - On Cunard Stationery

J. W. Bailey Correspondence, RMS Saxonia, 7 March 1907, Page 1 of 3. GGA Image ID # 1d5aa83fd0

J. W. Bailey Correspondence, RMS Saxonia, 7 March 1907, Page 2 of 3. GGA Image ID # 1d5b2f4cdb

J. W. Bailey Correspondence, RMS Saxonia, 7 March 1907, Page 3 of 3. GGA Image ID # 1d5b353478

Transcription of J. W. Bailey Correspondence

RMS Saxonia

East Boston

7th March 1903

Dear Mrs. Housten,

Your welcome letter received this morning & was very pleased to hear you were still enjoying good health.

Yes, I am still in the Saxonia and arrived here yesterday morning, after a rather stormy passage, which made us a day late.

We had a good list of passengers, therefore still keeping up the population of the United States, as you wil see by the enclosed slip from the Paper.

I enclose list of sailings.

Hoping this finds you still keeping well as it leaves me at present, with kind regards,

Yours sincerely

J. W. Bailey

Reporting of Passengers on RMS Saxonia, 8 March 1903. Newspaper Clipping Enclosure - J. W. Bailey Correspondence. GGA Image ID # 1d5b82eb99

Transcription of the Boston Newspaper Clipping from 7 March 1903:

MANY FINNS ARRIVE,

The Saxonia Brings 1046 New Americans in All.

Russia's Scapegoats Are Numerous in Steerage.

Countess D'Aulby Comes to Visit in Scituate.

With hundreds of people standing at the docks cheering her arrival and greeting friends on board, the massive Cunard Atlantic liner Saxonia arrived at East Boston yesterday with 1229 passengers on board, 25 in the saloon, 158 in the second cabin and 1046 in the third-class. The voyage was one of the roughest ever made. Gales and high seas prevailed until last Tuesday. The trip from Daunt's Rock lightship to Boston outer light took just 9 days 1 hour and 47 minutes.

The saloon passengers were:

1. Dr. W. B. Batchelder,
2. Mr. Clausen,
3. Mr. J. Hally Craig,
4. Countess d'Aulby,
5. Mr. A. L. Flint,
6. Mrs. E. H. Fox,
7. Mr. R. M. Howison,
8. Mrs. J. L. Humphrey, Jr.,
9. Mrs. Lacon,
10. Mr. J. H. Macdonald,
11. Mr. Harry McGee,
12. Mr. Hans Meinl,
13. Mr. A. S. Murray,
14. Mrs. Murray,
15. Master Murray,
16. Mr. Richards,
17. Mr. James Shepard,
18. Miss E. Simpson,
19. Mr. 'Villeneuve,
20. Miss Esther B. Wadsworth
21. Miss Jessie G. Wadsworth,
22. Mr. E. P. Warren,
23. Mrks Hilda Whiteside,
24. Miss E. Lacon and
25. Miss G. M. Ramsey.

Among the more notable passengers was Countess d'Aulby, formerly Miss Lund of Boston, here on a three weeks' visit to her sister at Scituate. A picturesque passenger in the second cabin was Mr. V. A. Naidu of Madras, India, who wore a beautifully colored turban, and, with his dark skin and long coat, attracted considerable attention. Mr. Naidu, speaks English very fluently, and his visit is principally on business, as he does an extensive trade in skins in the United States.

The steerage contained 1046 passengers, mostly Fins, Swedes, English and some Irish and Jewish people. Last Monday [2 March 1903] a small Swedish girl died, and was buried at sea the following day. The immigration inspectors are on a sharp lookout for violations of the contract labor law, and held several persons for a further hearing.

Front Side of Mailing Envelope - J. W. Bailey Correspondence, RMS Saxonia, 7 March 1903. GGA Image ID # 1d5b8e5784

Back Side of Mailing Envelope - J. W. Bailey Correspondence, RMS Saxonia, 7 March 1903. GGA Image ID # 1d5bafdd1b