Thursday, March 22, 2007

September 9th


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Sept 9th Sea is a little rough, with rain and wind, feeling wretched with sea sickness till towards evening when it became calmer. The next day being Sunday I attended divine service in the music room Keller speaking. Afterwards sat on deck and got a splendid view of a U.S.A. transport making its way through the waters.
Sept 12th Mr. Wilson and the chief engineer took me to the engine room to explain the machinery, interesting me very much, especially to see the red coals being shoveled up in the furnaces. It is wonderful how human beings can exist in so much heat.
Sept 14th There was a thick fog around us, which kept us 40 miles from port, and instead of landing at noon, it was 6.30 and then had to go on shore without any luggage too late for the customs to be gone

Sept 4th


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The 4th of September appeared twice giving us two Mondays in one week.
Sept 8th The S.S. Manchuria reached Honolulu at nine O’clock most of her passengers were on shore, I was escorted by two gentlemen, taking a walk through some of the streets, then we got into a car to ride round, and see what we could of Honolulu, visiting the museum, and aquarium, the latter the best I’ve ever seen for pretty fish of all colours. Going from the Aquarium to the Moana Hotel luncheon, afterwards taking the car back to the town, going on board soon after four to find Mr. Luinelle waiting to see me, having a cup of tea, and a little chat, we bid each other farewell once more, leaving the port at five thirty amidst the showers of flowers being the custom to throw flowers, at the parting of friends in Honolulu.

SS Manchuria


This is the steamer that Burtha M. Thompson travelled to Sanfransisco in via Honolulu.

The photograph and following text are cited from this website

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-m/id1633.htm

Please check the website out to see more images of the steamer.
This is a picture of the SS Manchuria originally built as a passenger steamer. She was taken over by the US Navy in April 1918 and commisioned later that month. During the rest of World War I she made five voyages to France, carrying American service personnel to the European war zone. After the November 1918 Armistice ended the fighting, Manchuria began bringing veterans home, making nine trips from France to the United States for this purpose. The last of these ended at New York in late August 1919. The ship was decommissioned there in September and returned to her owner.

Manchuria then resumed commercial operation, working in trans-Atlantic trade until 1923, when she began making trips between the U.S. East and West coasts. She was renamed President Johnson in November 1928 and thereafter was employed on round-the-World service. Late in 1941 the ship became a transport again, this time as a War Shipping Administration vessel under the control of the U.S. Army. During World War II she carried men and material throughout the Pacific Ocean, and made one post-war voyage to and from the Philippines during late 1945 and early 1946. Returned to civilian control after that trip, she was transferred to Panamanian registry in January 1947, renamed Santa Cruz, and spent the next several years carrying Italian emigrants to South America. The old ship was scrapped in Italy in 1952.

August 28th


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Aug 28th Miss Jacques called at the hotel to have a talk with me once more before leaving Japan, so after taking a cup of tea together we had a stroll, and then came the good byes of our friendship in the far east.
Aug 30th I took my last breakfast in Japan. The SS Manchuria calling us on board at two going out with a calm sea, and fine weather towards evening, there was a considerable swell, which made me a little sick, so I had to retire to my cabin unable to go in the saloon for dinner.
The next day was fine, but I was feeling wretched with sea sickness and unable to attend meals.
Sept 1st Feeling much better, I was able to eat some breakfast enjoy it but being a wet morning I had to stay in my comfortable little cabin. The following four or five days were fine

August 27th


(continued from previous page) The next day August 26th was spent in Tokyo till 5 O’clock, when we got into a Japanese trading for the last time arriving at Yokohama, a little before seven, after seeing the luggage brought up and placed in the rooms, I went down to dinner, and retired to rest quite early feeling rather tired.
Aug 27th I was glad to awake in the Grand Hotel Yokohama, to look out and see the vessels lying in the harbour. The afternoon I took a rickshaw ride through different streets, and I walked up the famous hundred steps evening I went to church and met Miss Jacques, who I stood chatting to for some time, and suddenly some rain drops began to patter down, that I had to take shelter in a Japanese shop or get wet through. So I preferred the former, and was detained there for nearly half an hour.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

August 25th


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our poor coolies and rickshaws were waiting to tuck us in (or rather enclose us in a coal shuttle) to keep us from getting wet on the long journey we had before us to Nikko way we started at nine thirty, the roads being very bad in places owing to so much rain, after we had got some distance, my “man horse,” dispensed with his sandals, having become worn out, when suddenly we came to a miry piece of road. I was horrified to see his legs disappear and me sitting in the rickshaw. The back men coming to assist him. He joined ground once again taking a back place, and another man taking the shafts so after a great deal of excitement, we were safely landed at Nikko in time for luncheon and from there take train to Tokyo; arriving at the Imperial Hotel first before seven to stay the night.

August 25th


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where we landed about 3 O’clock and strolled to the “Dragon’s Head Cascade,” returning to the lake side to have our picnic tea; getting into the boat again at five, hoping it would land us about six, and to our surprise we didn’t land till eight being carried backwards and forwards on the lake for 3 hours. So all we could do was to be content, and amuse ourselves in singing, which we certainly did, having to rely on a sailboat to land us at some unknown hour.

Aug 25th The last three weeks have been spent in Chinzenji in wretched damp foggy weather, and now the day has come for us to leave the lakeside, and mountain tops to get ready for going on board. So August the 25th finds us quite ready and glad to leave Chinzenji lake in the pouring rain, for it certainly wasn’t half raining when

Saturday, March 17, 2007

July 16th

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Raining heavily, most of the day. The next week I spent in strolling in the woods and by the lake one day Kondo taking me to the “Kegon Waterfall,” which is 350 ft and a most beautiful sight, with lots of little falls around it, and situated between pretty wooded hills.
July 16th Being a bright sunny day, I joined a picnic on the lake, given by Miss Becker, Mr. Perry and Miss Becker taking the oars, returning home early in the evening, after a delightful afternoon.
July 22nd Miss Phillips came to tea with me, and afterwards, we went on the lake in the “san pan,” fishing catching none, but enjoying the row nevertheless. Lady McDonald kindly lent her sailing boat for a party of us to enjoy ourselves on the lake, all getting into the boat early in the afternoon, away we were seen sailing to the woods for a delightful picnic.

June 30th


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June 27th, 28th, and 29th, we stayed in Yokohama doing shopping, being fine on the whole.

June 30th At 10.30am once more leaving Yokohama behind for Tokyo, but not to stay in the capital, only to pick up our luggage, taking luncheon at the Imperial Hotel where we formerly stayed, leaving again in the afternoon for Nikko, reaching Kanaya Hotel soon after nine, finding everything nice and cheery. The next day I rambled in the pretty hotel garden, which is on a winding hill, with a beautiful stream at the foot of the garden. The following two days were spent in Nikko visiting, some of the finest temples in Japan.
July 4th
We started for Chunsenji among the mountains. It is terrible to see the poor pack horses laden with our heavy boxes balancing on either

Monday, March 12, 2007

June25th


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June 25th It being a bright morning, Miss Horstman wanted to go down the rapids, which is one of the great things to do, while staying in Kyoto, myself and Kobe going with her, starting in good time in rickshaws to the station, fitting into the train to ride round the stream, the scenery being something beautiful; coming to the end of our train ride, into rickshaws we got again, and was carried to the water, where the boat was waiting for us. Chairs being placed for us to sit on, being comfortably tucked up in red blankets, away we sailed, down a most exciting stream, getting a good sprinkling occasionally, rickshaws meeting us on landing and taking us back to the hotel 7 miles run. Evening left Kyoto 8.30, taking a night train to Yokohama. The next day I was glad to rest, after a rough night in a Japanese train.

June 21st




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I replied in a smile and nod happy at the thought that the man understood my English tongue. After dinner in the evening Mr. and Mrs. Boit, Miss Horstman, myself and Kobe got into Jinrikisha to have a ride round the town and into a park, where a “fair,” was going on, being a delightful evening.
June 21st
Poured with rain all day, but in spite of it Kobe took me to see the Japanese wrestling in the “Imperial Palace Grounds.” I was amused at myself carrying a Japanese umbrella, Kobe saying it would keep the rain off far better than our English ones.
June 23rd I went to three temples, museum, and Sanjyusangendo. The latter is a place where 1001 gilt images are each having 22 hands and standing 5ft high.

June 17th continued


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out and got a rickshaw to go and visit a temple, discharging my rickshaw boy. I had intended to take exercise by walking back to the hotel, so after seeing all I wanted to of the temple, I started back on foot, going on and on, yet not a sight of the hotel. I concluded I had gone wrong seeing some rickshaws standing, I called one but couldn’t make him understand where I wanted him to go, not knowing what the word hotel was in Japanese language. Nevertheless, I tramped on a little further, when I called another riksha, and after struggling to make him understand into it I got, wondering where ever he would take me to. On he ran, till he came to the hotel entrance, when he looked round to see if he was right and had understood me, which

Friday, March 9, 2007

June 17th


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at the station. Mrs. Boit and Miss Horstman got into one myself and Mr. Boit in another, only being room for two, and close quarters then. I was highly amused to be riding behind a horse again, after so many “man horses,” the first I’ve ridden behind since Singapore two months ago.
The next day poured with rain all day but in spite of the wet I went out for a little while as it is interesting to see a lot of Japanese trundling through the streets, with their “paper umbrellas,” and “wooden clogs.” The following day was too wet to go out at all, even in a “coal shutter.”
June 17th Started with a wet morning, abating in the afternoon, I went to the "(?)" works, after spending some time in seeing the men at work, and different articles made, I came

June 14th


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a Japanese hotel, which is situated on a hill, enabling us to get a splendid view of Ise. The day following I went with Mr. and Mrs. Boit, and Miss Horstman to the “Sun Goddess Temple,” to see a sacred dance, the temple standing on beautiful grounds.
The girls were dressed like the ancient ladies of the imperial household, wearing red pantaloons (half a yard beyond their feet) and white kimonos, men wearing green gauze kimonos, and black caps. The music sounding exactly like the squeaking of a violin, and the beating a drum, there is not a bit of harmony to Japanese music.
June14th
We made for a railway train again leaving Ise 11.30 am for Kyoto arriving at the Kyoto Hotel 6.30. Rejoiced to find nice lofty rooms and large ones. Carriages met us

June 12th


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to Nagoya, which we reached soon after 6pm and taken in rickshaws to Nagoya hotel pouring with rain all the way from the station that we had to be cased in our “coal shutters,” to keep dry, we were relieved to find ourselves more comfortably placed than the night before making a stay of two days at Nagoya, nothing very striking to see there, only the castle, which is a rustic building with two “gold dolphins,” at either [end] of it, and a moat going round it, nearly all the castles in Japan have a moat around them.
June 12th
We left Nagoya at 2.50 pm for Ise pouring with rain, the whole journey, arriving at Goni**** hotel 4.30, boys and girls meeting us at the doors with chairs and shoe covers for us to sit down and have our shoes covered, before entering, being half

June 9th

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missed her footing, but in the end we reached the hotel safe but very tired. The next day preparations had to be begun to proceed on our tour June 9th leaving pretty Miyanoshita at 10.50am in jinrikisha making a stop down the mountain at a pretty “cascade” and tea house gardens proceeding on our journey to "(?)" where Kobe served us a delicious luncheon leaving by train at 3pm for “Shizuoka,” where we arrived about seven in a wretched hotel feeling jolly thankful only one night had to be spent there in discomfort. The next day we started for “Nagoya,” Kobe giving us a most delicious luncheon on the train of beef, ham, chicken, sardines, and eggs, apples and cake. Traveling in the same compartment was a very pleasant Irishman, who conversed with me all the journey

June 7th



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through Miss Cross trying to cut down her price.
June 7th Miss Cross and myself done a two hours climb up a very high mountain Sengen Yama the scenery on top being delightful Fuji on one side and the sea on the other, resting a few minutes after the frightful climb we started on our way back, not going very far, when a huge snake appeared in the pathway. Miss Cross yelling out, and I afraid to move one way or the other finally we made a dash through the bushes and was safely on our way again taking a rest at the tea house and having some lemonade and a few blows of the fan to cool ourselves down. Away we went again and I turned round to look for Miss Cross, who I found had fell to the ground, having

June 4th












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started a long long way making a stop at a tea house where we planted ourselves down on the floor and sharing a bottle of “San San”(?) While we were resting and drinking the sweet little Japanese woman picked us some flowers presenting me with a bouquet of “roses” and Miss Cross one of Sweet Willows.” Afterwards we retraced our footsteps back the same way to Fujiya Hotel. The next day Miss Cross had her photo taken representing a Japanese lady at tea afterwards I jumped into a rickshaw and was once again ready for the Camera my coolie being most willing to stand for it! The day following. The day following was wet, so all we could do was to explore the shops, and hear an old woman simply go into shrieks of laughter

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Fujiya Miyanoshita Hotel in Hakone in June


Maids at the Fujiya Miyanoshita Hotel in Hakone in June


June 2nd


(continued from previous page) lot of Japanese maidens in the dining room, which is quite a change from boys. The hotel being most attractive and beautifully clean. The following day I discovered a nice shop containing all sorts of eggshell lacquer feeling tempted to buy some, which I did.
June 2nd I met a very nice companion Miss Cross. She like myself was making a tour in Japan, in the afternoon, we both strolled to the pretty goldfish tea house. The scenery all round enchanting us with its beautiful wooded hills and rocky streams, the hedges being bright with flowering trees, and the brilliant hills with the “Crimson Maple.” The next day was very wet, so we amused ourselves in the Hotel, without taking any fresh air.
June 4th Miss Cross and I proposed to explore the village so off we

May 31st


being most attractive, “logos anchor” being represented at the front and back of the cars with splendid illuminations all round. The next day started packing for a month’s tour in Japan. In the evening I walked with Mr. Cromley to a bazaar, myself making a purchase of some chopsticks.
May 31st We started on our tour making our first stay at pretty Miyanoshita. We traveled three hours in the train, one hour by car between beautiful mountain scenery, and one and a half hours in jinrikisha, up between the mountains. Having three men to each carriage being so mountainous. Nearing the end of our journey we could see the Fujiya Hotel very brilliantly lighted, and giving us a bright welcome after our rough but picturesque journey, a delightful

May 29th



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I took back to the hotel and gave one to Mrs. Boit and one to Miss Horstman. Kobe also took me to the ivory store, where I purchased many little things. The day following, I went to get my photo taken in Japanese costume, a sweet little maiden dressing me, and sticking a rose in my hair there I was ready for the Camera, the Japanese around me being amused to see me dressed in their costume.
May 29th Brought great victory the Japanese over the Russians. The news boys were busy all the afternoon, racing around with the news, (it is amusing to hear the bells ring as they run along). After dinner Mr. and Mrs. *** and myself took a rickshaw ride to the main street or(Ginza as the Japanese call it), to see the illuminations. The electric cars

May 15th


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on a hill, which enabled us to get a good view of Yokohama. The next few days were spent in shopping. A visit to the nurseries and a ride round the race course, having a delightful view of the mountain Fuji.
May 15th It was arranged for us to leave Yokohama for the capital Tokyo, where we hope to make a stay of two weeks. Arriving at the Imperial Hotel, I was glad to see an old face again, at the dinner table “Mr. ****** one of the Moon’s passengers! My stay in Tokyo being very amusing and bright, some days riding round in a rickshaw and sometimes strolling round on my legs.
May 21st, Kobe took me to Shiba Park Temples, which were most interesting, especially the “Shogun Tombs.” One of the priests kindly giving me two roses, which

May 9th

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May 9th I awoke in the Grand Hotel Yokohama, and was able to look from the windows, and see the dear old vessel that had carried us so far. Lying in the harbour taking a rest before returning home to Germany.
The bund and a rikisha ride around the race course is very interesting in Yokohama, also the shops are amusing to visit, the hotels being also very comfortable.
May 11th Being a wet day we couldn’t do much but early in the evening the rain abated, then Miss Horstman, myself and my guide went for a rikisha ride through the streets, it is amusing to see the Japanese lanterns alight outside the shops numbers hanging in rotation. The next day being fine, Miss Horstman, myself and Kobe went to a Shinto Temple in the afternoon, it being