Journal published 98 years later.

The 1912 journal.

Below is a portrait of my Grandfather, Raphael Johnson Shortlidge, when he was in his late twenties, in the first to second decade of the last century. It was at about this age that he was fortunate to take his second trip to Europe. On this trip he kept a journal which years ago I transcribed to a computer with the intention of offering a legible copy for all his descendants. Since then, with the advent of the internet, I decided to make the journal public in the form of this blog. Starting June 18th I intend to post the journal daily with entries corresponding to the date. I will also post a copy of the original page(s) of his writing and photographs from the trip. I will add a link to a Google My Maps which traces the trip. My Maps is a spoiler since I don't see an easy way to add to the route day by day without a lot of daily work. I think this will give a good idea of the journal; easy printed reading with the beauty of the handwritten pages, plus a route to follow, and links to help clarify certain parts. I also hope that my efforts will elicit comments that help clarify some elements of the journal that are difficult to read or do not make sense. Please pass on this blog to anyone you can think of who may be interested and might have insights into its contents. My hope is that in 2012 I might try to retrace my grandfather's journey with my wife, and sons. With this public forum we might get a sense of what such a trip might entail.

Raphael Shortlidge, around 1912.

R. J. Shortlidge Wallingford, Conn.

R. J. Shortlidge

Wallingford, Conn.

A journal written out during odd moments of a memorable trip.

A journal written out during odd moments of a memorable trip. at the request of my dear Aunt Catharine, and submitted to her in the doubtful hope that she will be able to decipher it.

Tuesday, June 18th

 (1)Tuesday, June 18th
    At three o'clock we met, our party of six, Mr. Strawbridge, host, genial and kindly and apparently ready at every turn to make all our days memorable with fine pleasure; his two sons, Clayton - once a boy in my tent "Sylvester" at Marienfeld, and Freddie - keen eyed for every impromptu occasion to busy himself; a nephew, Charles Brown-frank and happy always; DS Burgess, friend of Haverford days, alert and practical; and I, delighted to have the rare fortune to make the sixth in such an ideal "stag" party.
    Together we watched preparations to depart, and when "all ashore" went round, we knew where our staterooms were, had opened our baggage, and generally discovered our way over the "Lusitania"

Pilot leaving ship.

Off to the pilot ship.

 Many were the farewells around (2) us.  We generously accepted the wavings of the hundreds on the piers as meant for us.  Frank B. had come to the docks with me, but would not come aboard.
    Busy tugs fretted at us fore and aft.  Clear across the harbor we seemed to lie after leaving the slip.  Then more tugs nosed our prow down stream, and in twenty minutes our monster ship was under way for Europe.
    The Battery, Liberty, and all the familiar lines of the harbor ran past us.  A big ship above quarantine flew her yellow flag, and we could but sympathize with the hundreds of steerage and crew waiting to be put ashore.
    Soon, the Pilot ship was neared.  All to port to see the Pilot go. A fat gentleman slid down a rope ladder, and an unkind wave nearly upset him as he put foot in the waiting boat.  Then went (3) mail bags, and no more were we to have communication with land – by person.

New York dropped over the horizon, stars came out brightly, we walked and became acquainted wondering at lights we came to, and soon were seeking sleep in soft pneumatic mattresses.  Every time you wink an eye, you undulate along your whole length.  If you like undulation, the taller the better.

Freddie Stawbridge, D.S. Burgess, Mr. Strawbridge, Charles Brown, Clayton Strawbridge. on the Lusitania, 1912.

Wednesday, June 19th

June 19th
    Reading, walking, excitement at quoits and shuffle board, then the calm of a deck chair and warm rugs - and meals. Clayton and Charles took Haverford exams.  I began "Kim".  A delightful renegade he is, too. Occasionally we wrote. Then stared at the passing thousands – for thousands they seemed, - new faces at every turn.  Sothern and Marlowe kept to the boat deck.(4) 

The sea was placid.  Then came a 3 hr. stop.  Mistress "Lucy" had to have a shaft reset. (On reaching Eng. we found she had lost a propeller.)  Only part of our power was on, so we ran but 500 m a day, - wherefore the vibrations and plungings of the L. under speed, were unknown to us.

D.S.Burgess, Mr. Strawbridge, Freddie, Charles Brown, Clayton.  Lusitania, 1912

Thursday, June 20th

June 20th
    Similar hours ran on.  In the evening a dance, - with fun acquaintances, one, miss U. the really attractive being on board.  We skipped- our party- to the bow and to the stern.  At night, D.S.B. and I watched the stars. The new moon, too, silvered our wake, till she sank at the far corner of the horizon, slipping gracefully into the water with never a sputter.

Friday, June 21st

June 21st
    Several ships were seen. Even under but part power, we gave them all the slip. To be sure, we (5) didn't out- Lusitania the Mauritania.  The Nordland (?)held on for long hours.
    Now and then I would wonder how it went at school.  Poor fellow masters, - no cool of the sea for them.