The Clemens party of five (Katy Leary had returned from the US some time before, after the death of her father on Mar. 29) was scheduled to leave Vienna at 3 p.m. Thomas Cook & Son agent took their trunks at 10 a.m. At 2 p.m. the Cook agent returned to take the five to the Franz-Josefs-Banhof rail station in Alsergrund, Vienna’s ninth district. There was a crowd waiting at the station with flowers to see them off [Dolmetsch 312]. Clara Clemens recalled the farewell:
Never before nor since the two seasons spent in Vienna have we encountered so many ways of finding entertainment and pleasure. Also we fell in love with the Viennese and made many dear friends among them. But the sad day of parting had to come and the tears fell in abundance. Was life to be one long series of farewells? The station seemed full of our beloved friends, and among them most distinguished men and women. My sister and I did not hide our feelings, but wept frankly with all the tragedy and youthful suffering in our hearts. While the inexorable revolution of the wheels started our journey we knew we were gazing on those dear faces for the last time [MFMT 214].