July 15 Monday – Sam and Ashcroft were en route to New York on the S.S. Minnetonka. The ship struck a small French bark, the Sterling on this day. New York Tribune, July 20, p.7:
Steamer Minnetonka, at sea, July 20.
This sixtieth voyage westward of the steamship Minnetonka has been marked by an occurrence with will never be forgotten by those now on board. During the morning watch on Monday, July 15, the fog which had enveloped the ship more or less all night became very dense. Suddenly, without any warning note of horn or bell a towering mass of canvas loomed up on our starboard bow, and was borne swiftly toward us. It seemed impossible for a moment or two to avoid either cutting down or being cut down by the bark which carried it, but instantaneously arising to the emergency, Captain Layland, who had been on the bridge for nearly thirty-six hours, and his chief officer, Mr. Woolcock, were able, owing to our greatly reduced speed, to manoevre the Minnetonka so admirably that the bark, losing only her bowsprit and head sails, merely struck us a glancing blow and dragged along our starboard side without seriously wounding our ship.
Sam’s wire of the above incident ran in the N.Y. Times of July 18, p.4, “From Twain by Wireless.” Tenney sent what appears to be a partial draft copy collected from the University of Chicago Library:
Barque was coming for our broadside, but prompt action on both sides prevented direct collision. Barque quickly disappeared in fog. Cruised around hunting for her one hour and half. No success gave it up & resumed the home trail. / Clemens.
In his A.D. of Apr. 1908, Sam claimed to have “discovered her [Dorothy Quick] the second day out” which would have been July 15 [MTAq 127].
Eight-year-old Joy Agnew wrote a letter of thanks to Sam.
My dear Mr. Mark Twain, / Thank you so much for the beautiful picture you sent me. It was very kind of you to think of me. We have a lovely garden, full of a lot of flowers. We have also a good lot of pets too. I will tell you what they are. Mine are; three bantams, three goldfish, three doves, six canarys, two dogs and one cat My brother Ewan who is at Eaton now has; nine goldfish, one cat, one dog, and a pony. My Daddy has one dog. Mummy has a lot of hens and some bees. We have a little garden of our own and Daddy is going to make us a see-saw. Of course this is all in the country. I am going to a wedding on Thursday. I hope you will remember me for I am yours respec affectionately / Joy Agnew [MTP; MTFWE 111].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: Still in N.Y., but we went up to Redding to see “Lyonesse” in the summer-time. Oh it is so beautiful, so old, so hallowed with those who have been living there these many years, for it seems as if the spirits still lived on there, and mother loves it too [MTP 83]. Note: “Lyonesse” was later called “The Lobster Pot,” Isabel Lyon’s house in Redding.
London Daily Mail sent a telegram to Sam: “If you writing London will you give us first rights” [MTP].
Winfield Scott wrote from Los Angeles to Sam in reference to his use of “Mr Mac.” in the NAR p. 469 (page cut out and enclosed). Scott suggested Sam use the name of McCrellish. Scott mentioned knowing Samuel E. Moffett and Sam P. Davis [MTP].
Isabel S. Wayland (Mrs. John Elton Wayland) wrote from Stony Creek, Conn. to Sam. Did he remember her invite of last spring for him and Miss Lyon to spend a week on their “little island”? She offered a range of possible dates [MTP]. Note: Wayland also wrote to Lyon just after this hoping her invitation would be accepted.
July 15 after – After July 15 (the day he met her) Sam also inscribed a copy of JA to Dorothy Quick: “To Dorothy Quick / with the love of / SL. Clemens/ 1907 / 21 Fifth ave.” [MTP].