June 17 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam inscribed a copy of LM to Commander Daniel Dow (1860-1931): “Very truly yours / Mark Twain / To Commander Dow, R.N.R. / June 17/08” [MTP]. Note: this from a message board posted by Dow’s grandson, Michael Dow, in 2004:

My grandfather was Commander Daniel Dow RD, RNR and he commanded all the Cunard ships during his career until his retirement. He went to sea in 1876 as an Apprentice to Thos and John Brockelbank and sailed in the barque “Baroda”. His last sea command was in 1919 but he then was sent to become Cunard’s American representative until his retirement. On a voyage in the “Mauretania” in September 1910 he achieved a record westbound passage from Daunt’s Rock to Sandy Hook in 4 days, 10 hours and 50 minutes, an average speed of 26.06 knots so taking the Blue Riband record off her sister ship “Lusitania”. He died in 1931.

However, he did have command of the “Lusitania” from 1913 until her penultimate voyage in May 1915; (a total distance of 1,635,092 nautical miles) during which time he came into public prominence on several occasions most notably after flying “Old Glory” after being instructed to fly a neutral flag in the hope that it would deter an attack from German Cruisers patrolling off Sandy Hook! Needless to say this did not go down well here in the UK but his American passengers loved it! There has been a lot of controversy over the events leading up to the final and fateful voyage of the “Lusitania” and of Captain Turner a great deal of which is inaccurate. [For more on Commodore Dow see http://www.dowfamilyhistory.co.uk/daniel_dow_.html].

Sam also wrote to an H. Walter Barnett, London photographer, “My charming niece requires me to give her my best photograph, very well, you made it.” Sam asked if the photographer would send a copy [MTP: Myers and Co. catalogs, Autumn 1952, No. 373, Item 88]. Note: see June 15 to Mary B. Rogers.