June 19 Friday – Flags flew at half-mast in Port Elizabeth for the 400 lost on the Drummond Castle. Sam’s letter of this date to H.H. Rogers did not mention the tragedy, but covered the book and drama rights to JA, the business between Bliss and Harper and the “good news” from Frank Mayo (Sam had not yet learned of his death, news of which Rogers sent June 18). Sam wanted to know how much they presently owed their creditors, offering Livy’s idea of paying the minor debts in full now. Sam wrote that they planned to sail from Cape Town on July 15 [MTHHR 221-3].

W.H. Alden’s article, “American Humorist,” ran in the Port Elizabeth Looker-On [Philippon 22].