March 6 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “10 a.m. Benjamin—I meet him at our station” [NB 45 TS 5]. Note: likely William Evarts Benjamin, H.H. Rogers’ son-in-law, taking the train from the city for a visit.
Albert E. Davis, President of the North Side Board of Trade, read a letter of regret from Mark Twain at their eighth annual dinner in the Metropolis Theatre Hall. The New York Times, Mar. 7, p.2, “North Side Board of Trade,” printed the letter and speeches:
March 8 before – C.A. Von Ramdohr sent Sam a printed page announcing the Society of Medical Jurisprudence was having its 20th Annual Dinner at the Hotel Savoy on Mar. 8 at 6:30 [MTP]. Note: Sam would attend and give a speech.
March 8 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to George B. Harvey of Harper & Brothers.
March 9 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to David Alexander Munro (1844-1910), assistant editor to George B. Harvey of the North American Review, and Greek scholar.
March 10 Monday – The Hearst newspapers New York American and Journal and San Francisco Examiner and New York Evening Journal ran a story with Mark Twain’s reaction to a recent interview with Mrs. John Jacob Astor, before she sailed the morning of Mar. 8
[NY Times Mar. 8, 1902, p.7 “What isDoing in Society”]. She was quoted:
March 11 Tuesday – Livy’s diary: “Mr Norman Hapgood lunched with us. Mr. Rondegger called” [MTP: DV161].
William Evarts Benjamin wrote from the Hotel Brighton, Atlantic City to Sam.
March 12 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook:
March 13 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Home. Noon. Leaving for the South. Shall consult Tom Reed & see if an action can be brought against Hearst [for the NY Journal abuses]. Left Jersey City 2.10 / Basket fruit from Mrs. Broughton & violets from Harry’s wife” [NB 45 TS 5]. Note: the Kanawha likely stopped at Jersey City to pick up Laurence Hutton. The party consisted of Laurence Hutton, H.H. Rogers, Clemens, Clarence C. Rice, Colonel Augustus G. Paine, Thomas B.
March 14 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Charlston, S.C. about 8 a.m. / Lighted at the Ponce de Leon” [NB 45 TS 5].
Sam’s ship log: “Nighted at the Ponce de Leon” [MTP]. Note: the “Lighted” in the NB may be a typo.
Livy’s diary: “Susy Twichell & her friend Mrs lunched with us; Florence Gay dined with us & spent the night” [MTP: DV161].
The men left the Kanawha at Charleston, and took the Florida Special train, where Sam wrote to Livy,
March 15 Saturday – At the Hotel Ponce de Leon in St. Augustine, Fla. Sam wrote to Livy.
Dearheart, we came to the hotel to dine & wait for the evening train; but concluded to stay all night, for which I was glad, as I was very tired. I was in bed & asleep by 8 o’clock, but the others went to some kind of a show, & Hutton did not get to bed till after midnight—& the show wasn’t worth it.
March 16 Sunday – At the Royal Poinciana in Palm Beach, Fla. Sam wrote to Livy.
Livy darling, the whole multitude in this vast hotel wear Panama hats—& there isn’t one among them that is as fine as the one I left in Riverdale. I did not remember that I had such a thing until Rice inquired after it. He has lent me a nice soft hat to use until I can buy a straw.
March 17 Monday – At the Royal Poinciana in Palm Beach, Fla. Sam wrote to Livy. The men had just been notified of the Kanawha’s arrival in Miami, and so were “packing & rushing.” The sister of Mrs. Alice M. Ditson) as well as Col. A.G. Paine raved about the Hot Springs and told of a special train from N.Y. that arrived there overnight; he felt they should try it for Livy’s gout. In his prior letter Sam gave Livy a Havana address c/o H.H.
March 18 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “All morning at Miami. Visited Mrs. Whitehead (Lucy Page) / Anchored outside about 4” [NB 45 TS 6]. Sam’s ship log: “All the morning at Miami. Anchored outside about 4” [MTP].
On board the Kanawha in Miami, Fla., Sam wrote to Beatrice M. Benjamin, H.H. Rogers’ granddaughter.
March 19 Wednesday – On board the Kanawha, in Miami, Fla., “at anchor, waiting,” Sam wrote to Livy.
“Livy, darling, we did not get away this morning, but are lying far out in a brilliant & beautiful light green sea, the loveliest color imaginable. It was stormy outside, but it is no longer so, & the pilot says he will sail now, in a little while” [LLMT 335].
Sam’s notebook: “Sailed in afternoon after 3. Beautiful green sea—then blue. Susy’s birthday” [NB 45 TS 6].
March 20 Thursday – On Mar. 21 Sam wrote from the Hotel Colonial, Nassau, Bahamas to Livy about the events of this day:
We were intending to sail for Havana yesterday evening, sweetheart, but have been delayed by slow coaling-processes. We expect to get away this evening.
March 21 Friday – On board the Kanawha at Nassau, Bahamas, Sam wrote on Hotel Colonial letterhead to Livy about activities of the prior day (see entry). He added after this narrative:
The sea-colors here are all beautiful—splendid bars & stretches of brilliant green—others of brilliant blue—others of rich purple & bronze, & so on. A lady (so report says) brought away a bottle-full of each color to show home at America.
March 22 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Very hot in the staterooms last night. Governor of Nassau (Bahamas?) Sir Gilbert Carter. Have known him before. His secretary, Gladstone. Sailed at 4 pm. Arrived at Key West— uninteresting” [NB 45 TS 7].
Sam’s ship log: “Arrived at Key West. Niggers, mulattoes, whites, Spaniards, Cubans, & other human wreckage. Nothing of interest there, except for God. Apparently He is interested in anything that comes along” [MTP].
March 23 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Sailed 1 a.m. (90 m Reached Havana 7 a m Palm Sunday. Could not coal. Saw only 3 priests. Visited a church. At 3 or 4 drove in the Prado. Picturesque & interesting. Demi-monde street. ” [NB 45 TS 7].
Sam’s ship log:
Sailed at 1 a.m.
Reached Havana at 7 a.m.; 90 miles.
March 24 Monday – On board the Kanawha in Havana harbor, Sam wrote to Livy [MTP].
Dearheart, we are anchored fifty yards from the wrenched & tangled battered bunch of rusty iron which stands for the “Maine” & looks like a brobdignagian tarantula in his death-squirm.
Sam then wrote of the activities of the prior day, Mar. 23 (see entry), and finished with:
March 25 Tuesday – The Kanawha was en route around the western tip of Cuba, then south and east to Kingston, Jamaica. Sam’s notebook gives their progress: “Turned western end of Cuba 8 a.m. Balmy weather. Deep-blue sea. Flying fishes. It is 756 knots from Havana to Kingston. We have permits from H.B.M. Consul” [NB 45 TS 7]. Note: Sam’s ship log gives nearly verbatim the same report.
March 26 Wednesday – The Kanawha was en route to Kingston, Jamaica, arriving there at 5 p.m, as indicated by Sam’s notebook: “Cold salt water baths. / At breakfast in 18° N. Pointed for Jamaica. Rased the island 5 p.m.Too Late. Concluded to sail all around it” [NB 45 TS 7]. Note: Sam’s ship log gives nearly verbatim the same report.
March 27 Thursday – The Kanawha made its way to Kingston, Jamaica.
Sam’s notebook: “7 a.m. took pilot. Black, with 3 young blacks. Quite indifferent to their peril. Had to take their boat aboard—it would never have towed—sea too rough. Island densely wooded—can’t insert a knife between the trees. 9—noon. Ashore & drove. Captain of the Galena—$1” [NB 45 TS 7].
Sam’s ship log:
March 28 Friday – Sam’s Mar. 29 to Livy related this days’ activities in Kingston, Jamaica.
March 29 Saturday – On board the Kanawha in Boden, Jamaica, Sam wrote to Livy [MTP].
March 30 Sunday – The Kanawha made the port of Santiago in southern Cuba, where the men “visited the points of historical interest near Santiago” [NY Times Apr. 1, 1902, p.9 “The Kanawha at Santiago”].
Sam’s notebook: “Easter / Sailed early for Santiago. Rough. Arr. 3 p.m. at the Morro Castle. Prado. Queen’s …. [Square] Well kept cats & dogs. No smoking” [NB 45 TS 8].
March 31 Monday – The Kanawha sailed from Santiago, Cuba, to Nassau, Bahamas.
Sam’s notebook: “Sailed at 8 a.m. on a 2-day stretch due north” [NB 45 TS 8]. Note: Sam’s ship log essentially the same notation.