October 14 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Noon. About 500 miles to make. A spacious ship & most comfortable. Rides the seas level—hardly any motion. No sea-sickness on board. No table-racks” [NB 43 TS 27].
The New York World ran an article, “Mark Twain, the Greatest American Humorist, Returning Home, Talks at Length,” which included Twain’s ideas about autobiography given to reporters before sailing on Oct. 6 in London:
October 13 Saturday – The Clemens family was at sea en route from London to New York on the SS Minnehaha. In New York, the steamer Lucania of the Cunard Line, came into port. Some were disappointed Mark Twain was not on board. Major-General Wesley Merritt, once Supt. of West Point was reported “a close personal friend” of Twain’s, and that there had been frequent interchange of friendly calls between the two” in London [no particulars of visits were found].
October 12 Friday – The Clemens family was at sea en route from London to New York on the SS Minnehaha. Sam wrote a letter to John Y. MacAlister, the only one extant from the voyage. He did not date the letter but headed it, “2,000 miles at sea,” which would have put the ship just short of 2/3 of the way to New York on a ten-day voyage; thus it’s estimated at six days at sea, or Oct. 12. The letter was postmarked Oct. 16 after arrival in N.Y.C.
October 11 Thursday – The Clemens family was at sea en route from London to New York on the SS Minnehaha.
October 10 Wednesday – The Clemens family was at sea en route from London to New York on the SS Minnehaha. Sam’s notebook: “ Captain Robinson—very fine man. Knew him 18 years ago” [NB 43 TS 27]. Note: John Robinson (1856-1922) had a long caereer with the Atlantic Transport Line, and was the first Captain of the Minnehaha, he held that position until 1908, when, at 60, it was customary for Captains of the line to retire.
October 9 Tuesday– The Clemens family was en route from London to New York on the SS Minnehaha.
October 8 Monday – The Clemens family was en route from London to New York on the SS Minnehaha.
October 6 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Lady Trevelyan 19 Easton Place, SW. / Mrs. Halsey 18 Stanhope Gdns / Lady Stanley (inquire) / Mrs. Sumner, 20 Hans Mansions / Sir Wm Des Voeux / Sailed from Tilbury 3 pm in the Minehaha [sic], 14,000 tons” [NB 43 TS 26].
October 5 Friday – At Brown’s Hotel in London, England Sam inscribed a copy of The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories and Sketches to Archibald Clarke: “To / Mr. Archibald Clarke / with compliments of / Mark Twain / Oct. 5/00” [MTP]. Note: Clarke was a contributor to John Y. MacAlister’s quarterly journal, The Library and so this connection may explains his contact with Sam. To wit: 1900 Vol. I p.
October 4 Thursday – At Brown’s Hotel in London, England Sam wrote to James B. Pond about Samuel Moffett’s editing of Pond’s proposed book:
“I don’t doubt that between you & Sam Moffett you will get the matter arranged all right & satisfactorily.
You always mean right, you old criminal. I am bound to concede that, anyway” [MTP].