July 6 - July 29, 1868: Return to New York. Departed San Francisco aboard the Montana. July 11 at 12:30 am, Cabo San Lucas. Twain arrived in New York July 29, 1868.
Cabo San Lucas - July 11
Acapulco - July 13
Panama City - July 20: Met with Ned Wakeman
Aspinall - Boarded the Henry Chauncey
Arrived in New York July 29 and checked into the Westminster Hotel. Mark Twain would never again return to California or Nevada.
August 4: Hartford
July 6 Monday – Sam sailed from San Francisco on the steamer Montana; his last visit to the city.
July 10 Friday – Sam joined in an on-board theatrical production called “Country School Exhibition.” Sam read an original composition, “The Cow,” and sang with the chorus, “Old John Brown had One Little Injun” [Sanborn 398-9]. Gribben suggests Sam organized the show and reported the event in the Alta California on Sept. 6 [510].
July 11 Saturday – Sam wrote en route from San Francisco on the Montana to& Mathew B. Cox (1818?-1880), a former passenger on the& Henry Chauncey and Sam’s cabin mate on the Sacramento [MTL 2:235-7].
July 13 Monday – The Montana made a stop at Acapulco, Mexico. In Sam’s notebook he wrote: “Only 150 passengers on board” [MTNJ 1: 497].
July 14–July 19 Sunday – Sam drafted “The Story of Mamie Grant, the Child-Missionary,” which was a lampoon on piety, of the Quaker City pilgrims sort [MTNJ 1: 497].
July 20 Monday – The Montana docked at Panama to reconnect with the Henry Chauncey for the final leg home [MTNJ 1: 497]. Sam entered the Grand Hotel to get a drink.
July 25 Saturday – John Henry Riley (1830?-1872) wrote from Wash DC, sending it to Twain at the Westminster Hotel, NYC.
“Yours of 5th inst., was rec on the 21st. Glad to hear of you and your doing well. I shall be glad to meet you in New York or Philad, as I don’t suppose you will come down here.” [MTP].
July 29 Wednesday – Sam arrived back in New York and took rooms at the Westminster Hotel. He telegraphed Elisha Bliss: “If I do not come until tomorrow will it answer? answer immediately.” Note: Bliss was about to release Albert D. Richardson’s book, A Personal History of Ulysses S.