Arrival: January 31st 1921
The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. J. Hailey, concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on January 31st, 1921. As the ship was approaching Victoria a fierce gale was encountered making it impossible to dock at that city. For two hours the ship anchored in the Royal Roads waiting for the storm to abate. However, as the storm continued it was decided to forgo the stop at Victoria and instead make a brief visit to the more sheltered waters of Esquimalt to unload mail and then depart for Vancouver. Passengers planning to disembark at Victoria had to travel to Vancouver and then return to Vancouver Island aboard one of the coastal ships.
The cargo was described as a little better than two-thirds ship and consisted of silk, tea and fresh Chinese eggs. A special express freight train carried the silk, comprising 17 carloads, and Chinese eggs, comprising 38 carloads, from Vancouver.
A light passenger list was described that included 120 Saloon and about 600 Steerage passengers.
Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Vancouver on January 31st, 1921.
| Major and Mrs. R. W. Wood | Of Toronto. |
| E. M. Sutliff | Of New York City. |
| H. M. Tuska | Of New York City. |
| H. Lachlan | Of Formosa, tea merchant. |
| F. A. Henningsen | Of Seattle. |
| Dr. J. C. Ferguson | Associated as a financial advisor with the Chinese government at Peking. |
| M. E. Bell | Of Victoria. |
| J. C. F. Hyndman | Of Victoria. |
Departure: February 10th 1921
The EMPRESS OF ASIA began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on February 10th, 1921.
The ship reported a passenger list of over 700 and a cargo of 2,700 tons. The cargo included 900 tons of spelter and 400 tons of flour.
On this voyage, W. S. Bosworth, Chairman of Canadian Pacific Overseas Services, led a party to the Far East.
Notable passengers embarking aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA on February 10th, 1921 at Vancouver and Victoria.
| Mr. and Mrs. S. Bosworth | En route to the Far East. |
| Colonel and Mrs. W. de Burchell | Members of the Bosworth party en route to the Far East. |
| Mrs. D. A. Coles | Member of the Bosworth party en route to the Far East. |
Arrival: April 17th 1921
The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by Captain A. J. Hailey, concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on April 17th, 1921. The crossing from Yokohama set a record, accomplished in 8 days 21 hours and 38 minutes.
On the voyage the ship experienced good weather. The EMPRESS OF ASIA carried 300 saloon, 60 second cabin class, and 850 steerage passengers. Included in the cargo was a valuable shipment of silk and 2,000 tons of general freight destined for overland shipment. Also included was cargo for local and coastal destinations.
Note of Interest:
William Davison of Hong Kong, master shipwright with the Hong Kong Whangpoo Dockyard, died at sea on April 12th 1921.
Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Vancouver on April 17th, 1921.
| G. M. Bosworth | Chairman of Canadian Pacific Ocean Services Lt. |
| Dr. Wang Chung-Hui | President of the Court of Cassation in Peking and Chinese delegate to the Revision Committee Conference of the League of Nations. Travelling to Geneva. |
Departure: April 28th 1921
The EMPRESS OF ASIA commanded by A. J. Hailey, began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on April 28th, 1921.
A large passenger list of approximately 1,100 was reported and almost every berth aboard the ship was utilized.
Passengers included 260 Saloon Class, 81 Second Class, 67 Third Class and 650 Steerage Class.
Notable passengers embarking aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA on April 28th, 1921 at Vancouver and Victoria.
| Madame Schumann-Heink | Renowned opera singer. |
| Fitzhugh Hainsel |
Arrival: June 12th 1921
The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. J. Hailey, concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on June 12th, 1921. The voyage was characterized by very good weather that allowed a fast passage. The EMPRESS OF ASIA crossed the Pacific Ocean from Yokohama in a record time, cutting two and a half-hours form the former record that was set by the ship on the previous voyage.
The 1,100 passengers carried included 310 Saloon, 56 Second Class and about 700 Steerage.
Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Vancouver on June 12th, 1921.
| F. W. Stevens | Of the Morgan banking interests en route to the United States. |
| Miss Crossley-Batt | Of London, a world traveler |
| Mr. and Mrs. B. P. Bridou | The former being General Manager of the French shipping Line Messageries Maratimes in the Far East, en route to Europe. |
| Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Reiss | Former being General Manger of Anderson, Meyer & Company at Shanghai and Brazilian Consul at Shanghai, en route Canada, the United States and Europe. |
| Mrs. Penlington | Of Yokohama, left the ship at Victoria en route to Seattle. |
| Professor Trevor Kincaid | Of the University of Washington, a noted authority on marine life. |
| Bishop W. S. Lewis | Of Shanghai. |
Departure: June 23rd 1921
The EMPRESS OF ASIA began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on June 23rd, 1921.
A light cargo was carried on this voyage.
The ship carried 850 passengers with more than 250 in First Class.
A party led by Reverend John Tompkins consisted of ten Jesuit priests and ten scholars, bound for Manila. This group would participate in a policy change that would place greater emphasis upon English as the language of education in the Philippines.
Notable passengers embarking aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA on June 23rd, 1921 at Vancouver and Victoria.
| Reverend John Tompkins | En route to Manila with a party of Jesuit priests and scholars. |
| Lo Wen Kan | Vice-President of the Peking Supreme Council en route to China after attending an international conference in Europe. |
| Tai Yuen Lei | President of Peking University and former Minister of Education returning to China. |
| George L. Logan | Of Boston, en route to Manila to open an office for the United States Bureau of Domestic and Foreign Commerce. |
| Dr. J. Ferguson | Financial advisor to the President of China and renowned authority on the Far East. |
| J. J. Abbott | Vice-President of the Continental Bank of Chicago. |
Arrival: August 8th 1921
The EMPRESS OF ASIA concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on August 8th, 1921. On the voyage the ship passed, on her port side, the battleship USS TENNESEE. The battleship had recently departed Vancouver after a visit to the city.
The cargo from this voyage is described as fair sized but lightweight with large consignment of silk
The 1,100 passengers carried included about 300 saloon and 70 second cabin.
Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Vancouver on August 8th, 1921.
| Hon. Manuel Quezon – President of the Senate of the Philippine Islands. |
| Harold Dollar and family – of the Dollar Steamship Company. |
| Mischa Elman – noted violinist. |
| G. R. Gregg – of the firm of G. R. Gregg & Co. of Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. |
| P. H. McKay – prominent broker of Kobe, Japan. |
| V. Read – representative of a large silk house in the Orient. |
| Dr. A. Shurjian |
| E. A. Sperry – of Sperry gyroscope. |
| Charles Yip Yen – returning from a visit to Hong Kong and a successful mining venture. Charles Yip Yen is described as a Vancouver pioneer who played a prominent role in the construction of the western segment of the Canadian Pacific Railway. He also served as a Court Interpreter for 17 years. |
| Bertrand Russell – British mathematician and philosopher returning from a visit to Japan. |
| James J. Warren – President of the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada |
Departure: August 18th 1921
The EMPRESS OF ASIA began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on August 18th, 1921.
On this voyage, John D. Rockefeller Jr. led a party of members of the Rockefeller Foundation to Peking were they participated in the opening of a new building at the Union Medical College.
A second party consisted of members of the China Educational Mission.
A third party consisted of members of the firm of J. P. Morgan & Company.
Notable passengers embarking aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA on August 18th, 1921 at Vancouver and Victoria.
| John D. Rockefeller Jr. | Of the Rockefeller Foundation en route to the Union Medical College at Peking. |
| Dr. George E. Vincent | President of the Rockefeller Foundation en route to the Union Medical College at Peking |
| Sir William Smyly | Of Dublin, a member of the Rockefeller Foundation en route to the Union Medical College at Peking. |
| J. A. Armitage | Of London, a member of the Rockefeller Foundation en route to the Union Medical College at Peking. |
| Dr. S. S. Coldwater | Surgeon of Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, a member of the Rockefeller Foundation en route to the Union Medical College at Peking |
| Martin A. Ryerson | Of the Rockefeller Foundation en route to the Union Medical College at Peking. |
| Frederick W. Stevens | Of J. P. Morgan & Company. |
| J. Ross Tilford | Of J. P. Morgan & Company. |
| Adele B. Mitchell | Of J. P. Morgan & Company. |
| Agnes Coulfield | Of J. P. Morgan & Company. |
| Professor Percey M. Roxby | Professor of Geography at the University of Liverpool en route to China as part of the China Educational Mission. |
| Professor Ernest P. Burton | Of Chicago en route to China as part of the China Educational Mission. |
| Bishop J. F. McConnell. | En route to China as part of the China Educational Mission. |
| Professor W. M. Russell | En route to China as part of the China Educational Mission. |
| Mary G. Woolley | President of Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, en route to China as part of the China Educational Mission. |
Arrival: October 3rd 1921
The EMPRESS OF ASIA concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on October 3rd, 1921. The ship reported a pleasant and fast passage from Yokohama. The passenger list included 120 Saloon, 100 Second Class and about 700 Steerage passengers.
Included was a party of Chinese diplomats who disembarked at Victoria for Seattle. From Seattle the group traveled to eastward on the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway.
Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Victoria and Vancouver on October 3rd, 1921.
| Dr. Phillips Tyau | Chinese Minister to Cuba |
| V. F. Chu | Second Secretary to the Chinese Legation at Washington. |
| Limson Tsa | Secretary to the Chinese delegation at the Pacific Conference. |
| Fung Wah Wang | Secretary to the Chinese delegation at the Pacific Conference. |
| Dr. J. C. Ferguson | Advisor to the Chinese Government. |
| Mrs. G. T. Chao | Associated with the Chinese Educational Mission, Washington. |
| P. H. Kingsley | Of The Chicago Tribune, associated with the Wood-Forbes Mission to the Philippines. |
| W. P. Simms | Far East correspondent of the United Press and the Scripps Syndicate en route to Washington. |
Departure: October 13th 1921
The EMPRESS OF ASIA began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on October 13th, 1921. L. D. Douglas, formerly Staff Captain, was the commander of the ship on this voyage, having replaced A. J. Hailey who was on vacation. C. Claxton, Chief Officer became Staff Captain during Hailey’s absence.
The ship reported a large passenger list, a total of 1146 persons with 285 First Class, 72 Second Class, 70 Third class and 714 Steerage. Include were many missionaries travelling to China, India, and Korea.
Among the passengers was Sachen Loo, a member of a railway delegation that had been studying the railway system of Canada.
Arrival: November 28th 1921
The EMPRESS OF ASIA concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on November 28th, 1921. The ship reported good weather during the passage from Yokohama.
The passenger list included 125 Saloon and a large number of Steerage passengers.
On this voyage, John D. Rockefeller Jr. led a party of members of the Rockefeller Foundation returning from Peking having participated in the opening of a new building at the Union Medical College.
Also on this voyage was a delegation of representatives of the Chita Government of the Russian Far East who were traveling to Washington. This delegation was led by Alexander Yazikoff.
Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Victoria and Vancouver on November 28th, 1921.
| John D. Rockefeller Jr. | Of the Rockefeller Foundation en route to New York. |
| Abbey Rockefeller | A member of the Rockefeller party returning from Peking. |
| Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Ryerson | Members of the Rockefeller party returning from Peking. |
| L. M. Kline | A member of the Rockefeller party returning from Peking. |
| P. A. Bennett | A member of the Rockefeller party returning from Peking. |
| Dr. V. Heizer | A member of the Rockefeller party returning from Peking. |
| C. O. Heydt | A member of the Rockefeller party returning from Peking. |
| S. H. Dodwell | Of the shipping firm of Dodwell & Company. |
| Alexander Yazikoff | Leading a delegation of representatives the Chita to Washington. |
Departure: December 8th 1921
The EMPRESS OF ASIA, Commanded by L. D. Douglas began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on December 8th, 1921.
The ship carried 900 passengers and a heavy cargo.
Notable passengers embarking aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA on December 8th, 1921 at Vancouver and Victoria.
| General T. G. Chen | A Chinese officer attached to the Chinese delegation at Washington. Great Britain awarded General Chen the Military Cross for his service in Europe during World War One. |
| Commander C. C. Yu | Of Chinese military forces. |
| Matti Tarkkanen | Chairman of the Finnish Government Commisiion on Immigration. |
| T. Thomas | Of the Standard Oil Company office in Tientsin. |
| J. L. Newmarsh | General Manager of the Pekin-Mukden Railway. |
| H. W. Sassoon | Prominent International Banker. |
| J. W. Bell | A Superintendent with the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. |