1926 Sailings and Notables

Arrival: January 29th 1926

The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by L. D. Douglas concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on January 29^th, 1926.

A light passenger list was reported with 17 First Class, 29 Second Class, and 100 steerage.  A very light cargo was reported, however there was considerable mail.  More than 1,000 bags were left at Victoria to be transshipped to Seattle.

Notes of Interest:

        On January 11^th, 1926 of this voyage, while outbound from Shanghai, the EMPRESS OF ASIA collided with the 1,900-ton steamer TUNGSHING.  The collision occurred near Blackpoint on the Yangtse River.  The TUNGSHING was owned by the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company and was bound from Hong Kong to Shanghai.  She was struck on the port side abaft the funnel, bow on by the EMPRESS OF ASIA.

The TUNGSHING sank in the Astrea Channel while unsuccessfully attempting to make shore and ten lives were reported lost.

The EMPRESS OF ASIA assisted in the rescue of survivors and then returned to Shanghai briefly for repairs to the stem section of the hull that had been damaged in the collision.

        On this voyage the EMPRESS OF ASIA encountered a violent and massive storm that raged over 3,000 square miles of the North pacific and battered the ship from Yokohama to Vancouver Island.  The barometer dipped to 28.26, a reading associated with hurricanes, and wind velocities of 70 miles an hour were reported.  Large waves washed over the lower portions of the ship and it was at times necessary to reduce speed to 12 and 14 knots respectively.

The Philadelphia Bobbies, a girls baseball team, had played a series of games against university and college teams in the Orient during 1925.  Three members of the team boarded the EMPRESS OF ASIA in Japan to travel home to the United States.

Two team members, Leona Kearns and Nelly Shanks, ventured onto the Second Class deck during the storm.  The two were caught by a huge wave that covered the deck.  Leona Kearns lost her life when swept overboard.  Nelly Shanks, although bruised, was saved by a railing.  The EMPRESS OF ASIA turned around in the storm and circled the location of the mishap, but found no one.

Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Vancouver on January 29^th, 1926.

Nelly Shanks	Member of Philadelphia Bobbies girls baseball team.
E. Ruth	Member of Philadelphia Bobbies girls baseball team.
Leona Kearns	Member of Philadelphia Bobbies girls baseball team who lost her life when swept overboard by an enormous wave.
A. Oguchi	Of Dourille & Company, raw silk shippers of Yokohama.
T. Saskawa	Of Dourille & Company, raw silk shippers of Yokohama.
K. Ikeda	Tea Shipper of Kanazawa, Japan.
R. Clancy	Of New York, representative of the Eastern Trading Company, returning from a business trip to the Orient.
T. M. Stuart	Of Montreal, returning from a trip to Honolulu, Japan and North China.
J. Sperling	General Manager of Pollock Brothers, importers of general Japanese merchandise.
D. McKenzie	Of Pattan, McKenzie & Company, en route to New York.
Mrs. Pih Yung Hua	Wife of the Chinese Minister at Washington D.C.
Ping Dow	Legation Chancellor of China at Washington D.C.

Departure: February 8th 1926

The EMPRESS OF ASIA began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on February 8^th, 1926.  The ship carried some 300 passengers and was held at Vancouver several hours to await the arrival of European passengers and mail from the east where stormy weather on the Atlantic had caused delays from Europe.

A shipment of trout eggs from 50,00 Eastern Canadian brook trout was transported to Japan on this voyage.  Charles Elliot, British Ambassador at Tokyo, requested the delivery and the eggs were used to stock the streams and lakes of the prestigious Tokyo Angling and Country Club.

The ship was heavily laden with general cargo including automobiles, motorcycles, automobile tires, 500 tons of asbestos from Quebec, 1,200 tons of flour, 300 tons of wrapping paper and 500 tons of spelter.  Refrigerated cargo was also at full capacity and included 150 tons of chilled beef.

Notable passengers embarking aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA on February 8^th, 1926 at Vancouver and Victoria.

Rt. Hon. Viscount Willingdon	En route to Peking.
Mr. and Mrs. George Rowcliffe	Of Kelowna, Canada.
John Rowcliffe	Of Kelowna, Canada.
Ruth Rowcliffe	Of Kelowna, Canada.
Claire H. Rowcliffe	Of Kelowna, Canada.
Charles Bovey	Of Calgary en route to Kobe.
Bishop A. R. Clippinger	Of Dayton, Ohio, en route to China on missionary assignment.
Dr. S. G. Ziegler	Of Dayton, Ohio, en route to China on missionary assignment.
Norman P. Lambert	Of the Maple Leaf Milling Company.
H. E. Sellers	Of Winnipeg, associated with the grain industry, en route to Hong Kong.
Jacob Hawrelak	Of the Ukrainian Immigration and Colonization Association in Harbin.  Canadian authorities had issued Hawrelak 200 permits to allow 200 Russian families in Harbin to emigrate to Canada.

Arrival: March 22nd 1926

The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by L. D. Douglas concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on March 22^nd, 1926.  A stormy passage was reported with the ship encountering westerly gales with following seas.  Off the Aleutian Islands the ship encountered a snowstorm.

Captain James H. Thomson and Captain S. Sharp of the Baron Shipping Line were passengers on this voyage.  Each had delivered ships to Japan and with both crews, were returning to England.

Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Victoria and Vancouver on March 22^nd, 1926.

Mr. and Mrs. A. Nicol	Of Hong Kong, associated with the Public Works Department.
Mark Douglas Currie	Of New York, Vice-President of the International Bank Corporation.
N. C. Wilson	Of Singapore, associated with the Mercantile Bank of FMS.
Mrs. J. J. Harrington	Of Hong Kong, associated with the Hong Kong Tikoo Dock Company.
Liao Kang Nang	Of Hong Kong, secretary to the Chinese Consul in Vancouver.
R. N. Macleod	Of Shanghai, a barrister with Platt & Company.
Mr. and Mrs. N. S. Brown	Of Shanghai, associated with Butterfield and Swire, Shanghai.
Mr. and Mrs. C. Finnell	Of Shanghai, associated with Thomson & Company.
W. B. O. Middleton	Of Shanghai, Director of Middleton & Company.
Captain A. Torrible	Of Shanghai, a Captain on the Yangtze River.
S. L. Burdett	Of London, associated with the British Consular Service.
Mr. and Mrs. K. Elliott	Of Shanghai, associated with Amos Bird Company.
Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Bowman	Of Akron, Ohio, associated with Firestone Tire Company.
Reverend A, A, King	Of Toronto, with the London missionary Society.
B. H. M. D’Orsey	Of Kobe.
Keith Murdock	Of Melbourne, Australia, manger with The Herald Newspaper
Deaconess Knapp	Of Tokyo, associated with St. Paul’s University.
Myra Simpson	Of Tokyo, associated with Woman’s Board Mission Church of Canada.
Shoji Konishi	Of Tokyo, an official of the Government of Japan.

Departure: April 3rd 1926

The EMPRESS OF ASIA began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on April 3^rd, 1926.

The ship carried a rich cargo including 200 bars of British Columbia mined silver valued at $120,00.00.  Other cargo originating from British Columbia included 750 tons of lead and zinc and 1,400 cases of beer.

Cargo also included 1, 300 tons of flour and from Alberta 50 tons of oats, and 165 tons of butter and beef.

A large shipment of automobiles and a large shipment of ammonia were also on board.

The ship reported a large list of First Class passengers.

Notable passengers embarking aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA on April 3^rd, 1926, at Vancouver and Victoria.

John McCormack	Of New York, a renowned tenor travelling on a tour of the Far East.
Mrs. W. W. Campbell	Returning to Yokohama.
Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Lynch	Of New York
Dorothy Dodd	Of New York
L. Lourange	Of New York
K. Nakamuro	Returning to Yokohama.
M. Narumo	Returning to Yokohama.

Arrival: May 17th 1926

The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by L. D. Douglas concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on May 17^th, 1926.

A fast crossing from Yokohama was accomplished in 9 days, 3 hours and 35 minutes.

A valuable silk cargo was carried; 740 tons valued at $11,000, 000.00.  At Vancouver the ship was met by a special train of 15 cars that expedited the silk to the East Coast.

At Victoria, 1,300 bags of mail were discharged with 59 bags destined for Victoria, 10 bags for the United States by airplane, and the remainder transshipped by coastal steamer to the United States.

About 200 tons of freight was discharged at Victoria.

A large passenger list of 875 persons was reported.  The passenger list comprised 139 First Class, 59 Second Class, 97 Third Class and 480 Steerage passengers.

Most of the Steerage passengers were travelling from China to South America.

Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Victoria and Vancouver on May 17^th, 1926

Lieutenant-Colonel Gerald W. Birks	Associated with Birks and Company, returning from Asia.
R. W. Horne	Associated with Smith, Horne Ltd. of London returning from a trip to the Far East.
G. H. Horne,	Of California, associated with the International Precipitation Company, en route from the Far East.
Lieutenant Colonel D. G. Rei	Of Simla, India travelling on a world cruise.
Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Grant	Of Geneva, returning from a trip to the Far East.
K. Kagamo	Associated with the Tokyo Marine Insurance Company and the Nippon Yusen Kaisha Steamship Line.
E. W. Tickle	Of Sydney, Australia en route to Europe
Madame Bohem de Sauvanne	Associated with Bishop’s Tours of London.
F. W. Pesch	En route to Germany from the Far East.
Mrs. S. M. Brydges	Of Vancouver.

Departure: May 27th 1926

The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. V. R. Lovegrove, began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on May 27^th, 1926.  The ship reported a light passenger list and a capacity cargo.  Cargo included flour, lumber, spelter and a shipment of automobiles.

No other passenger information is available for this crossing.

Arrival: July 12th 1926

The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A, V, R, Lovegrove concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on July 12^th, 1926.

A heavy cargo was reported that included raw silk, destined for the eastern United States.

At Victoria, 200 tons of freight and 600 bags of mail were discharged with 16 bags destined for the United States by airplane.

A large passenger list of 736 persons was reported.  The passenger list comprised 281 First Class, 109 Second Class and 346 Steerage passengers.  

Passengers included a party led by John McCormack, a renowned tenor who was returning from concert engagements in the Far East.  McCormack at sailed for the Far East aboard the EMPRESS OF ASIA on April 3^rd, 1926.  He held a recital in Vancouver on the evening of July 15^th, 1926.

Other passengers were Linton Wells and Edward S. Evans who were engaged in a record setting race around the globe.  The two racers were expedited through the Quarantine Station and took the mail airplane to Seattle on their way to the finish line of the race in New York.

Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Victoria and Vancouver on July 12^th, 1926.

John McCormack	Of New York, a renowned tenor returning from Yokohama after a tour of the Far East.
Sir Francis Aglen	Inspector General of the Chinese Maritime Customs.
Lord Morven Cavendish-Bentinek	Returning from a tour of the Far East.
S. H. Michael	Of Hong Kong, associated with J. R. Michael & Company.
G. H. Benson	Of Hong Kong en route to Vancouver, associated with the American Express Company.
G. M. Young	Of Hong Kong, associated with Butterfield & Swire.
C. Lafranz	Of Hong Kong, associated with Caldbeck, MacGregor & Company.
Dr. J. H. Sanders	Of Hong Kong, en route to England.
Lady Chater	En route to England.
A. S. Hersee	Associated with David Sassoon & Company.
Reverend Godfrey Hirst	En route to Liverpool.
N. Fano	Of Paris.
G. Parker	Associated with the Parker Pen Company.
H. M. Fibbey	Associated with the Glen Line, en route to England.
A. B. Hykes	Of Shanghai, associated with the United States Steel Products Corporation, en route to New York.
Mr. and Mrs. S. Grant	Of Ningpo en route to Victoria.
Linton Wells	En route to New York to complete an around the world race.
Edward S. Evans	En route to New York to complete an around the world race.

Departure: July 22nd 1926

The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. V. R. Lovegrove, began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on July 22^nd, 1926.  The ship carried a large passenger list attributable in part to the removal of the EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA from the Pacific.  Passengers included parties travelling to China from Cuba and Trinidad.  A heavy cargo amounting to 3,200 tons was carried and included automobiles, cigarettes, flour, spelter, Kraft paper and wood pulp.

Notable passengers embarking aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA on July 22^nd, 1926 at Vancouver and Victoria.

Lieutenant Adam T. Wood
General Tsang Ho	Former Chinese Consul at Vancouver en route to a new assignment.
Mrs. E. Cobb Little	Associated with the United States diplomatic office at Peking.
Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Kime	Of Washington, D.C. en route to the Far East.
D. E. Gauld	En route to Tamsui, Formosa.
A. Taylor	Of Harrison & Crosfield.
J. F. MacGregor	Of London.
Mrs. A. M. Block
T. Akita	Of Seattle.
Mr. Chi	Shanghai exporter.
Mr. Wang	Shanghai exporter.
J. A. Good	Of London.
J. P. Hardy	Of Burns, Philip & Company, Sydney, Australia en route to Australia from London.
J. H. Harris	Director of Anthony Harden & Sons, Australia en route to Hong Kong from London.
Irene C. A. Ho	En route to Yokohama.
Harriet Holverstadt	A missionary travelling to China.
Miss Lui
Miss Little	Of Montreal.
G. Saxton	Of Lynn, Massachusetts.
Mrs. F. A. Stevenson	Of Seattle en route to Manila.
Joan Stevenson	Of Seattle en route to Manila.
Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Metcalf

Arrival: September 6th 1926

The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. V. R. Lovegrove concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on September 6^th, 1926.

In spite of head winds and some fog off Vancouver Island a fast crossing from Yokohama was accomplished.  The vessel averaged 18.57 knots and completed the crossing in 9 days, nine hours and 15 minutes.

A heavy cargo was carried including 4,200 bales of raw silk valued at $4,500, 000.00.  At Vancouver the ship was met by a special train that expedited the silk to the East Coast.

At Victoria, 1,053 bags of mail were discharged with 62 bags destined for Victoria, 15 bags for US Air Mail Post, and 976 bags for the United States.  About 120 tons of freight was discharged at Victoria.

A passenger list of 438 persons was reported.

Passengers included a party of sixteen individuals from the French possession of Mauritius who were travelling to Western Canada to settle.

Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Victoria and Vancouver on September 6^th, 1926.

Elizabeth Crump Enders	An American writer and author of the novel. Swinging Lanterns, en route to New York from Shanghai.
Y. Okamoto	An Electrical Engineer with the Japanese Government.
L. Morimoto	A Professor at the Imperial Japanese University en route to the Philadelphia Exposition.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Baker	Of St. Louis.
Mr. and Mrs. I. Solomon	Of Java.
D. Cox	Of Kobe, associated with the import and export firm of Land & Cox, en route to England.

Departure: September 16th 1926

The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. V. R. Lovegrove, began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on September 16^th, 1926.

On September 16^th, 1926, 4 deep-sea vessels, the EMPRESS OF ASIA, the SOUTHWESTERN MILLER, the TYNDAREUS and the NIAGARA visited Victoria.  The EMPRESS OF ASIA was forced to wait in the Royal Roads for one half hour to allow the NIAGARA time to leave the harbour.

Cargo held in the refrigerated and cold storage plant included butter, meat, vegetables and apples.

Cargo also included several thousand bales of raw cotton originating in the United States and destined for mills in Japan.  Canned milk, cigarettes, lead, zinc, ammonia, automobiles machinery, and Kraft wrapping paper were also carried to the Far East on this voyage.

The ship reported a large passenger list comprising 149 Saloon Class, 110 Second Class, 40 Third Class and 375 Steerage passengers.

A number of missionaries were travelling on this voyage.  One group, led by Reverend Father Paradie, consisted of one Jesuit priest and seven priests from the Seminary of Foreign Missionaries in Montreal.  Another group consisted of Southern Baptist missionaries and a third group was from the Women’s Missionary Society.

Notable passengers embarking aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA on September 16^th, 1926 at Vancouver and Victoria.

Colonel H. R. Pousette	Of Ottawa, Canadian Trade Commissioner at Calcutta.
Hon. Sir James Allen	British Trade Commissioner to Australia, en route to Sydney, Australia, from the United Kingdom.
Major Goldney	En route to Shanghai.
Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Mosher
Mrs. E. T. Byrne	Returning to Shanghai from England.
Mrs. L. B. Finkenstaidt	Of Cleveland.
Colonel Sclater	En route to Shanghai.
A. C. Cornish	En route to Shanghai.
C. N. Holwill	Of Pittsburgh.
I. Johnston	Of London, en route to Hong Kong.
Lydia Kristensen	Of Washington.
Dr. Masujima	Of Tokyo, returning from New York.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Macknight	Returning to China after a visit to Vancouver.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Parsons	Associated with the Chinese Government Salt Administration.
D. Yellowlees	Of Johnstone, Scotland
F. Fee	Of Holland Centre, Ontario en route to China on missionary assignment.
Reverend Charles D. Bonzak	Associated with the Church of the Brethren, Elgin, Illinois.
Reverend J. J. Goder
J. Ambrose	En route to Shanghai.
Pablo Alzona	En route to Manila from Chicago.
Dr. G. Bochk	Of Montreal.
E. Brias	Of London, en route to Shanghai.
K. Begdon	Of London, en route to Shanghai.
K. Sakamoto	Engineer with the Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line.
P. K. Conduct	Associated with the International Standard Electric Company.
Eng Sea We	Of China.
Ko Ning	Of China.

Arrival: November 1st 1926

The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. V. R. Lovegrove concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on November 1^st, 1926.  The ship’s departure from Yokohama was delayed 4 hours due to a state holiday and stormy weather caused a further delay causing the arrival a Victoria to be 8 hours behind schedule.

A very valuable cargo was reported with raw silk and manufactured goods valued at over $6,000,000.00.  A special train of 20 cars met the ship at Vancouver to move the silk eastwards.  Other cargo included tea, walnuts, gunnysacks and pineapples.

A total of 408 passengers in all classes were reported.  Eighty-two passengers disembarked at Victoria, and the boat to Seattle was held over to accommodate any passengers wishing to travel to the United Sates.

Note of Interest:

Two passengers died on the voyage to Victoria.  Brother Odelo Belisle of the Franciscan Brothers died aboard the ship between Kobe and Yokohama.  Brother Odelo Belisle was buried in Yokohama.

N. C. Allen, of Bradford England died aboard when the ship was between Yokohama and Victoria.  He was buried at sea.

Two stowaways were discovered on the voyage to Victoria.

While steaming close to British Columbia the ship was rocked by a violent shock that endured for several seconds.  The waters were examined for logs or debris but no cause for the incident could be determined.

Sydney Malkin, British tile manufacture and Justice of the Peace at Burslem England was a passenger on board returning from a business trip to Ceylon, Malaya, China and Japan.  Sydney Malkin was the brother of W. H. Malkin and P. Malkin, Vancouver wholesale merchants.

Departure: November 12th 1926

The EMPRESS OF ASIA, Commanded by L. D. Douglas began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on November 12^th, 1926.  The ship was held at Vancouver over night to await the arrival of European passengers and mail from the east.

The ship was heavily laden with general cargo including automobiles, wrapping paper, flour, cotton from the southern United States, lead, spelter, ammonia, liquor and cigarettes.  Refrigerated cargo included butter, beef, and fruit.

The ship’s strong room held 1,000 bars of silver destined for Japan.

The EMPRESS OF ASIA reached HONG KONG on December 7^th, 1926 and underwent annual overhaul.

The ship carried the largest passenger list in several years, a total of 967 with 140 First Class, 75 Second Class, 75 Second Class, 30 Third Class and 750 Steerage.

Three Sisters of the Order of the Immaculate Conception were aboard as passengers travelling to the Far East from Montreal.

Notable passengers embarking aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA on November 12^th, 1926 at Vancouver and Victoria.

Captain Alfred Torrible	Of the China Navigation Company.
N. A. Viloudaki	Prominent Shanghai merchant.
G. Hyslop	Of the Cunard Line.
R. L. Bridges	Director of Lane & Crawford, Hong Kong.
Charles E. Rayner	Of Rayner, Houser & Company, Hong Kong
Henry Burgess	Superintendent Engineer for the Canadian Pacific Service at Vancouver.
G. L. Potts	Broker, of Shanghai.
H. M. Smith	Of the Dutch banking firm Nederlandsch Indische Handelsbank.
P. Hilzer	Of the Dutch banking firm Nederlandsch Indische Handelsbank.
Major W. H. Anderson	Of Manila.
Mrs. F. Barker	Of Kobe.
Philip H. Dunbar
Phillip Friedman	Of Cohn & Rosenburg, New York.
Joseph A. Kane
Wm. P. Lipscomb	Of New York.
Joseph Winterbotham and party	On a world tour.
S. Stafford	Asian representative of the English firm Oxo Ltd.
H. Pender Whitelaw
Reverend J. J. Spence	Missionary at the South China Station returning to China from Eastern Canada.
Ralph M. Roberg	Vice-President of W. L. Comyn & Company of Seattle, en route to Japan.