{"id":856,"date":"2026-10-27T14:17:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T21:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/empressofasia.com\/?page_id=856"},"modified":"2026-10-27T18:50:36","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T01:50:36","slug":"1919-sailings-and-notables","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/empressofasia.com\/index.php\/1919-sailings-and-notables\/","title":{"rendered":"1919 Sailings and Notables"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"D-19190227\">Departure: February 27th 1919<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by W. Davison, began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on February 27<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919.&nbsp;&nbsp;This was the first mercantile sailing of the ship after having completed wartime duties the previous month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ship carried a full passenger list that included approximately 800 Steerage passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No other passenger information is available for this crossing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"A-19190414\">Arrival: April 14th 1919<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by Captain A. W. Davison, concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on April 15<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919.&nbsp;&nbsp;The ship reported a pleasant and smooth crossing from Yokohama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A full list of Cabin passengers and 600 steerage passengers were reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Passengers included a party led by Colonel J. S. Dennis, of the Canadian Economic Commission to Siberia consisting of eight officers and a small contingent of soldiers.&nbsp;&nbsp;The military personnel were returning from garrison duty at Vladivostok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another party of passengers consisted of foreign employees of the Nobel Explosive Works at Hiratsuka who were returning to England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Vancouver on April 15<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Sir Conyngham Greene<\/strong><\/td><td>British Ambassador at Tokyo returning to England.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Lady Lily Greene<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to England from Tokyo.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Colonel J. S. Dennis<\/strong><\/td><td>En route from Vladivostok to Canada<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>V. E. Francke<\/strong><\/td><td>Former British Vice-Consul at Vladivostok returning to England.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>D. C. Rea<\/strong><\/td><td>Of the Royal Bank of Canada returning to Canada from Vladivostok.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>John K. Davis<\/strong><\/td><td>Former U. S. Consul at Antung returning to America,<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>E. R. Wilkinson and family.<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to England from Yokohama<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Major E. W. Frazar<\/strong><\/td><td>Treasurer of the Siberian Commission of the American Red Cross en route to Washington.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>E. Tawney<\/strong><\/td><td>Representative of the American Treasury at Yokohama en route to the United States<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>C. J. Davidson<\/strong><\/td><td>British Vice-Consul at Yokohama en route to England.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>T. C. Blue<\/strong><\/td><td>Associated with Bagnall &amp; Hilles Co., returning to the United States.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"D-19190502\">Departure: May 2nd 1919<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. W. Davison, began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on May 2<sup>nd<\/sup>, 1919.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Travelling to China on this voyage was Mrs. Lee Mong Kow of Victoria.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mrs. Lee boarded the ship at Victoria with her son and daughter.&nbsp;&nbsp;Her daughter, Lee Yut Wah was travelling to Peking to be married. &nbsp;Her son, Lee Yock Choy was travelling to Peking to attend college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No other information for this voyage is available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"A-19190629\">Arrival: June 29th 1919<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by Captain A. W. Davison, concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on June 29<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919.&nbsp;&nbsp;The ship is reported to have carried 1,600 bags of mail, nearly double the expected consignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Labour problems were prevalent on the waterfront and volunteer longshoremen are reported to have unloaded the ship at Victoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Vancouver on June 29<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Sir Charles Crewe<\/strong><\/td><td>A South African statesman who severed as Brigadier General in the campaign in East Africa during the First World War.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Sir Everard Fraser<\/strong><\/td><td>British Consul-General at Shanghai.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>B. Guggenheim<\/strong><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"D-19190711\">Departure: July 11th 1919<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. W. Davison, began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on July 11<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ship carried a full cargo and 900 passengers with 300 First Class, 100 Second Class, 75 Third Class and 400 Steerage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Hong Kong Captain Davison relinquished command of the EMPRESS OF ASIA to Captain A. J. Hailey.&nbsp;&nbsp;Captain Davison was promoted to Marine Superintendent for Canadian Pacific at Hong Kong.&nbsp;&nbsp;Captain Hailey had previously commanded the MONTEAGLE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Note of Interest:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>While leaving Vancouver harbour the EMPRESS OF ASIA struck a rock.&nbsp;&nbsp;The ship continued to Victoria where the ship was met by the salvage steamer ALASKAN.&nbsp;&nbsp;A diver inspected the hull and determined that although a few plates were dented, it was possible for the ship to continue.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No passenger information is available for this crossing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"A-19190825\">Arrival: August 25th 1919<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. J. Hailey, concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on August 25<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919. &nbsp;A full passenger list was reported with 53 Saloon and 125 steerage passengers disembarking at Victoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cargo of 5,000 tons was reported including a large shipment of raw silk valued at over $10,000,000.00.&nbsp;&nbsp;A special train awaited the arrival of the ship to expedite the silk from Vancouver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>No passenger information is available for this crossing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"D-19190904\">Departure: September 4th 1919<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. J. Hailey, began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on September 4<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919.&nbsp;&nbsp;This was Captain Hailey\u2019s first outward voyage as Master of the EMPRESS OF ASIA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ship carried a heavy general cargo and a full passenger list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On this voyage George Winterburn of Victoria joined the crew as Junior Engineer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No passenger information is available for this crossing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"A-19191020\">Arrival: October 20th 1919<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by Captain A. J. Hailey, concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on October 20<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919. &nbsp;Cargo consisted of 30 carloads of silk and 2,000 tons of general cargo.&nbsp;&nbsp;The ship carried a large passenger list comprising 327 First Class, 73 Second Class, and 502 Steerage passengers. &nbsp;Two of the passengers were Japanese delegates to the Labor Conference at Washington D.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the voyage home the ship did not call at Shanghai because of cholera alert at that city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EMPRESS OF ASIA while in the Far East struck and demolished a Chinese junk in a nighttime collision.&nbsp;&nbsp;The ship rescued the four occupants of the junk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Vancouver on October 20<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Sir Charles Elliott<\/strong><\/td><td>British Ambassador to Japan returning to London.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"D-19191030\">Departure: October 30th 1919<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EMPRESS OF ASIA began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on October 30<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two thousand members of the Chinese Labour Battalions were on board as passengers.&nbsp;&nbsp;These individuals were returning to China from wartime service in France via the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ship also carried a full passenger list and it was necessary to use the gymnasium for extra berths to accommodate passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A large group of missionaries were aboard on this voyage and farewell gatherings were held at the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, First Baptist Church and the Wesley Methodist Church in Vancouver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable passengers embarking aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA on October 30<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919 at Vancouver and Victoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>A. H. Wiggin<\/strong><\/td><td>Chairman of the Chase national Bank of New York.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>G. L. Stone<\/strong><\/td><td>Of Haydon &amp; Stone of New York.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>E. B. Bruce<\/strong><\/td><td>President of the Pacific Development Company of New York.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Hon. Hsu En Yuen<\/strong><\/td><td>President of the North China Banking Corporation.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dr. John Ferguson<\/strong><\/td><td>Advisor to the President of China.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Sir George Bury<\/strong><\/td><td>Of the Whalen Pulp and Paper Company on a business trip to the Orient.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dr. and Mrs. Waterbury<\/strong><\/td><td>Of New York.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Mrs. H. R. Drummond-Hay<\/strong><\/td><td>Of Winnipeg.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>W. M. Harrison<\/strong><\/td><td>Sales Manager of the Whalen Pulp and Paper Company.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Reverend J. A. Walker<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to China on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Miss E. A. R. Wilson<\/strong><\/td><td>A teacher en route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Miss M. E. Batstone<\/strong><\/td><td>A nurse en route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>F. E. L. Abrey<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to West China to construct buildings in Szechwan province as part of missionary activity.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Miss I. K. McIntosh<\/strong><\/td><td>A nurse en route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Reverend Dr. Bloomfield<\/strong><\/td><td>Returning to India on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dr. Kline<\/strong><\/td><td>Returning to India East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dr. C. B. Kelly<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dr. T. H. Williams<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Miss K. R. Ross<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Miss E. E. Dale<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Reverend R. E. S Taylor<\/strong><\/td><td>Boarded at Victoria, en route to West China on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Reverend I. C. Archibald<\/strong><\/td><td>Returning to India on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Reverend R. C. Benson<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dr. E. G. Smith<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Reverend G. P. Berss<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dr. Eaton<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Ellen Priest<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Miss A. C. Murray<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Miss Eaton<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Miss Blackadar<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Miss Machum<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Miss Mathieson<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Miss Day<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Miss Brothers<\/strong><\/td><td>En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. En route to the Far East on missionary assignment.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"A-19191215\">Arrival: December 15th 1919<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. J. Hailey, concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on December 15<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919.&nbsp;&nbsp;Heavy weather was encountered during most of the trip across the Pacific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ship discharged 2,000 bags of America bound mail at Victoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Captain C. J. O\u2019Brien and the American crew of the TJIKEMBANG were passengers on this voyage, travelling home to the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Victoria and Vancouver on December 15<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Captain C. J. O\u2019Brien<\/strong><\/td><td>Former Commander of the TJIKEMBANG en route to the United States.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Alexander Sklarevaki<\/strong><\/td><td>Noted Russian pianist en route to the East Coast.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Sir George H. Bury<\/strong><\/td><td>Former Vice President of the Canadian Pacific Railways, returning from a business trip to Japan<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Prince Michel Cantacuzene<\/strong><\/td><td>Member of the Russian aristocracy travelling to Washington, D.C.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dr. William B. Schell<\/strong><\/td><td>Associate Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions on a tour of the Far East<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dr. D. M. Gandier<\/strong><\/td><td>Involved in a Prohibition campaign in Japan.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"D-19191225\">Departure: December 25th 1919<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EMPRESS OF ASIA began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on Christmas Day, December 25<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two thousand members of the Chinese Labour Battalions were on board as passengers.&nbsp;&nbsp;These individuals were returning to China from wartime service in Europe via the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>On December 24<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919, prior to embarkation, 1200 members of the Chinese Labour Battalions paraded on Hastings Street in Vancouver.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The ship also carried a delegation of diplomats from China who were returning home from the Peace Conference in Europe.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ship reported 310 First Class, 55 Second Class, 50 Third Class and 700 Steerage passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cargo included 240,000 pounds of silver, in the form of specie and ingots, in transit to China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable passengers embarking aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA on December 25<sup>th<\/sup>, 1919 at Vancouver and Victoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Count Eric Berg<\/strong><\/td><td>Of Christiania, Norway on a world tour.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Rear-Admiral K. C. B. Morgan<\/strong><\/td><td>Of the United States Navy en route to the Philippines.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>H. Bissiker<\/strong><\/td><td>Travelling to Hong Kong.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>A. Brand<\/strong><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>S. J. Kerr<\/strong><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>E. W. McLean<\/strong><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>G. Reifel<\/strong><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Mrs. Reifel<\/strong><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Major P. F. Scharschmidt<\/strong><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Mr. and Mrs. J. Fyfe Smith<\/strong><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>D. Sune<\/strong><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Departure: February 27th 1919 The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by W. Davison, began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on February 27th, 1919.&nbsp;&nbsp;This was the first mercantile sailing of the ship after having completed wartime duties the previous month. The ship carried a full passenger list that included approximately 800 Steerage passengers. No other [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-856","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/empressofasia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/empressofasia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/empressofasia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empressofasia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empressofasia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=856"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/empressofasia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/856\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":859,"href":"https:\/\/empressofasia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/856\/revisions\/859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/empressofasia.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}