Letter to Minnie in Saybrook, IL from George. “After landing in Liverpool, I went to London 3rd class over the Midland R.R. through some of the finest scenery in England. I arrived at 7PM and took a cab to the Temperance Hotel I had been directed to by friends on the ship.
The next day I went to buy my ticket and found all the berths were already engaged up to November 22. I was unable to get passage until Nov. 26 at noon to Aden, near the East of the Red Sea and there take the Asian for Bombay. I attended City Road Wesley Chapel on Sunday evening and a lady invited to Wednesday Night meeting. I have been to Westminster Abby and over London Bridge. The streets here are a maze and cross in every direction. It would be easy to get lost. I have a little compass which I got in Paris, IL for 5 cents and I have a little map of London so I get on very well.
The next letter was mailed from Malta to George’s Mother.
11/24/1991 to Mamma from GCH aboard Steamer Britannia. GCH reports rough time at the Bay of Biscay but “I was not ill. I ate all meals, walked on the deck. Saw the Rock of Gibraltar. It is a very large, high rock connected to the mainland by a strip of low ground. As you approach it rises like a steep roof but the other side is almost straight down. It is very strongly fortified but not so as to be seen from the sea. We then sailed as straight for Malta as the African coast would allow.
We stopped at Valletta on Malta. It is picturesque, heavily fortified, full of beggars. Our ship loaded coal for several hours. I went ashore with friends and saw a fine church, the governor’s palace and some fine views from elevated places. Then our ship sailed straight for Brindisi, Italy passing Sicily with a good view of Mt. Etna, snow capped. In Brindisi I saw a funeral procession, Catholic. The procession included people with white vails and some black. People took off their hats when the crucifix passed.
While we waited, the mail train arrived with approximately 1,000 mailbags for China, India, Japan and Australia. Mail for Bombay leaves London every Friday night and goes by rail to Brindisi from Calais.
I had been alone from London in one of the best second class staterooms with two berths. I prayed for an agreeable roommate as did the Scotsman who came to share my cabin. I am glad to have an agreeable companion. He is going to Australia on account of a brother’s illness. He has a brother who is a missionary in Bombay. I do not know that it is really remarkable that such prayers are answered.ÂÂ
We passed Cephalonia and Crete in the Ionian Sea. Then it was straight sailing to Port Said. (this letter was mailed from Malta)
GCH writes that he is lonely, misses friends from the ship and asks Minnie to write to him.