| Title: | M. Smyth, S.S. Pretorian, to Mr. John J Smyth, Castledamph. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2941 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Mary/23 |
| Year | 1901 |
| Sender | Smyth, Mary |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | on her way to Canada |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Presbyterian) |
| Origin | Ship Pretorian |
| Destination | Castledamph, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | writes to her family |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 0410094 |
| Date | 16/09/1901 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 27:10:2004. |
| Word Count | 1229 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Envelope addressed to:- Mr. John James Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co Tyrone Ireland Postmarked on Front:- LONDONDERRY AM 10 SE [--?] [--?] Back of Envelope:- (Handwritten) Arrived Tuesday Oct 1st 1901 Postmarks NEWTOWNSTEWART [3?] 10 SE 31 01 LONDONDERRY COLONIAL [PKT?] AM 10 15 SE 30 01 Motif on envelope:- ALLAN LINE ROYAL MAIL STEAMERS S. S. Pretorian Monday Sept 16th 01 Dear Father Mother Sister s and Brothers Just a line or two to day as I can't sit up much at once I have been sick since we got on. I have vomited all I have eaten since. John Joe is sick too James is a little not much but John A. has not been sick atall [at all?]. I hardly knew that yesterday was Sunday atall [at all?]. there was none of us able to go to Service only John A. Us four began to sing hymns at night at the corner of a table but it was not long to [until?] they all joined in [and?] a young lady played the Piano. Today there was four or five of them sitting on deck singing songs. Some very good singers here. I sit out on deck in the chair & the rugs round me I don t know what we would do if we hadn t them. I forgot untill [until?] now that this is the Plumfair day. I suppose by this time it is scattered. We have a grand dining room three tables in it Eight Electric lights it is grand. But the beds are dreadful there is no room in them atall [at all?] every room holds four only one can dress at a time, it is just like if there was another bed on the top of ours only narrow holds me & I sleep on the top one step on the lower one to get up. There is always a parade on deck on [in?] the Evg [Evening?] walking up & down & there is that many up that the [they?] havn t [haven t?] room to pass. I haven t walked none yet only out & in & I feel very stiff, but I must soon try it This ship just rolls from side to side I thought last night I would be thrown out of my bed. She is rolling so much that the delph was upset & broken & they have to board the tables to keep the plates on while eating. James says there is no fun on this one besides the others that he came over in there is only another young girl besides me all old ones. There is a stewardess to look after the ladies when they are sick. She attends me well. Everyone has there [their?] own seat at the table & when any one [anyone?] is missing they are all [inquiring?] are the [they?] getting better. I have only been able to come to the table once. Wednesday after breakfast something better today but far off well yet I don t eat as much in one day as I should do at a meal. We had a Concert last night. I will send you a Programme later on There was 4 or five came down from the first Saloon. Proceeds [amounted?] to £1- 7S we gave 1/6 for Programme [or?] 6D each for collection. This is a very nice day must go out on deck. Yesterday was wet and we did not get out atall [at all?]. We expect to sight land tomorrow Evg. [Evening?] Thursday. I ll give you the distance we went each day. Saturday 288 miles Sunday 307 Monday 296 Tuesday 200 Wednesday 321 Thursday 315 Wednesday Night 1 o clock your time I suppose by this time you are all sleeping we are after having a good many plays tonight; and a [Walse?] in the middle by J. J. and James & two other men I must go to bed. Thursday Evg. [Evening?] This was a very nice day got out on deck all day Saw a great many Icebergs & some was [were?] very near us we are in the Straits of Belisle Saw the the (Sic) coast of Labrador and Newfoundland. A very rocky looking place. We saw about 3 dozen fishing boats also two Whales. Everyone was out looking at the icebergs running from one side of the ship to the other to see both sides. We expect to land on Sunday but is afraid we won t get a train that day. I am very well to day I think I have the sickness all over This is the first day I have been able to sit up and I am able to eat a good deal more than I did but not very much yet. There is always three or four courses each meal, but there was a few days I tell you I did not eat much I think if you would see me now you would think I was failed a a (sic) good deal I know my hands has [have?] got very thin anyway but I ll soon take it in again. The steward told me the first few days when I eat nothing that the Company would have profit of me but I think I ll have my share before I leave yet! I see preparations for another Concert tonight there is a young man here & he is always Plannings (sic) something Brooks is his name & a very nice singer Such a lot of people & all from different place (sic) & for different places but all associate together like as they knew you all your life and they were talking last night that they would be sorry to separate [separate?] after being with them for a week I suppose on Sunday they will all be going their own way I expect to post this tomorrow Friday at Rimouska [Rimouski?] The steward is just after giving round stamps & I have got a few envelopes from him Alan Line Mail Steamers We had a lovely dinner today & a nice Plum Pudding after Nuts Apples Oranges & all are down on the table every day besides Roast goose turkey ham & eggs Letices [lettuces?] & all sorts anything you like Friday: Evg. [Evening?] Well we had a very good night last night they put up a screen in the corner of the saloon & that was where they prepared all. & when they were ready to show the [they?] lifted up the screen for 16 seconds The [They?] showed Venus & a doctor visiting a sick child had one of these little ones laid down & the sheets all on him & the doctor exam [examined?] him and the father & Mother crying beside him. They showed Love & a good many other things but last of all was the Sentence from each different nation there is not that many here altogether & yet they are from eight different nations we have a German, English Scotch Irish Welsh American Canadian Australian. You will see the list of all that is here altogether [to?] turn out that everyone was called in one by one acting there [their?] own side James was the Irish had a pipe [in?] his mouth & a muffle round his neck & he spoke Irish Every one gave a sentence in their own language We are going up the St. Lawrence today passed two ships & we passed one yesterday & one another day This is a lovely day I expect you are putting in corn. No More at Present M. [Mary?] Smyth (Written Top of Page 1) I have got no Pen so I don t know how you will read it (Written Top of Page 4, upside down) Hope you are all well since we left Transcribed by Elizabeth Prentice |
