Presented is a collection of very unusual
documents from the personal journal of
Samuel Jackson, Captain of the Red Line steamer Begenland
during one of its early
voyages, likely Antwerp - New York or return. This
is the first BELGENLAND that
was built by the Barrow Shipbuilding Co,and launched for the Red
Star Line in Antwerp
on 24th Dec.1878
The leather bound
book was made up from pages of passenger's autographs and
greetings to the captain, numerous pencil drawings and other scenes. It has poems,
recipes, and letters,
all handwritten, that the passengers gave the captain to include.
The pages are not numbered,
and some are blank. It has entries through June 12, 1881 and some documents
with dates as late as September 3, 1885 and as early as May 30,
1879.
Some clever new owner will have the drawings removed, matted
and framed for display. They will make a standout wall treatment displaying ocean travelers in the late 1800's.
The leather-bound log
book is titled:
Captain Samuel Jackson
S.S. "Begenland"
Feb. 26th March 14th 1881
CONDITION: Except for the cover which is separated from the
binding
all the interior
pages are in good shape. They would make an outstanding arrangement if framed and
displayed individually.
THE SHIP: BEGENLAND, 1878
3,692 gross tons, length 402.9ft x beam 40.2ft, one funnel, four masts, iron hull, single screw, speed 14 knots,
accommodation for 150-1st and 1,000-3rd class
passengers.
Built by Barrow Shipbuilding Co, she was launched for the Red Star Line, Antwerp on 24th Dec.1878. Her maiden voyage from
Antwerp to Philadelphia started on 30th Mar.1879
and she transferred to Antwerp - New York sailings on 20th May 1879. Her last voyage
on this service started 6th Jul.1895 and she was then chartered to the American Line.
Reclassified to carry 150-2nd
and 1,000-3rd class passengers, she commenced
Philadelphia - Liverpool sailings on 31st Jul. 1895. Her last sailing on this route started
17th Oct.1903. Returned to Red Star Line, she was put on the Antwerp - Philadelphia
service with 3rd class passengers only. Her last Philadelphia - Antwerp crossing started 7th Dec.1904 and she was then sold to
Italian owners and renamed VENERE. Scrapped in 1906.
[North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.2,p.850]
THE RED STAR LINE: The Red Star Line was a passenger ocean line that existed
between its founding in 1871 and its amalgamation into the International Mercantile
Marine Co. in 1902. The line was a joint venture between the International Navigation
Company of Philadelphia, which also ran the American Line, and the Société Anonyme
de Navigation Belgo-Américaine of Antwerp, Belgium. The company's main ports of
Call were New York City and Philadelphia in the United States and Antwerp in Belgium. The company was founded by Clement
Griscom, who led it from its founding until its merger
into the IMM.
Red Star ships generally were given names ending in "-land". Notable Red Star ships
included Belgenland, Finland, Kroonland, Lapland, Vaderland, and Zeeland.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
