Bursley was also mentioned in Twain's story in Innocents Abroad about
riding donkeys in the Azores. The story is much more hilarious in
Twain's notebook than the final version in the book.
On 2/6/2024 1:43 PM, [log in to unmask] wrote:
> The Bell journal, which I own, contains a complete list of the crew
> and their home towns, and I think their positions. Bell also made a
> list of the passengers and obtained most of their autographs. I can
> send you those relevant pages later today when I am back in the office.
>
> Kevin
> @
> Mac Donnell Rare Books
> 9307 Glenlake Drive
> Austin TX 78730
> 512-345-4139
>
> You can browse our books at:
> www.macdonnellrarebooks.com
>
>
> ------ Original Message ------
> From: "Philip Trauring" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: 2/6/2024 11:33:15 AM
> Subject: Passengers and Crew of the Quaker City
>
>> In checking the passenger and crew that were on the Quaker City,
>> there seem to be some obvious lists to check. For passengers, there
>> are three published lists I’m aware of:
>>
>> NY Times, June 9, 1867
>> - This list has at least 10 names of people that were not on the
>> ship, such as Maggie Mitchell and her mother.
>>
>> The Bermuda List, Mid November, 1867
>> - This would seem to be the most accurate list, being printed at the
>> end of the journey by the passengers. Is there more known about the
>> how and why this list was created?
>>
>> NY Herald, November 20, 1867
>> - This was printed in the paper right before the letter written by
>> Twain about the journey which was repurposed in Ch. 61 of IA. It only
>> includes those who returned on the ship to NY, and leaves out those
>> who departed earlier.
>>
>> There are obviously also many references to passengers in the many
>> journals and letters written during the trip, including some partial
>> lists like the signatories of the letter to Daniel Leary thanking him
>> for arranging the meeting with the Russian Emperor which includes 28
>> names.
>>
>> Are there other full passenger lists besides these?
>>
>> For the crew, there is a list of 5 crew members in the NY Daily
>> Tribune published on June 8, 1867, but at least two of the names are
>> incorrect (I’m not clear if they are mistakes or bad typos). That
>> article lists:
>>
>> Duncan, Charles C. Captain
>> *Bussby, Capt. John Sailing-Master and Executive Officer
>> Jones, William Second Officer (Chief Mate in Chapter 3)
>> Burdick, Benjamin F. Third Officer
>> *Hums, John Chief Engineer
>>
>> Duncan and Jones are mentioned in the book. Ira Bursley is listed as
>> the Sailing Master/XO in both the book and in Duncan’s journal.
>> Robert Vail is mentioned as the purser by both Fairbanks and Severance.
>>
>> In the MTJ article on William E. James’s Stereoscopic Views, it lists
>> the crew without known photos as:
>>
>> Ira Bursley
>> William Jones
>> Benjamin Burdick
>> Robert Vail
>> William Pratt
>>
>> Ganzel mentions Pratt is named in an unidentified newspaper clipping
>> in MTP, but doesn’t explain where he is identified as the
>> Quartermaster of the ship. Elsewhere I’ve seen John Harris listed as
>> the Chief Engineer, although I’m not sure where he is identified.
>>
>> That would see to make the list of known crew as:
>>
>> Duncan, Charles Captain
>> Bursley, Ira Sailing Master/XO
>> Jones, William Second Officer/Chief Mate
>> Burdick, Benjamin Third Officer/Steward
>> Harris, John Chief Engineer
>> Pratt, William Quartermaster
>> Vail, Robert Purser
>>
>> I’m guessing there are many references to the crew in the MTP where
>> they are identified? Does my final list include all the known crew?
>> If not, what are sources for identifying more? Is there a record of
>> those crew members that Moses Beach helped after the crew wasn’t
>> paid? Is the name of the crew member that died known?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Philip Trauring
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