Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-03-06
TO TOUR AND BARTER
Object of Novel Voyage Planned
by a Financier.
OCEAN STEAMER PURCHASED
Colonel Robert M. Thompson Of New
York and His Party viii Visit Indian,
Chinese and Japanese Ports In .
Floating Abode of Luxury.

The life of merchant prince on his
own ship, with the far east as his des-
tination, is one that Colonel Robert M.
Thompson, a inancier Of New York
city, has chosen to follow, and he will
soon depart for the orient with a num-
Der Of chosen friends on an ocean
steamer which he has purchased ex-
pressly for this purpose.
The vessel will carry cargo Of mer-
chandise shipped to various destina-
tons in the regular course Of COM
merce, for which the usual freight rates
will be charged, and the proceeds Of
the carriage will be applied toward de-
fraying the expenses of the outward
trip.
This original undertaking savors Of
the times of 1912, when fortunes were
made or lost on the high seas, but now
no dread of pirate crews can spoil the
pleasurable side Of the enterprise or in
terfere with the commercial end Of
the plan. Colonel Thompson has con-
verted tramp steamer into floating
abode of luxury, and every fitting has
been made as harmonious and comfort
able as wealth can make it, says the
New York Tribune. The trip will ex-
tend over several months, for haste is
not part of the programme.
Besides Colonel and Mrs. Thompson
and the Stephen Pells, the party will
include other well known New York
ers and several Canadians. Among the
latter will be Mr.. and Mrs. Wallace
Nesbitt, who are residents Of Toronto.
Mr.. Nesbitt is a lawyer and for time
enjoyed the distinction of being the
youngest chief justice in the Domin-
ion, but he preferred a general prac-
tice and Is now an expert on mining
rights and claims. In the far east
mines are to be bought for song, but
deals must be skillfully handled to be
without flaw in title or grant where
the orient is concerned
Poking about all places of interests
along the coast to be touched will con-
sumo a certain amount of time, and no
opportunity for sightseeing will go
astray. AT each place it is proposed to
barter for curios or more popular goods,
so that the return trip also will show a
profit balance. The weeks to be spent
In Indian, Chinese and Japanese ports
are looked forward to with delight by
all of the party, for, while the trading
and business side will take the fore
most place In the minds of the men,
the temples, the native costumes and
customs and the rare tumble Of the ar
tistlc and outlandish will appeal to
the women. who will doubtless be of
great assistance In the selection of
wares to return as part of the cargo.
Each passenger has all the space he
desires to spread his belongings in, and
all know one another so well that the
length Of the trip is an extra induce
ment instead Of holding the chance
that some one Of them may end it
abruptly and return overland because
of disagreement. The voyage as plan
ned leads through the Mediterranean
and Suez canal to India and other parts
of Asia. Eventually landing will be
made in San Franclvs. after look in
at Alaska.
When the United States is reached
and the ship and cargo are sold Colo
mel Thompson, 1t is said, poets that
the enterprise viii have paid for itself,
the provisioning even included, and on
the sale Of the steamer a profit is
thought probable.
An especially good chef has been en-
gagged, who will, 1t is hoped, prepare
such food that even the third day de-
spairers' will be tempted and recover
their appetites. The deck has ample
space for the usual ship games, and.
as more than half Of those going are
bridge players Of skill and much prac-
tice, gray days will not be much no.
ticed. Their friends hope that the