The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-03-25
Johnson Back
From. England

Landing in New York one week ago
today on the steamship Mauretania,
which smashed all previous records
westward over the ocean, by lowering
her own time by 26 minutes from
London to New York, Robert johnson,
better known by his many friends
in this city as Bob" Johnson, arrived
in Walla Walla yesterday, from his
two months trip to his old home IN
Seaforth, Litherland, England, none
the worse for the voyage, having gain
ed several pounds while away, and be-
ing in the best of spirits. Coming
across the ocean in worlds record
time, and speeding across the conti-
nent in some places at a mile a min
ute, Mr. Johnson's trip ended in a
sensational whirlwind finish
Mr.. Johnson is loud in his praise and
enthusiasm over the great ocean liner,
and in speaking of the voyage said:
1.-The Mauretania arrived at Ambrose
channel l;ghtship at fifteen minutes
before eight o'clock. making the voy-
age across the ocean in exactly four
rays, fifteen hours and fifty-five min
| utes, and maintaining the average
speed of 25.91 knots, over the course
| of 2,SS9 miles.
Charles Warren Fairbanks of In
dianapolis, formerly vice president OF
| the. United States, returning from a
| trip around the world, was a passenger
| on the Mauretania, bringing a mes
| sage aof peace. Mrs Fairbanks was
with him. James A. Patten OF Chicago
who was so roughly handled recently
! On his appearance at the Manchester
stock exchange, in England, was, also
a passenger"
While in England. Mr. Johnson Wis
tied London, Liverpool, Manchester
and other of the large towns, as well
as his old home at Seaforth. The
old home place in which he was born
was stu standing, and he had no diff
fcultv in finding his way to it. The
church attended in his early boyhood
was also still in existence and many
other old landmarks, dear to the mem
| orv of his youth. Mr.. Johnson also
visited an old training ship, on which
when a boy, he served three and one
| half years learning to be sailor. The
| old ship is decaying now but is still
standing in the harbor. 1t was just
thirty-two years ago that Mr.. Johnson
| sailed on this ship.
| In speaking of London, Mr. johnson
said that there is only one street
car line in the city like those used
| i'm this country, it being along the
| Thames with underground power VIZ
es. In the rest of the city thousands
! of taxicabs are used for transportation
| Liverpool is a dirty, crowded, mis-
| cradle looking place with narrow
lstreets but the docks are wonderful
said Mr.. Johnson
| IT was his intention to visit the con-
| t,nent. but owing to the epidemic now
aging there, as a result of the recent
flood in Paris. he was advised by his
friends that the ports might be quar-
antined and it would be difficult t
get away if such a thing happened
iso Mr.. Johnson decided not to go over
| a brother of Mr. Johnson and severa
irousins. and an uncle he had nevei
heard from. were all visited and olt
lies talked over Though he was GLAD
n see his cid friends and relative:
j and enjoyed visiting his old home
land familiar landmarks. Mr.. johnson
lsavs he is glad to get back to th'
good old Northwest.
/ Coming back he stopped over at Ma
cara and Chicago. The whole trll
1 toolS about two months.
/ On the dining car coming back
Mr.. Johnson tells Of an amusing in
4 cidept that occurred. as follows:
! "Nhile we were eating on the diner
la negro waiter brought in some larg
notatoes. and one of my friends aske'
him where they were grown.
i washington, sah,' responded th'
waiter. North Yakima, Wash" Ar