Travel route; San Francisco to Marseille: 1914

[christine liava'a]

Dr Fernand Cassiau and his wife Louise Cassiau left Tahiti on the Maitai on 30 August 1914. They arrived in San Francisco on 14 Sept 1914.

By late Oct they were in Marseille. He was sent to Lyon by 31 Oct, returning to work in the Military Hospital in Marseille on 4 Nov 1914.

How did they get from San Francisco to Marseille? Probably a train across America, but to what port?

Any ideas?

[DavidOwen]

FMP suggests their arrival in US was at San Diego.

Unfortunately I cannot add anything else either via Travel or Newspapers.

[christine liava'a]

EXCITING TRIP

MAITAI’S EXPERIENCES

DODGES GERMAN CRUISER OFF PACIFIC COAST.

Driven hundreds of miles out of her course to evade capture by the German cruiser Leipsig, and with her officers, crew and passengers in a state of nervous anxiety, the British steamer Maitai, which sailed from Wellington, New Zealand, on August 20th, bound for San Francisco, arrived in San Diego harbour to-day and anchored, said the San Diego “Sun” on September 12th (one of the American newspapers brought by the Maitai on her return voyage to Wellington). Captain Carson, of the British steamship, changed his course several days ago and headed for San Diego harbour because of failure to receive expected radio messages from the steamer Moana, out of San Francisco, informing him that the coast was clear. To-day, however, he feared that he had sailed almost into the mouth of the enemy, as the Leipsig was reported to have been seen only a few miles off San Diego harbour early to-day. If this is true, the Maitai has been bottled up in San Diego Bay, and may be forced to remain here indefinitely. Aboard the Maitai are 93 passengers, American, Frenchman, Germans and English, and a large cargo of merchandise. Many, of those aboard desire to land here, fearing an attack by the Lepsig if they continue up the coast, but none was permitted to come ashore to-day. “We are in communication with our offices at San Francisco,” said First Mate A. Hull, who has command of the Maitai to-day, while Captain Carson was ashore in conference with British Vice-Consul Hutchinson. “Of course, they will make every effort to locate the exact whereabouts of the Leipsig and any other German man-of-war which might give us trouble if we continue our journey north. We were told by pilots this morning that a ship resembling the Leipsig had been seen just outside the harbour. It is possible that the Leipsig has trailed us here.”

Should the Leipsig succeed in capturing the British ship, she will not land the prize that the Germans may have expected. The first-class steamer Willochra was to have made the trip from Sydney to San Francisco, but was pulled off the run at Wellington and her passengers and freight were transferred to the Maitai, which is an inferior vessel. The Willochra will be held at Wellington, as she is considered much too valuable to take a chance of falling into the hands of the Germans. The Union Steamship Co. of New Zealand controls both ships.

CONSTANT FEAR AND SUSPENSE. The trip from New Zealand to San Diego was one of constant fear and suspense. According to passengers, but one ship was encountered. She was thought to be a German warship and the passengers were greatly alarmed. She proved, however, to be a tramp windjammer. At Papeete, Island of Tahiti, the Maitai picked up the German Consul and 20 other Germans. Papeete is a French port, and the Germans were ordered to be deported. Of the French and English on board, many are en route to Europe to offer their services in the war.

As the Maitai lay at anchor here today a feeling of unrest arose among those on board. They had been at sea for nearly a month, and the sight of land aroused in them a great desire to set foot ashore. Shortly before noon a United States aeroplane from North Island flew over the Maitai. She circled over the heads of the passengers and made some of them nervous, as a few thought for a while that the aircraft might have been sent in from the Leipsig to destroy the Maitai. The aeroplane suddenly flew off and landed gracefully on North Island. It was announced at noon to-day that no time had been set for sailing. Passengers aboard the Maitai remained on deck, basking in the sunshine and drinking the tea that is so frequently served on English vessels.

SNOOPING AROUND. From Point Loma came the news that the way seemed clear, but the report that the Leipsig had been seen snooping around the point at daybreak was received with considerable credence by the officers of the Maitai, and there seemed to be little desire to sail until it was definitely learned that the Leipsig was not lurking off the harbour. From San Pedro came the word that the Leipsig was seen off that port late yesterday.

When it was suggested to-day that the Maitai could continue her journey up the coast, safe within the three mile limit, some argued that the Leipsig was paying no attention to that or any other limit. This afternoon it was thought the arrangements might be made to land the Maitai’s passengers here, the steamship people paying their railroad fare to San Francisco. Agent Hagaman, of the Southern Pacific, went to the waterfront to confer with the officers.

(As events proved the Maitai continued her voyage to San Francisco in safety)

NEW ZEALAND TIMES, VOLUME XXXIX, ISSUE 8865, 16 OCTOBER 1914, PAGE 6

Edited 28 August , 2022 by christine liava'a
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[christine liava'a]