“Independence Day”
10 Oclk AM Sunday, July 4th, 1897
My Dear Emma, Fred, Anna and Aldana,
Had a very good rest last night but towards morning it began to blow and now as I write the yacht is more than just pitching and rolling. I can scarecly keep in my chair you can imagine that from my unsteady writing.
There were only two out of fifty passengers down to breakfast and I was one of the two, a pretty sick crowd I tell you, it makes me laugh to see them, they are throwing up here there and everywhere, Oh my how the yacht is rolling at this very minute, I however have eaten well and am feeling tip-top in every way, my morning pipe was good. I smoke a pipe continually, have two good ones and I manage to keep them hot. It is clear overhead today but rather cool than otherwise an overcoat is comfortable out on deck. Tomorrow morning we should touch Norway but I hardly think we go ashore still we may will tell you more about that later on one cannot make calculations very much in advance ~
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My Own Thoughts:
I have many pictures of Cassander Flagg. He is always impeccabley dressed, well groomed, and adorned with his wedding ring on his left hand, which is always pictured with two partly amputated fingers. One being his ring finger.
I do not know the circumstances of his travels, but I have discerned that he has retired recently (within ten years) from his job with the Pullman Car Company, and has decided to live out his plan to see the world. It appears that living on the East Coast was not enough for him, he knew there was more out there, and he was determined to see it.
At this time he is married to Emma. Fred is his son, and Aldana is Fred’s wife. I am assuming that Anna would be a child of that marriage. He always addresses every letter the same, always with the date, and the time.
His “Indpendence Day” letter is one of two. There is the first page missing to this letter, so what I have is only part of his description of the sea sick crowd. From here on out every letter is in order, neatly stacked together, one for almost every day from July to September.
