Lillian Garland Moores' Diary
of her journey from England in 1908 to Saskatchewan, Canada,
with her children Helena, Cyril and Olive
See the life-story of T W Moores (her husband) for the reasons that prompted them to emigrate from England to Canada, and his voyage earlier from Liverpool with two of his sons. This diary describes how his wife and some of the other children followed to be reunited with him.
Fri April 30, 1908: Left Teddington at 9:30 in the morning. Rain. Bessie came to E[1]. with us but we said "Good-bye" to Rose there. Quick train to Waterloo where we got bus for Euston. Arrived there in good time and got luggage from cloakroom. Presently Emily came, then Mabel, with Ella and Nora. Later on Harry[2]. We had a pleasant journey down.
Did not stop till we got to Crewe (Station), where Edward got 4 cups of tea. Mr. Anderson met us at Lime St. Station[3], and after giving our luggage into a C.P.R. official we took a cab to his house where a nice substantial tea was awaiting us. After I wrote some post cards and the others went into Sefton Park, we spent a very pleasant evening talking and looking at Mr. Anderson's pictures of which he has quite a collection. I also discovered he was a cousin of my friend, Mrs. Frampton of Oxford.
We retired to rest about 11, and got up soon after 6. Had breakfast at 7. And the cab came for us at ¼ to 8. We drove through Sefton Park. Such a lovely place, and Rodney St. which is inhabited by Doctors and in which is the house where W. E. Gladstone was born. Then the streets got dirtier and were filled with lorries with bales of cotton, fish and all kinds of merchandise. We got to the docks about 9. Ed found he could not go on board without an order, so went off to try and get one but without success. When he returned about 10 we said "good-bye" and went on board. We were all marched up on to the 2nd class deck where we had to wait for hours, after passing by the Dr., a mere formality. We went downstairs and found our berths. We have one young woman with us who is very pleasant. She is coming out with her father and 2 brothers. Her name is Ormston. Then we went into dinner. After that we went up on the deck and found we were at the loading stage, taking the 1st and 2nd class passengers and going to St. Catherines. Edward was standing there and we could speak to him except when the cranes were going and making such a noise. For about 2 hours we took on mountains of luggage and mails. Then the last farewells were waved and when we could distinguish Ed no longer we went down to a welcome cup of tea.
On returning to deck we found we were waiting to go out with the tide, which we did about 7:15. It was a most lovely sunset. We sat up on deck and the people on loading stage sang "All Hail the Power" until after 8 o'clock. Then I put Cyril and Olive to bed but they did not go to sleep until we did which was late. So many noises about. However, we had a better night than we expected.
Sat May 1st: Awoke about 6 o'clock. Had to take it in turns to dress as there is only room for 1 at a time. Cyril was 1st and he went up on deck. I followed suit. It was a fine morning, rather misty. We were just losing sight of land. I find we do not call at Mooreville so cannot post until we get over there. After breakfast we managed to get another of our boxes to our cabin. Then got a nice seat on the deck but, after enjoying it a little while, we were all sent into the dining room where we waited a long while before going to the Purser to have our tickets examined and exchanged. That ordeal over, we returned to the deck to have a breath of air and enjoy the lovely sunshine. The sea is very calm, only a few people but plenty of babies crying.
The scene was soon changed. We went down to dinner but only had some
dry bread and pudding. Cyril was the 1st of our lot to be sick. Then me and
Olive. We went down to our berths about 4:30 and stayed there until Sunday
morning. I got Cyril and Olive undressed but we others did not take our clothes
off.
Sun May 2nd: Oh, that was a night and in the morning we all felt so bad. Cyril tried to dress and gave it up for a bad job. Then I tried and it took me about 2 hours. Only Ella and Cyril went into breakfast. After a long time we managed to get up on deck. There Cyril and I stayed. He had a good sleep and woke up better. Ella and Olive soon got all right and went down to dinner. About 3:30 we went down to a service in the dining room. I wished they had held it on deck for the smell of the pickles on the tea table made me feel queer again. The service was conducted by Rev. A. G. Clarke of Battersea and it seemed more like Sunday to join in singing "Our Blest Redeemer, ere He breathed", "Sun of My Soul" etc. The lesson was Jacob's dream and he also spoke from the same passage - a very good address. After this we had a wash and got into tea with the 1st party, although we did not have much. Still we are feeling better.
The Purser yesterday told me to tell the stewardess to go to him this morning when he gave her a letter for me from Ernest, and after tea the Steward gave out the letters. I had 4 letters, picture post card and a book, the 2 latter from Mrs. Wiggenton (?). The letters were from Rose, Tat, Emily and Father and Mother. I also spoke to Mr. Bamford and find Mr. Emberton has left.
Nearly everybody has been sick, men as well as women. Most are getting
over it, but some still unable to get out of their berths. Hope to be better
tomorrow.
Monday May 3rd: the sea is calm, but have not had much sunshine. Although we went to our berths in good time, could not get to sleep until very late as the men were making such a noise. We all felt better on Monday morning but it is such a work to get into the dining room that we get sick with waiting, so when we do get in cannot eat much.
The sea is calm but the weather is still dull and cold. We were up on deck nearly all day, but it would have been more enjoyable if warmer. Some of the poor women still very ill, but most of them are better. The men have been skipping, wrestling, playing football, etc.
Tuesday morning May 4th: we went up on deck after breakfast but were ordered down almost at once into the dining room to pass the Dr. for vaccination. We took our books and got a seat so it was not too bad and, as we had all been vaccinated we soon passed and got back to our berth where we had lunch (apples and oranges). Got into dinner with the first party so could eat better although we did not have much. At tea time we did the same although it meant a long wait in the passage.
After tea the sea seemed much rougher. We spent the evening in the ladies' room, writing letters, etc. Ella played some hymns. When I went down to put children to bed I turned sick so went to bed myself and did not get up till late Wed. morning. Ella and Cyril went in to breakfast and brought us out some coffee and dry rolls. Olive stayed in too but she was all right - only tired.
Wed. May 5th: it was wet and stormy. Could not get out. We sighted land and some of them went up to see it but it was very cold. We had a turn on deck after dinner for half an hour. The children skipping to keep warm. The men began getting up the mails and putting them on the quarter deck ready for sending off at …. ("This looks like Rimauski. Would it be Ireland? Or more likely Greenland? What other land in Atlantic Ocean? ") We spent the afternoon in our berth reading and did not get into tea till late, then wrapped up well and went on deck for half an hour. Saw the coast of Newfoundland. A gent with opera glasses said he could see the snow on the mountains. It was too cold to stay long so we went down and had some hymns. Then we all had a hot bath before going to bed.
Thursday morning May 6th was lovely. (I ran ?) up on deck before breakfast and found the sky blue and sun shining, but cold. We all enjoyed our breakfast. Then after posting our letters to Mother, Mabel and Walter, went up on deck well wrapped up. We are in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and it is so calm and smooth. It continued bright all day and got much warmer, so we spent most of the day on deck. Had a very nice dinner, finishing with ice cream. Very good. All the afternoon we sat on the upper deck and watched the coastline. Could see houses, churches, etc. and snow all about. It was a lovely sunset. The chaplain held a short service in the dining room after 8 o'clock. They said it was very nice. Had we known, we could have gone but were busy packing up. Did not get much sleep. I think some of the men stayed up all night. Could hear them sending off the mails but there are only a few gone.
Fri May 7th:
Got up very early and had breakfast at 6 o'clock. It was a wet morning so could
not get on deck. We were a long
time getting up the river so they prepared dinner about 11, but there was such
a rush for it that we did not get in till last and then nearly everything was
gone However, we had some pea soup and an orange. By this time we were along
side the dock so put on our things, got our luggage and were off about 12:30.
We then went to the Immigration shed where we all had to pass the Dr. and
several officials before getting our railway tickets. Here I came across a
little white-haired old lady who represents the Y.W.C.A. there. Said she had
had 20 years of it.
After buying bread, etc. for the train, I left children in waiting room and went to see for luggage, and this took the rest of the day till after 8. Our eyes ached with looking at the 1000s of boxes as they were brought up from the hold and wheeled off by the porters, and our feet ached with walking up and down the long shed. I began to think mine was lost. About 6 I had not seen 1 of them. By 8 o'clock I had found 2 and, as all the baggage was up, I made inquiries as to what to do about the 2 missing ones and was coming away, but thought I would have one more look round and, to my great joy, found the large box Aunt Lissolo gave me and which has all our best things in.
While waiting to get it checked the electric light went out and we were left there in total darkness, no other light being forthcoming. I got the checker to check this one by the light of a match and came away making our way out as best we could around the piles of luggage. I found the children tired out with waiting. Olive was lying asleep on a form and Ella almost asleep beside her. Cyril had been down to find me to keep himself awake. There was a train just loading up for Montreal and they said ours would be the next.
Thinking I had not had time for a proper meal, I got a cup of tea (5
cents and half cold). However, it was past 11 before the train came in and then
we had another scramble as we could not get at the doors. People put luggage
and children through the windows. There were no porters. We got in at last with
our numerous packages, then found we had left our basket of bread behind. I got
out to look for it but it was not to be seen. But as I saw a tin hat box
standing there, I brought it in and it turned out to contain all the cooking
(?) things for one family who could not be thankful enough to me for getting
it. I walked through several carriages in search of my basket and found someone
had got it for me, which was a great relief. I then quickly made up a bed with
the eiderdown and rugs for Cyril and Olive, took off their boots and put them
in and they were soon asleep. Then Ella and I tried to make ourselves
comfortable below, but neither of us got much if any sleep. However, we got a
bit rested.
Sat May 8th: About 6 o'clock I had a wash and did my hair. Then we got breakfast. Some of the men in the car lit the fire in the stove and got the kettle boiling. We were glad of a nice cup of tea, the 1st we have had since leaving Liverpool. Olive slept till we had finished breakfast. After washing up and doing our housework which did not take long, we settled down to knitting, reading and various kinds of games to amuse the children - mostly with paper and pencil as we have no games with us.
These carriages are very nice, only the floors are so dirty and people keep walking through all the time. It rained all day and there is water everywhere. I suppose where the snow has thawed. We could see plenty of snow as we approached Quebec. They are nearly all foreigners in our car - talk so strange. 2 young ladies next to us don't understand any English. One has such a quantity of lovely auburn hair.
Our way lies past forests of young trees, rushing streams, etc. We rush on for 20 minutes or half an hour, then stop in a siding for another train to pass. Then on again. Once we stopped near a baker's shop and the men got off the train and cleared him of bread. We pass stations near which are houses, some of wood, but many of red brick and stone. At some places there are 2 or 3 churches, but we see very few people.
We got more sleep Saturday night, only our corner, being near the hot water pipes, got so hot I began to fear the carriage might catch on fire and our provisions get dried or melted, as the case might be.
Sunday morning May 9th was bright and lovely as we expected after the nice sunset. We were able to get out and enjoy the fresh air when the train stopped occasionally. We also, after much asking, got our carriages swept out, so they are a little better, tho still dirty. As we get farther on we find the ice is still on some of the lakes. Villages now are few and far between. It is wood and water all along. We seem getting on faster, too, and not having so many people pass us. In the evening we had some beautiful views of Lake Superior as we skirted a corner of it. The scenery here is very grand: high rocks and glimpses of the lake between.
We stayed some time at Shrieber, (Ont.) where Mr. And Mrs. Scott left us. Nearly everyone got out of the train and walked up and down the platform to stretch our legs. It has been a strange Sunday. We have had a few hymns and a lot of reading. Children went off to bed at 9. I lay down but kept awake to look out for Arthur. We reached Fort William at midnight and soon saw him. So nice to see a face we know. All the children got up to have a kiss, and he went out and got us some oranges and we had a nice little chat. Then off again, but could not sleep very well till morning.
Monday morning May 10th was fine again, but not so bright as on Sunday. We stopped and got out at Kenora. Quite a large town. The scenery is much the same - wood and water alternating. We had dinner and tea together about 12:30, then packed up ready for leaving train at Winnipeg. It came on to rain before we reached there about 4:00. Mr. Davis helped us out with our things and we had an introduction to the Wesleyan Chaplain who advised us what to do. We took our luggage into a waiting room and we minded it while Davis went to tea. There's a splendid waiting room there. It is a palatial station, immense waiting room, marble floor; large pictures on the walls, commodious lavatories with every convenience, hot and cold water, etc.
We sent our luggage out to the other station and walked over ourselves. Fine large shops and buildings, but most wretched roads, all uneven and mud and slush. We were just in nice time for our train in the C.N.R. and so soon started on the last stage of our journey. We sat looking out of the window as long as it was light, then ate our sandwiches, etc. before going to bed. We still had a colonist car.
Tuesday May 11th: Next morning we had breakfast on the train and it was fortunate we had provided some for we did not reach Invermay till 10:00. We were disappointed not to see Walter there, but he soon came up with the wagon.
Evening: I wrote birthday letter to Mother, and began one to Mabel.
Monday: May and Mrs. L. came to supper. Had a lot of singing in the evening. Jack came down for them.
Tuesday, 16th: I went to E. to dinner. Walter came up for me at night.
March 7, Sunday: Mr. C. did not come again. We had service. Ella played. I read sermon on earthquakes. Ella went to E. to tea. Mr. Godfrey and (__?___) here. I wrote to Nora.
Thursday: Sam and L. (Leonard ?) went to Buchanan, stayed all night at the Doukabours.
Tuesday: Boys went to Godfreys.
Wednesday: W. (Walter) and I went to E. (Eastleigh) to dinner, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Dean there. Mrs. T. and F. to tea. Mrs. J. stayed all night.
Thursday: W., Euty and C. went to I. For wheat, barley, etc.
(This -would be Walter, Eustace, and Cyril -went to Invermay)
Sunday: All went to Price's. 20 there. Mr. And Mrs. Lavendar farewelled. Miss Lockhart came back with Sam & mail.
( S. & M. are Sam & May - or Maggie - living at E., which – was "Eastleigh" as they named their farm. T. Walter Moores 'farm was called "Boxmoor” later)
[1] Might be Euston or Eastleigh – Euston station is the most likely.
[2] Emily was ??? Mabel was her eldest daughter, married to Harry Harris; Nora, another daughter was to stay with Mabel in England for some time, but later rejoined the family in Canada (see the autobiography of Olive O Lockhart for the reunion with Nora). Ella was Helena.
[3] The main station in Liverpool.