January 06, 2020
AboutAnything | Greg McComb
In May, 1849, a 34-year-old James McComb boarded a ship called the "Emma Searle" at Belfast, Ireland, for an ocean voyage that would dock
in New York several weeks later, according to ship logs. Likely an early steam ship propelled
by a paddle wheel, it was fueled by coal although these early ocean liners were
known to run out from time-to-time and furniture was thrown into the furnace to
complete the journey. This was no jetliner.
The
perils of such a trip must have weighed on James’ mind, although he was comforted
by his young wife Charlotte, ten years his junior, who might have been pregnant
during the trip. Charlotte gave birth to their first...
