❖ SILK on a Seattle Dock ❖ 1917

Nippon Yusen Kaisha liner YOKOHAMA MARU
visits Seattle and Victoria.
Complimentary advertising postcard by N.Y.K.
from the Clinton Betz Collection in the archives of the S.P.H.S.©
Click to enlarge.

      The Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line published beautiful art cards promoting their shipping routes to Europe, America, Australia, India, and other parts of the world. This was not the first visit of the NYK to the Port of Seattle, they began doing business in 1898, thanks to quick thinking of Seattle's businessman/mariner James F. Griffith, to be covered in an upcoming post. 
      This NYK shipping news item of 1917, was found listed on the same Seattle Times page as the news item announcing the launch of Robert Moran's auxiliary schooner SANWAN, the latter being researched for a different post.
      Seattle maritime historian, Clinton Betz, in later years, saved a few of the NYK artistic postcards including the YOKOHAMA MARU, the ship mentioned moored at the Great Northern Pier. Let's put the two together to record that day; the NYK art piece and the silk cargo sailed safely to Seattle go nicely together.

      "Silk shipments valued at more than $1,590,000 [USD of 1917] and a general cargo of 4,800 tons are being discharged by the Nippon Yusen Kaisha liner YOKOHAMA MARU at the Great Northern Pier. At Victoria, the vessel discharged general cargo to the extent of 385 tons. The voyage from the Orient was made according to schedule and while the trip was marked by considerable foggy and misty weather, no gales of consequence were encountered." The Seattle Times. June 1917.
      If you missed reading the 1917 SANWAN launching news in the Time-Line , here is a link to the Log entry of Mr. Moran's party day on Orcas Island, San Juan Archipelago.