R.G. Brook Visits North America in 1884
It's August 25, 1884, and the Allan Line Royal Mail Steamer the Parisian has arrived in Quebec from Liverpool, England. She departed Liverpool on August 16, 1884 and on board is R.G. Brook who has made this trip to (among other things), attend the annual general meeting of The British Association for the Advancement of Science in Montreal. For R.G. Brook this journey will be much more of an adventure, in fact it will see him travel completely across the continent visiting cities in both the United States and Canada. This journey, the photographs, notes and experiences will be the subject of public speaking engagements back in England as well as the basis for many articles he would write for photographic publications in England.
The Parisian (a postcard image)
On Monday, March 25th, 1905, the Parisian experienced a Collision in Daylight. The Allan Liner, with 900 persons on board, was rammed at Halifax harbor entrance by the Hamburg-American Steamer Albano (The Parisian had departed Liverpool March 16th 1905). The Parisian was at a standstill with a starboard side hole 'big enough for a man to walk through.' The Parisian was towed to pier 2, where she settled on the bottom. She was repaired and re-floated and became one of the noted vessels to search for passengers from the Titanic disaster in 1912. The search was unsuccessful, and none were found by her crew.
Today, a journey of this nature would be quite the undertaking, even with the advancement of transportation methods that we have all come to take for granted, but think for a moment what it would be like to sail for several days across an ocean, and tour North America from coast to coast by train, and stage coach, only to find yourself back on board another steamer for the days-long journey back to England. His photographic equipment alone was extremely heavy - nothing like the digital units we all enjoy now. His camera and tripod, glass plate negatives, lenses etc must have weighed a great deal, not to mention his luggage, suits, toiletries and papers. This journey would present him with opportunities that only a man of considerable wealth could accomplish. It was a journey that took him into the wilds of the Rocky Mountains sleeping ion rugged cots in hunting camps, eating wild game most of us have never tasted. He would document his journey by stagecoach through the west coast of America with gun shooting outlaws on board, and arriving by train into Salt Lake City watching scores of Mormon children approaching the train to sell fruit to earn money for their families.
R.G. Brook wrote a set of journals of this late nineteenth century adventure. Family rumour has it that there were three journal in total, and the one was lent out and never returned to its proper place beside the other two. This rumour is probably true since the two copies that remain in the family seem to begin in Yosemite documenting everything from there until his return to England. Where the missing journal is located may never be known, if it even exists at all anymore.
While there are but few rumours in the Brook family about the journals, one is that R.G. Brook met with Chief Siting Bull and had the privilege of snapping his photograph. As I heard it in my growing years, Sitting Bull was most reluctant to be photographed, and that such a picture would be rare indeed. The meeting with Sitting Bull is mentioned in the Journal, in fact, he is referred to as 'His Majesty' for respectable and obvious reasons coming from an English gentleman. There is however no indication of a photograph being taken of Sitting Bull by our ancestor. Research I have taken with the Canadian National Archives, the England's National Archives and several sources in North America in this regard have come up empty handed. It should be noted however that another picture was taken by R.G. Brook during this trip, and that perhaps it was this picture that was the source of the rumour passed down through our family.
Sitting Bull had a son who became a chief of his own tribe, Indian Chief Crowfoot (Indian name Sahpo Muxika). Crowfoot was the head chief of the Blackfoot tribe of Indians, Blackfoot Crossing near Calgary, District of Alberta. He was a strong advocate of peace and subservience to whites. He was but thirteen years of age when he took part in his first raid, and became a noted warrior and was eventually appointed head chief of the Blackfoot tribe. He tried to discourage tribal warfare, and refused to join other tribes in attacks against the North West Mounted Police. He was also pensioned by the Canadian Pacific Railway for keeping piece when survey parties attempted to cross western Canada.
This majestic son of Sitting Bull was photographed by R.G. Brook, and in accordance with the family rumour, it was Crowfoot that was opposed to being photographed and not his father. Photographs of Sitting Bull are abundant across the world, especially given the fact that he toured with Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show (1883 1913). Original copies of the Crowfoot photograph are currently in the possession of the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Alberta and England's National Archives, where a document of Copyright for this image in our ancestor's name also exists. At the Glenbow Museum the photograph is documented as Image No. NA-1104-1. Here is a copy of that famous image:
R.G. Brook wrote a set of journals of this late nineteenth century adventure. Family rumour has it that there were three journal in total, and the one was lent out and never returned to its proper place beside the other two. This rumour is probably true since the two copies that remain in the family seem to begin in Yosemite documenting everything from there until his return to England. Where the missing journal is located may never be known, if it even exists at all anymore.
While there are but few rumours in the Brook family about the journals, one is that R.G. Brook met with Chief Siting Bull and had the privilege of snapping his photograph. As I heard it in my growing years, Sitting Bull was most reluctant to be photographed, and that such a picture would be rare indeed. The meeting with Sitting Bull is mentioned in the Journal, in fact, he is referred to as 'His Majesty' for respectable and obvious reasons coming from an English gentleman. There is however no indication of a photograph being taken of Sitting Bull by our ancestor. Research I have taken with the Canadian National Archives, the England's National Archives and several sources in North America in this regard have come up empty handed. It should be noted however that another picture was taken by R.G. Brook during this trip, and that perhaps it was this picture that was the source of the rumour passed down through our family.
Sitting Bull had a son who became a chief of his own tribe, Indian Chief Crowfoot (Indian name Sahpo Muxika). Crowfoot was the head chief of the Blackfoot tribe of Indians, Blackfoot Crossing near Calgary, District of Alberta. He was a strong advocate of peace and subservience to whites. He was but thirteen years of age when he took part in his first raid, and became a noted warrior and was eventually appointed head chief of the Blackfoot tribe. He tried to discourage tribal warfare, and refused to join other tribes in attacks against the North West Mounted Police. He was also pensioned by the Canadian Pacific Railway for keeping piece when survey parties attempted to cross western Canada.
This majestic son of Sitting Bull was photographed by R.G. Brook, and in accordance with the family rumour, it was Crowfoot that was opposed to being photographed and not his father. Photographs of Sitting Bull are abundant across the world, especially given the fact that he toured with Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show (1883 1913). Original copies of the Crowfoot photograph are currently in the possession of the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Alberta and England's National Archives, where a document of Copyright for this image in our ancestor's name also exists. At the Glenbow Museum the photograph is documented as Image No. NA-1104-1. Here is a copy of that famous image:
Chief Crowfoot and Family. Photo by R.G. Brook (Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta)
If our ancestor did in fact photograph Chief Sitting Bull and/or Buffalo Bill Cody (upon seeing their show in the United States), I have been unable to locate copies or copyright information in that regard. The Canadian National Archives does have uncredited photographs of Sitting Bull in their collection - perhaps one was taken by R.G. Brook, perhaps not.
The journals I speak of are literally full of pasted in maps, itineraries, newspaper articles, politically-based comics, and a presidential campaign political ribbon. Included are many copies of photographs taken by R.G. Brook, and some taken of him by other photographers at Niagara Falls Canada. I carefully scanned some of these pages some time ago, as the journals in their deteriorating condition are currently sealed and protected against fire. They can no longer be touched without protective gloves, and should be donated with honour to a historical archive that can ensure their restoration and preservation for the wealth of historical knowledge they contain. Here are those scans for your enjoyment and pride:
The journals I speak of are literally full of pasted in maps, itineraries, newspaper articles, politically-based comics, and a presidential campaign political ribbon. Included are many copies of photographs taken by R.G. Brook, and some taken of him by other photographers at Niagara Falls Canada. I carefully scanned some of these pages some time ago, as the journals in their deteriorating condition are currently sealed and protected against fire. They can no longer be touched without protective gloves, and should be donated with honour to a historical archive that can ensure their restoration and preservation for the wealth of historical knowledge they contain. Here are those scans for your enjoyment and pride:
 Receipt from the St. James Hotel in New York dated October 12, 1884. The total cost for a room for one week, bathing, restaurant meals, and baggage handling: $24.70  RGBrook paid to have this photograph taken of him and sent to his residence in England. He claims 'the figure looks rather seedy'.  On the deck of the Polynesian after fierce storms kept everyone below decks for the duration of the return voyage.  This is the second last page of the journals. The picture is of the Isle of Rathlin taken after patching up his broken camera. |
 A self portrait of R.G. Brook sitting at 'Table Rock' viewpoint on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. The clipping explains that in 1887 Table Rock collapsed into the Niagara Gorge.  The ship Oregon in the St. Lawrence River about to sail for England a few minutes prior to the Polynesian setting sail for R.G. Brook's return voyage.  Passing the Isle of Rathlin, Several passengers now able to appear on deck wished for this photograph to be taken.  'Arrived at St. Helen's 10 0'clock, Tuesday, Oct. 28 after an absence of 11 weeks 3 days and a journey of about 15,000 miles.' |
His inscription reads as follows: 'It appears Sitting Bull has been here. The description given of him here is not so bad as the description I had given of his majesty at Philadelphia on a tour of inspection indeed, to get the white man's dollars.'
 Cabin passenger list for the return voyage on the Polynesian. The cover appears above and the inside list appears below.  |
 A reception was held for the Associations visiting members. The Menu cover appears above while the menu itself appears below.  |
