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St Michel III at Yarmouth

From: Ian Thompson <Ian.Thompson~at~ges.gla.ac.uk>
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:14:41 +0000
To: "Jules Verne Forum" <jvf~at~Gilead.org.il>

On the 8th July 1879, the St. Michel III moored at Yarmouth en route to Scotland. Verne needed to obtain coal and also to shelter from the bad weather. In fact the bad weather persisted and Verne was obliged to stay in the port for three days.I looked at the Port and Haven Commissioner's records for that period but surprisingly there is no mention of the St Michel. This is surprising because Verne was obliged to take a pilot ( the port is a narrow channel and because several rivers and a marine lake, each with a different tidal regime, reach the sea at Yarmouth, it is a difficult port to navigate). In addition Verne had to clear customs. So his arrival was well known...perhaps the vessel was not registered because it had no cargo.
I therefore had to look at the local press since Verne by that date was a famous author in England.
"The Yarmouth Gazette and North Norfolk Constitutionalist" for July 12 1879 under the heading "Local Intelligence" states;
"Arrival- The French steam yacht St Michael, of Nantes, owned by Jules Verne, the well known author, arrived in the harbour on the 8th."
This confirms Verne's record in his carnet de voyage and it also confirms his literary fame.
The newspaper also confirms the state of the weather, which caused Verne to delay the continuation of his voyage to Scotland.
"The elements of late have been more ungenial than ever, and at present there there seems reason to fear that we merge into another dreary winter.....umbrellas, waterproofs, macintoshes, and other articles of protection are in general use, and the coldness of the evenings is sufficent to render acceptable the addition of a heavy coat or a return to fire lighting". The article describes the beach as being"comparatively deserted and wears the appearance more of November than July".
In a separate article the newspaper mentions that the fishing industry was being disrupted by "boisterous weather".
This bad weather in fact characterised Verne's journey and only the two days spent sailing the Clyde to Oban and visiting the Hebrides (Iona and Staffa) were pleasant.
In spite of the poor weather Verne did some sightseeing in Yarmouth. Among other things, he listened to an outdoor evening concert, which the newspaper tells us was played by "the well known band of the East Norfolk Militia".
Given that Verne for once did not travel incognito and indulged in some touring of the town and some entertaining aboard the St Michel, I will look if there are any other reports in surviving newspapers.
Ian Thompson.
Received on Wed 28 Feb 2007 - 12:15:33 IST

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