Above, the Allan Shipping Line's SS Corinthian

Captain Alexander Allan of Saltcoats, Ayrshire started the Allan Shipping Line in 1819 to carry goods and people between Scotland and Montreal. By the 1830s, they had offices in Glasgow, Liverpool, and Montreal. The Allan Line soon became the dominant carrier between Scotland and Canada. All five of Captain Allan's sons were actively involved with the business, but it was his second son, Sir Hugh Allan, who spearheaded the second generation. In 1854, he launched the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company as part of the Allan Line. In 1856, the company beat out Samuel Cunard to take control of the Royal Mail contract between Britain and North America. That contract was with the Canadian government for the conveyance of assisted passengers, emigration to Canada and a weekly mail service to Canada. (The Canadian government offered assisted passage to young men and women in the form of loans and reduced fares to encourage the emigration of certain occupations, for example mechanics, navvies, agricultural and general labourers for the men and domestic servants for the women.)

In 1891, the Allan Company took over the State Line (founded in 1872) and the new company was often referred to as the Allan & State Line. In 1897, Andrew Allan amalgamated the various branches of the Allan shipping empire under one company, Allan Line Steamship Company Ltd., of Glasgow. The company by then had added offices in Boston and London and it was the world's largest privately owned shipping concern. In 1917, under Sir Montague Allan, who represented the third generation of the Allan family, the company was purchased by Canadian Pacific Steamships, and by the following year, the Allan name had disappeared from the waves.

The Corinthian that Harry sailed on was the second ship of that name owned by the Allan Line. Built in 1900 by Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast, she was a 6,227 gross ton ship, length 430 ft. x beam 54.2 ft., with one funnel, two masts, a single screw and a speed of 13 knots. There was accommodation for 50 first class, 150 second class and 400 third class passengers. She made her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal on 24/5/1900. In 1903, she began serving the Glasgow to Quebec and Montreal service. Harry embarked for Canada on the Corinthian in May, 1907.

Life aboard the Corsican (a sister ship of the Corinthian) in 1908

The Corsican's 2nd class dining room.

The Corsican's 2nd class music room

Built in 1907, the Corsican was not only newer, but she was faster and her rooms and cabins would probably have been a little more modern than the Corinthian's. Bear in mind that at this time, there was a burgeoning industry in trans-Atlantic travel. Wealthy citizens on both sides of the Atlantic were discovering that vacations to the other side of the ocean were not only affordable, but reasonably quick with the speed of passage steadily being reduced as ocean lines like Cunard and White Star competed with each other to attract customers. A speedy trip and sumptuous living conditions were the bait for the wealthy and their First Class fares. The GG Archives website had some historical documents for the Allan Line including a 1908 brochure which described second cabin accommodations on the Corsican and which I have drawn from for pictures as well as text. We can safely assume that Harry's experience on the Corinthian would have been quite similar to what is shown below.

Allan Line vessels have been carefully planned with special reference to the passenger trade, but at the same time will provide ample facilities for the carriage, in cold storage and cool compartments, of the produce of Canada's fertile fields to the mother land which waits to absorb them all. Spacious first class staterooms amidships, perfect ventilation and heating arrangements, music rooms and a smoke room on the promenade deck, with a fine dining saloon, constitute an ensemble that make the voyage across the Atlantic a pleasure trip.

These facilities may reasonably be expected by those paying the highest rate of fare, but the management have made it their aim to provide the same accommodation to those who use the Second Cabin accommodation, which could with equal truth be called First Class. The dining saloon for the Second Class is scarcely inferior, in beauty or appointments to the first. Smoking rooms, music rooms and promenade decks, with a fine "Companionway" or entrance, make the Second Cabin, so far as the substantial comforts of the voyage are concerned, in all points equal to, but without in the slightest way interfering with the First Class. (Note the oblique reference to the fact that second class passengers were kept away from first class passengers and would not have access to any of their facilities.)

The Corsican's 2nd class smoking room.

The Corsican's 2nd class stateroom

In 1907, the Allan Line's S.S. Victoria had the following items on their second saloon menu for July 21, 1907. (The Victoria was another sister ship.)

Breakfast: Strawberries, oatmeal/porridge, fresh milk or maple syrup, fried plaice, grilled ham and fried eggs, broiled sausage, curried chicken and rice, dry hash, fresh rolls and toast, white and graham bread, cocoa to order, jam & marmalade, and tea & coffee.

Lunch: Barley broth, beef steak pie, corned beef & vegetables, cold roast beef, baked potatoes & boiled rice, sago pudding & peach tart, salad, biscuits & cheese, tea & coffee.

Dinner: Spring soup, boiled cod & parsley sauce, stewed rabbit, roast beef & Yorkshire pudding, roast turkey & cranberry sauce, ox tongue, boiled potatoes, cauliflowers, plum pudding & brandy sauce, apple tart, ice cream, dessert, biscuits & cheese, and tea & coffee.

Arriving in Canada

Above, an Allan steamship entering Quebec harbour

Above, Richelieu Wharf, Quebec harbour

Above, Montreal Wharf

Sources

Wikipedia: Allan Line Royal Mail Steamers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Line_Royal_Mail_Steamers

Norway Heritage: S/S Corinthian, Allan Line: http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=corip

Norway Heritage: Allan Line: http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_shiplist.asp?co=allan

Allan Line Illustrated Tourist's Guide to Canada: http://jubilation.uwaterloo.ca/~marj/genealogy/papers/allantour.html

The Ships List: http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions/ShipsCC.shtml

Immigrants to Canada: http://jubilation.uwaterloo.ca/~marj/genealogy/thevoyage.html

Second Cabin Accommodations: http://www.gjenvick.com/HistoricalBrochures/Steamships-OceanLiners/AllanLine/SecondCabinAccommodations/1908/index.html#axzz2ZVa27Yfr