It was reported in the Truro news on March 23, 1901, “Karl M. Creelman has arrived at Bombay, and at last reports was about to sail for Port Said or Suez. He was subjected to certain health examinations at Bombay (now Mumbai), on account of the Bubonic Plague raging there. Near Bombay he met Miss Hooper, of Fredericton, N. B., a sister of Mrs Adams of this town. After arriving at Suez, he intends to proceed to Alexandria.”
Then in a special dispatch to the Truro Daily News on Halifax April 15, 1901, it was written:
“Mrs Jeffrey Foot, of this city, is in receipt of a letter from her son Jeffrey Foot Jr. which was written at Port Said, Mr. Foot refers to the meeting he had with Karl Creelman, the Truro Globe Trotter, who is making a circuit of the globe with his bicycle. Mr. Foot holds a position on the steamer Warrington Hall. While the steamer was lying at Bombay, he met young Creelman who had just wheeled from Calcutta. Mr. Foot introduced him to the Captain and Officers of the steamer, who were very kind to him. The Captain offered Creelman a passage to Port Said, which he accepted. He also endeavoured to induce the Globe Trotter to go to Antwerp on the steamer and not wheel into the interior of Egypt, but the Truro boy was bound to continue his trip and he was given a hearty send off by the Captain Officers and men of the steamer and was stocked with all the provisions he could carry.”
Dear reader, Karl bid farewell to Bombay, India, on February 25, 1901, eventually anchoring in Port Said, Egypt, by March 14, 1901, having earned his passage aboard the SS Warrington Hall. By this juncture, Karl had covered 11,100 miles by land and an impressive 25,150 miles by sea, and was poised for his forthcoming explorations through Egypt. However, before we delve into Karl's Egyptian adventures, it's paramount to explore the historical significance of his maritime passage through the Suez Canal.
The construction of the Suez Canal, spanning 120 miles from Port Said southward through Egypt to the Red Sea, was a monumental undertaking that commenced in 1859. Approximately 1.5 million laborers, mostly slave workers, toiled relentlessly for a decade, culminating in the canal's completion in 1869.
This waterway, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean through the Red Sea, shaved off a staggering 7,000 km from the journey, translating to about 15 days of travel. Its strategic importance lay in facilitating quicker trade routes between Europe and Asia, eliminating the need for circumnavigating Africa. During that era, when Egypt was under British and French rule, a convention in 1888 declared the Suez Canal a neutral zone, safeguarded by Great Britain.
Yet, since its inauguration, the Suez Canal has been embroiled in conflicts. Notably, in 1956, the nationalization of the canal by the Egyptian President sparked the Suez Crisis, prompting threats of invasion from Britain, France, and Israel. Lester B. Pearson, the Canadian Secretary of State, played a pivotal role in establishing the first United Nations peacekeeping force to ensure continued access for all.
Today, the Suez Canal Authority oversees the waterway, maintaining its commitment to openness for ships of all nations, regardless of their purpose. On average, 50 ships navigate the canal daily, transporting more than 300 million tons of goods annually.
In an effort to boost operational efficiency, the Egyptian government undertook a significant expansion of the canal in 2014, widening a 21-mile segment from 61 meters to 312 meters. This expansion aimed to facilitate the simultaneous passage of ships in both directions. Despite the considerable scale of this enhancement, it did not forestall the notorious incident that unfolded in 2021. During this event, a massive Chinese container ship became wedged in the canal, obstructing the passage of over 100 vessels and triggering widespread disruptions in global trade.
It's fascinating to note that the opening of the Suez Canal fueled Jules Verne's creative imagination, inspiring his iconic work "Around the World in Eighty Days" in 1873. This literary journey, in turn, influenced subsequent explorers, including our very own Karl Creelman.
So, there you have it – our next destination awaits us in Cairo!
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