Japan-Nantucket (Rashomon): Episode 6 - Captain Richard Swain,

In this episode, Jim introduces you to our final sea captains that was born in Nantucket, but became part of the Japanese expat community: Captain Richard Swain.
 
This is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It is hosted and edited by Janet Forest. It was researched, fact checked and co-hosted by Reference Library Associate Jim Borzilleri. Special thanks to the Berkshire Athenaeum for use of their space and Shire Video for production support.
 
 
 SHOW NOTES:
 If something piqued your interest and it isn’t in the Show Notes, please email info@nantucketatheneum.org. and include “Podcast Question” in the subject header.

• Like many members of the Nantucket diaspora, Capt. Swain subscribed to the Nantucket Inquirer & Mirror. In 1911, in response to an article mentioning Abram Quarry, Swain wrote a letter of his memories of the man, whom he knew as a youngster. He also noted that Abram Quarry’s house in Shimmo was on land belonging to Capt. Swain’s grandfather, Hezekiah Swain. (I&M, Sept 16, 1911,Pg 2)
• Several former-Nantucket residents resided in Meiji Japan. One, the dentist Dr. George D. Richmond was good friends with Captains Fisher and Swain and sent several letters to the I&M detailing their gatherings.
  • An article in the I&M, likely based on one of Dr, Richmond’s letters, described how the trio, nostalgic for a traditional New England boiled dinner, arranged the shipment of a salt cod to Japan.
• Caroline Furber Swain seems to have held some views independent of her husband. 
  • During their 1912 visit to Nantucket, Capt. Swain gave an interview that generally praised the Japanese maritime industry and its military. However, he disparaged a certain naval officer he had met who while “educated, cultured and in every respect the equal of an unsuperstitious, clear-headed American,” also held the “…common superstition that the Emperor [of Japan] was something more than human and could command the forces of nature…” (Boston Sunday Post, July 14, 1912)
  • A month later Caroline Swain gave an informal talk at the Nantucket Quaker Meeting House about Japan, and as reported in the I&M, “…At the close she paid a truly eloquent tribute to the underlying spirit of religion of Japan, making a plea for those of Christian education and faith, to judge it kindly and leniently…”. (I&M Aug 8, 1912, Pg 2).

© The Nantucket Atheneum