In 1906 my grandfather Richard, a poor blacksmith, immigrated to the states from Sweden on the steamship Ivernia. His family arrived, as many did through "chain immigration". His older brother Patrik was the first to arrive in 1901, sister Olga arrived in 1902, sister Sarona arrived in 1904 and it was she who purchased a "steerage" ticket for her younger brother Rikard to follow.
"Steerage passengers were herded below decks like cattle. Large rooms were set apart for the sexes and married couples, and as many as forty and fifty persons slept in one room. The companies furnished only the bare berth and food and each passenger had to purchase a straw mattress, a tin dish, cup and knife and fork before leaving the docks. The mattress was thrown overboard at the end of the trip. When meal time came a large cauldron was brought into the dining room and the hungry immigrants turned in and helped themselves. Hunks of bread were thrown down beside the cauldron and in the scramble for food there were frequent desperate fights between the passengers."*
After 1907 conditions for the steerage passenger did substantially improve with the carriers now refering to not "steerage" but "third class" passengers.
It would seem that my grandmother, arriving in the U.S. in 1909 would have a much better if not even a pleasant trip. Her more affluent family bought her a second-class cabin ticket, also on the Ivernia.
*The above quote is from the historical website Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives, Adventures in the Steerage 1906. Do read the entire post HERE to fully understand and appreciate the experience of my grandfather Richard.
.JPG)
