|
On August 8, 1817, the ship Hope, proceeding from Amsterdam, arrived at a quarantine station below Philadelphia, following 86 days at sea. Of the 346 passengers on board, 48 had died at sea and 46 more died in a wayside hospital. On September 9, 1817 the Hope finally arrived with its survivors in the Port. The passengers were transferred to the Lazeretto (the quarantine station) immediately after their arrival.
The story of the journey of the Ship Hope
from Amsterdam to Philadelphia from May 8th until
September 9th, 1817, written by Adrian Rudolf MÄRK (hat
maker), one of the three leaders of the emigrant
association from Aarau, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Aug.
12th 1818.
(Translation of the original publication in
the Swiss Messenger N°50, 10 Dec 1818, p. 393, 394 and
N°51, 17 Dec 1818, p. 401 - 405 made by Alfred Hilfliker).
"It was May 8th, 1817 when 350 passengers aboard the frigate
“Hope” left Texel (a small island in the North Sea, close to
Den Helder, the most northern city in the province of North
Holland, the Netherlands, RAG).
We had a favorable wind that disappeared as soon as we
reached the North Sea where we had to wait for the next 8
days. In the morning of May 16th with a good favorable wind
we entered the British Channel and we could observe the
coasts on both sides.
While we were waiting in the North Sea, to our regret, we
had to state that our food provisions had melted down due to
the long waiting in Texel so we asked the captain to land in
England to buy food. The captain convinced us that we had
enough food. The wind became strong and good so we left the
Channel and found ourselves in the open ocean where we had
to make the saddest experiences of which I will remember
just the most important parts written in a compact form.
On June 4th we were reached by a ship from Morocco. The
salute was with a cannonade then they set out a boat. Our
captain armed crew and passengers with guns and swords and
placed us in good order on deck to meet the visitor. Our
welcome did impress the pirate so he made understand that it
was not worth while to conquest our ship. They made a large
half moon around our ship and sailed away.
At Whit sun we had the first and strongest storm that lasted
two days and two nights. This storm arrived unexpectedly and
we did risk loosing our masts. Nearly all our canvas sails
and ropes have been torn down; the damage amounted to 300
florins
This accident had for us a high cost since the captain
became fearful and as soon the wind became stronger he had
the sails pulled down what delayed our journey considerably;
the highest and the lateral sails disappeared or were only
occasionally used.
Now we were 7 weeks on sea and expected hour after hour to
see the new world when unexpectedly we saw the mountains of
the Azores islands. How disappointed we all were to realize
how far away our destination was this also because day after
day our food was reduced. From the beginning the ratios were
reduced to 2/3. We were close to a revolution, we wanted to
force the captain to land in the island and buy food. The
captain and the crew embraced arms and succeeded to bring
the situation under control.
Now diseases began to expand; a bad nerve fever killed a
family of the Black Forest group with the exception of a
boy. Every day more passengers became sick. Mr. Huber from
Zofingen, who was engaged as ship doctor, did not have the
necessary medicine so that he could not bring any help. Some
days later we met a ship coming from Liverpool. When they
learned about our condition they offered us food and
medicine. Still our captain refused the help and we had to
see how they sailed away with the passengers dancing on deck
while, due to hunger, we were not able to stand upright. So
we remained alone with our afflictions.
At this time we were 8 weeks on sea, had no more meat, no
butter, no cheese, no distillates, no vinegar, all was gone
long ago.
Food melted away so instead of every day we received every 3
to 4 days half a measure of water. Bread was moldy and
inedible; pees, barley and rice could not be cooked since
the captain did not distribute enough wood. From now on an
adult person did not receive more than a drinking glass of
soup. Now people died like mosquito's; every day dead were
thrown into the sea, at the end no more healthy people could
be seen on board. In short: our misery was great. Still, it
had to become even worse, for 30 barrels water had leaks and
just two were full. From now on we did not receive any more
water. If our omnipotent Father in heaven had not granted us
rain to resurge, for sure we would not live any more. The on
deck collected water had the smell of asphalt and rubbish
and we had difficulty to retain it. Dying took overhand, no
family was spared.
In the last two weeks we had again a 4 days' storm that
pushed us back. We crossed sea grass four times, misery and
hardship was around us, and all faces did express hardship
and despair. Now also the sailors became sick except three
of them; there was nobody able to work. What a forced
terrible situation! On open sea without water, every body
sick and unable to work during a storm! Two more days on sea
and nobody would have survived.
But I will thank God almighty, He helped us during the
hardship, He heard our supply for pity and mercy; He has
seen our fear, misery and helped and rescued us in his
omnipotence.
For five days we had constant, favorable and cool wind such
we never had before and, on Aug. 3rd at night we did see a
light in distance. The captain made hang a big lantern on
top of the storm mast and, o what a joy, in about one hour
we heard a boat coming toward us who brought us the pilot to
guide us along the Delaware River up to Philadelphia. The
pilot did not loose time; he had seen the faces with the
death written on. He ordered right away to lift all the
sails and traveled the same night a distance of 30 hours on
the Delaware River. In the morning we could see both sides
of the river. I am not able to describe my emotions. Who was
able to reach the deck, unfortunately just a few did admire
the dark green oak woods and on the ends beautiful meadows
and plantations. On the Delaware the wind was not any more
so strong as on the sea. The pilot got all sails mounted and
extended the masts, now our ship was sailing wonderfully. It
was a pleasure to see our ship with full sails and how the
pilot tried to recuperate what our coward captain did loose
since we left Amsterdam.
The two river sides are splendid, it was like standing in a
“sight case”, as I said just a few were able to appreciate
this pleasure. Most were laying half dead in the ship’s
room; their organs were shocked if not, they would certainly
had enjoyed the view. We arrived Aug. 5th at the quarantine
station or Lazaretto. On Aug. 6th the sanitary service
arrived, the captain denied the number of sick person, they
saw with love to mankind our conditions and did communicate
to Philadelphia that the healthiest of us looked like dead.
We were nearly rejected; they said unanimously that so far
no ship arrived in such a bad condition. On Aug. 7th we were
allowed to land and reach the Lazaretto. The ones who
recovered on the ship became again sick in the Lazaretto,
many died here even with the useful help. We received very
good food but some did lay sick for 4, 6 up to 8 weeks.
As soon as a certain number recovered they went to
Philadelphia and were free at the condition they had paid
their fare. Many tradesmen and farmers came to buy the one’s
who could not pay. These people are prevalently well treated
by moderate work inclusive board and clothes.
Only, emigrants shall come without children if they are not
in the position to pay. Seldom or never a complete family
would be hired by one sire and how sad it is when one comes
here, the other there and possibly, they will not see each
other any more.
Considering what happened on sea the German shipping company
paid all the costs of the Lazaretto. The captain was fired
and got a fine of $ 1000.
The clothes we had on the ship as well as the bed wear were
burned. My brother in Philadelphia became again sick and
recovered on the journey up to Pittsburgh.
My wife, our three children and I were 4 weeks in the
Lazaretto. After my wife recovered she shared a room with a
woman who wanted to commit suicide so my wife got a shock
and did underlie her weakened nature. Also my youngest
child, a baby pending on mothers breast, died consequently.
Myself and my two older children enjoy, thanks God, good
health.
We remained in Philadelphia other three weeks then we bought
a carriage and three horses and traveled up to Pittsburgh
were we arrived Oct. 28th. This trip was very wearisome, the
mountains, the sumps and the bad roads made the journey
difficult and long. The one’s who intend to travel to
America do better if they sell everything at home and bring
just what they do not want to miss; or let transport the
belongings from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh for $ 8 to 10 for
100 lb.
Pittsburgh has about 250 houses and lies between two rivers,
the Allegheny and Monongahela; below the city the two rivers
join and are named Ohio.
Here as well as in Philadelphia you can find any kind of
work. Steam, saw and flour mills, all with iron gears, are
seen over all. Iron melting and foundries have efficient
plants.
In Pittsburgh there are 7 well equipped glass factories. In
Philadelphia I found a jute factory, it did not seem to be
important. Here they do not wear clothes of jute, men wear
usually textile, while women wear Camelot and silk, also the
lovers of horse riding have their clothes made out of
textile, and nearly everybody uses silken handkerchiefs.
The road from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh is full of
transport carriages. Here they do supply the settlers of the
western provinces. Home and field equipment are sold here by
large stores. There are also many warehouses and commercial
companies.
Every day ships leave Pittsburgh along the Ohio River loaded
with every thinkable equipment.
In U.S. prevalently paper money circulates , fraud is
common. Otherwise we see Spanish dollars, whole or split by
½, ¼, 1/8 and 1/16. At the moment gold loses value. Spanish
and French are the best currencies.
Land can be bought all over for cheap prices, bush or farm
land. Around Pittsburgh farm land costs, with house and
barn, $ 15, 20 or 30 the acre.
My brother bought 160 acres at $ 1 (usually an acre costs $
2) in Johns County and has departed with his family 4 weeks
ago, traveling approximately 1500 English miles or 500 hours
from Pittsburgh at the Mississippi river to the state of
Indiana.
I do work with a hat producer and I do earn $ 10 a week. All
workers are well paid; farm hands get $ 1 daily. Of course
clothes are expensive, for example a hat costs up to $ 16, a
pair shoes $ 2 to $ 6 a pair boots 12 to16 one yard textile
$ 6 to 16. We do spend $ 3 to 4 a week, food is cheap,
everyone who lives reasonably can be happy.
Still to provide for a family is no fun. Everyone, once
here, and willing to work, finds easily his bread".
|