Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-07
HOME, THIRD CLASS.
Trio Across the Atlantic in a
Liners Storage.
Somewhat Different from Way the
MilIionaires MaksXthe Passage.
Return to Americas Shores of Our
HaIIoweIl Teacher.
Steamship "Ivernia," Sept. 1, 1903.


TO America third class.
We decided to return with the third
class passengers, of whom we had
heard varied stories. It was necessary
to be on board at noon the day of cur
departure for America. We had cal
culated on reaching the wharf just a
few minutes before that time in order
to wait as little time as possible before
embarking. Before going aboard third
class passengers are obliged to pass an
inspection ofticer-a simple matter with
us, as he simply stamped our inspection
ticket and passed us along. We We're
little late in reaching the wharf, but
after a brisk run arrived about ilVe
minutes past -, not too late, however,
for they continued to take on passen-
gers 10 minutes after we were ABOARD.
We felt rather happy, though, that IL
was not 20 minutes instead of five, 1or
in that case we should probably nave
been obliged to wait for the next steam
err and lose the price of the tickets al
ready purchased. This is one OF the
times when it pays to be on hand.
1t was not the boat on which we were
to sail-the Ivernia-one of the largest
i'm the Cunard fleet but a tender to that
boat, twO-thirds as large as the Ken
nebec. There we saw our companions
for the coming week, men, women and
children, about 1000 in number, with
bags bundles and bandbOXes of all sizes
and colors, crowded together in a mass;
the majority speaking English but
many speaking tongues unfamiliar to
us-nO Germans or French, l believe.
When all were aboard and the gate
closed the vessel drew out into the har-
Dor to meet the Ivernia lying in the
middle of the harbor. The boat was
brought about, fastened and the crowd
began clambering into the big boat. 1t
was amusing to see them. Every one
wanted to be first and all crowded like
sheep to get through at once. We have
developed amazing ability in the mat
ter of crowding and it was our good
fortune to be in the middle of the
pile" Two or three little children be-
came frightened and began crying, but
of course that was a slight matter in
such a crisis when it was America we
We're crOWding for. Some We're for
climbing over the side, but they were
kept in check by the crew and made
to take their places in the line and wait
their turn at going aboard. An inspect
ing officer on the large ship took each,
pulled the eyelids down and peaked
into his eyes, then showed him along
If he saw nothing objectionable. He
glanced hastily at my eyes, but passed
my friend without troubling him-he
has a fierce eye, as / have often re-
marked, and the gaze was too strong.
On board we were hustled along like
cattle into different divisions of the
ship: families in one place, unmarried
women in another, and unmarried men
in another. Our department was the
whole after part of the ship. 1t is by
no means as fine as the company repre-
sents it in their catalogue. 1t is divided
by alleys into rough looking rooms con-
tanning from two to u dozen hunks with
no other furnishings whatsoever. All
scrambled for the two-bunk rooms TAX
ing any one they found unoccupied. 1t
Is a chilly day when they get ahead of
us in such a place as that-we got a
twO-bunk room with an electric light
and room for our dreSs-Suit cases, suffi-
GENTLY comfortable considering the
class; and for two hours We stayed
there occupying it lest some others
who were continually opening the door
might come and occupy it in our alb
sence.
When things had quoted down a
little we went on deck to find the ship
at the wharf taking on first and sec
ond-class passengers. The goodbys
We're abundant and affectionate. many
remaining on board with their friends
until the last whistles for drawing the
a hn
slowly steamed down the harbor, leav-
ing dense crowd collected to bid their
final adieu. A long time we remained
on the forward deck Watching the fad
ing city and changing landscapes, low,
level, purpling in the fading sunlight.
Six o'clock was the hour announced
for supper. but long before that time
the seats at the tables We're taken with
those impatient with hunger, many like
ourselves having had nothing to eat
since morning. The tables are sutfi-
Gent for seating only about half of the
company. but all crowded around. too
impatient to wait for the second tables.
What 4 motley array! mostly emil
grants. Swedes, Danes, NOrwegians
y and English; big, broad shouldered,
awkward fellows, many of them, with
simple tastes and jovial natures-not
all. however, for among that company
we found a young fellow, a teacher in
a Western university. just returning
from two months study in Germany,
and another, an American, who had
served in the British army in South
Africasand was on his way home, also
several other very fine people who We're
travelling that class to save expense
but 95 per cent were emigrants, or had
that appearance.
The majority spoke English but many
could speak only the Swedish language.
The bill of fare seemed sufficiently COM
plete and the bread, meat and fish We're
good. but the tea and coffee We're repul-
sive and the very odor was nauseating;
the soups and buildings were the latest
tasting things We have met in our trip
abroad: All the Americans seemed TO
have the same opinion and many pur-
chased some oranges and apples to help
out. but these they found exceedingly
dear. The passengers in the other de-
partments had a more liberal fair than
We in the unmarried gentlemen's section.
l think this was a scheme put up by the
walters who seemed able to furnish al