The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1936-07-23
Travel Mode
Has Changed
Since 1868
Sailing Passage Reveals In
teresting Information
Few Comforts
HAD TO DO COOKING
Passengers Provided Bed
Clothes, Dishes, Knives,
Forks, Kettles

Through the courtesy of William
hreltZ, railroad engineer on the
Northern Pacific, who now resides
at st. Cloud, we are in receipt of a
contract for ocean sailing passage
dated April 10, 1863. This contract
was sold to his father, Matthias
kreitz, and provided for an ocean
voyage for two passengers from
Antwerp, Belgium, to North Amer
lea. The sailing dates were given
as April %, 1868.
Travel in those days was incon-
venient and this trip provided for
passage on sailing vessel. Comfort
was not considered, and the
changes in mode of travel are as
great today as are other improve
ments made since that time.
Mr.. Kreitz and a COMPANION went
by train from Inter Glinden to
Antwerp from where they set sail
for the United States. The cost of
the ticket was $500 or $145 per
person, with $40 payable when the
ticket was issued. The balance was
to be paid before boarding the
ship.
Among the interesting Informal
ton cleaned from the contract we
learned that passengers were re-
quired to be present at the place
from which the ship sailed at the
set time or they would lose the
money they had paid down.
Passengers were required to do
their own cooking, and rations
were distributed for the trip to
North America in the following
quantities.: so pounds of Zwieback;
Is pounds of rice; Is pounds Of
barley; IS pounds of flour; Is
pounds of beans and peas; 10
pounds of bacon or salt pork; 10
pounds of sailed OK meat; so
pounds of potatoes; pounds Of
coffee; 2 pounds of salt; 2 litres Of
vinegar. If the passenger was able
to effect a saving in his rations. he
was allowed to keep what was left.
Passengers were provided with
sweet water light and where nee
essary, drugs and medicine, but
they had to furnish their own bed
ding, sheets, cups, plates, knives
and forks, cooking kettle and wa
ter vessels.
Water amounting to five litres
per grown person was provided,
while children from one to 10 years
received half rations.
All rations were delivered to the
Captain Of the ship in Kilos, and
then distributed to the passengers
in pound rates. A kilo equalled two
pounds.
Other paragraphs in the contract
warned the passengers of the emf
grafton laws of the state of New
York and other countries. 1t con-
tanned also an announce ment that
If the passenger wished he could
insure his belongings against fire
and water damage or loss. If the
ship did not set sail at the stated
time, and if the passenger was for
ced to remain in Antwerp, he
would be compensated at the rate
of $50 francs per grown person, or
Is confines per child, or he would
receive board and room for all
time over three days. IF transfer
red from the ship owning to sick
ness, the passenger could not sue
| for damages or collect compensa-
ton.
On this ticket 1t was necessary
to be in Antwerp on the goth day
of April, 1863, at which time ar
rangements were completed for the
trip. The contract was sold to Mr..
Kreitz by Steinman and Co.
Mr.. Kreitz spent a few days OF
last week in Sank Centre visiting
with friends, and at that time
brought the ticket, which is print
ed in German, to the Herald Of
flee. Owing to the work of transla-
ton we were unable to publish this
account last week.