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timothyblomquist
New on board
USA
2 Posts |
 Posted - 21/12/2007 : 01:02:48
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My Swedish ancestors arrived in New York Sunday 14 May 1882 on the Danish Steamship Geiser. They were part of 788 steerage passengers and 65 First and Second passengers. The Captain was Frederick Schierbeck.
My question involves the processing of the passengers. At that time the Thingvalla Company dock was at Watson's Stores in Brooklyn, then later at Fourth Street in Hoboken, New Jersey. Would the Geiser stop first at the company dock and off load steerage passengers to smaller steamers for Castle Garden? Or, did the Geiser anchor at Castle Garden and passengers disembarked there?
Thanks in advance for any help
Timothy Blomquist
Farmington, New Mexico USA |
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Borge
Veteran Moderator
Norway
1297 Posts |
Posted - 21/12/2007 : 10:31:32
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There is some clues in the translation of a Thingvalla Line information booklet which I have translated for the site. It can be found here:A Thingvalla Line promotional pamphlet 1887
It states that:
At arrival the ships embed at the companies dock in Hoboken, where the passengers disembarks and the luggage is brought ashore. After disembarkation there will be customs inspection, to make this quick it is required that every passenger goes to get the luggage immediately after coming ashore, and when receiving the luggage must deliver the brass checker received for the luggage when boarded to the ship's official, then open the luggage and stay by it tills it has been inspected.
After the luggage has been inspected the passengers must see to it that they get one brass checker back for every piece of luggage delivered to the Castle Garden clerks which are on the dock.
Without the brass checker it will be very difficult to find the luggage in Caste Garden. (Castle Garden is the governmental bureau where all the passengers are registered)
The luggage will then be brought aboard on a steamboat which will bring the luggage to Castle Garden. Those of the passengers who intend to stay in New York can leave Castle Garden at any time after being registered, and come back for the luggage any time later with the brass checker. Passengers which have tickets also valid for the inland voyage by train, must get their travelling orders converted into railway tickets valid for the specific railway Company on which they are going to travel, before leaving Castle Garden, then go to the Castle Garden's luggage room to switch the brass checkers received on the ship to new checkers valid to the final destination, and then deliver the checkers when they get there to get the luggage. In Castle Garden the passengers can bunker food supplies sufficient for the railway voyage, which usually will take place in the evening on the day of arrival. If the contrary, those who wants to can stay the night in Castle Garden. The passengers are guided from Castle Garden to the railway station by the Thingvalla Line's Scandinavian clerks, who will assist the passengers in getting on the right train.
My knowledge of the English language is probably not sufficient to get this translation correctly grammatically, but you should get the idea. (Any teachers out there to give me a hand?) |
Børge Solem |
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timothyblomquist
New on board
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - 21/12/2007 : 16:48:31
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Borge,
Thanks for the reply and article. From my research, the Thingvalla Line did not have their company dock at Hoboken, New Jersey (end of Fourth Steet) until ca. 1884. Prior to that, the company dock was at "Watson's Stores" in Brooklyn, New York. This is verified by New York Times articles of 5 Feb 1882 and 15 April 1882 discussing the new Thingvalla Ships, Geiser and Hekla first arrival and berthing at Watson's Stores, Brooklyn. The main question from a historical standpoint is where these ships first landed the passengers; at the company dock then transfer to Castle Garden via small packet steamer, or did the Thingvalla steamer dock at Castle Garden and disembark the passengers there? In the case of the article you provided, it seems the passengers were taken from the company dock with their luggage to Castle Garden via a small ferry or packet steamer. Was this the case in 1882 when the company dock was in Brooklyn?
This may seem like a trivial point, but for a researcher it's nice to know where your ancestor first set foot here in the new world.
Kindes Regards,
Timothy Blomquist
Farmington, New Mexico USA
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Steamship Geiser New York Arrival 1882
