My Great Grandma was born in 1885, eight years after her parents with aunts, uncles, cousins and older siblings arrived.
This is an interesting story so I thought I would share it. I will post it in three parts.
Tine Lavery, June 26, 1937
By Mrs. Tine Lavery, July 19, 1936
I was in my thirteenth year. The shore, by the old city, Nakskov, Lolland, was crowded with people – friends and relatives of the out going emigrants. Tears were shed, farewells were said.
My eyes were riveted on my dear old Grandmother. God bless her. I can see her yet. I called to her, “Grandmother, I will come back again,” but alas, I never did. I dearly loved her. Some day in the near future I hope my ark will be sailing into yonder shores where she will be waiting for me, also for others. It seems so strange to think one by one we are gathering home. [Tine passed away in 1940.]
The old ship noiselessly, quietly, started gliding away from shore and dear ones. Soon all was out of sight.
I am quite sure we landed in some place in Sjaelland. From there by rail to Kobenhagen, where we were piled into some room, bag and baggage - not like first and second class travelers but like emigrants. We were there several days. I roamed around the city some alone but did not go any farther than I could find my way back. From there I am quite sure we went by rail to Hamburg, and there we took a freighter across the North Sea. We were piled in on top of a lot of bags filled with something. I remember how it stunk.
There were a lot of Jews. They were eating oranges. For years I never liked oranges after that or could I stand the smell of them.
I am quite sure we were three days crossing the North Sea. It is a very rough body of water but very smooth while we were crossing. We landed at Hull, England and from there we crossed England by rail. We went through many long tunnels until we came to Liverpool. There we stopped at a cheap hotel or rooming house for several days. There were bed bugs. I believe it was the first time I had ever seen a bed bug. I can’t remember much about the food but the meat was so rare when it came on the table that the red juice ran out of it. Of course, I, as a Dane, could never forget that, nor the bed bugs. We, as Danes, like our meat well done, and as nearly all of our houses in Denmark are made of brick - all small houses of home made clay brick – we have no bed bugs there.
While in Liverpool we met some other people, acquaintances, who had a boy and a girl about my age. We used to sit out on the steps and watch the people. Sometimes singing minstrels would come along and stop and sing.
Uncle John Rasmussen and family were also with us. Besides my father and mother (Jacob Nielson and wife), Uncle John Rasmussen’s family consisted of his wife, Aunt Marie, and daughters Anna, (Mrs. Charles Town) and Bina, (Mrs. Albert Madison). Regina Knudsen and baby girl also were with us, as well as Uncle John Rasmussen’s sister Dorthea. I also had two sisters and one brother, Line about 5 years, Anna about 3 years, and Peter about 1 year. One day we three older ones went out, sister Line followed us and we did not know it. Mother said afterwards she called to us that she was there, but we did not hear her or see her. She strayed out on the street, went down into a cellar and a lady brought her out and she was led back to our rooms. How dreadful if she had been lost and I sure blame myself for not hearing my mother’s call when she said Line was coming. Oh, if only children of that age would hear and remember and obey their mother's call and advice.
When in England we had an interpreter to lead us and show us where to go.
Tomorrow: Crossing the Atlantic
Read my previous post: Music Monday - "The Pink Panther" by Henry Mancini
Read my next post: "Just A Thinking of the Past" (Part 2)
Read my next post: "Just A Thinking of the Past" (Part 2)
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