Out of Thin Air
One of the last two steamships fitted with sails, huge spread of canvas, three steel masts to court the wind, she delivered my father’s family to the new world, from the cargo hold called ‘Tween Decks the space reserved for rudder controls and the emigrants.
The RMS Etruria, precursor to the Lusitania and Titanic, her two towering funnels running the North Atlantic 1885-1909, the ship of new emigrants, one week from Queenstown and Liverpool to New York, she ran 19 knots, 7718 tons, 158 meters long with 5 decks.
500 in First Class, 160 in Second, 800 in steerage, she delivered us 200 to 400 per section with dinner pails, makeshift bunks, stench and stale air. My grandmother’s kin arrived Ellis Island July 15, 1905, nine o’clock in the morning:
On board, one Bridget Grady, 18 years, single, servant, able to read and write, has a ticket—final destination: Aunt, Catherine Grady in Chicago.
The new immigrants had to have a place to go. They were ‘tween people neither there nor here; they had to fit in, too many to count, too powerless to matter.
My granddad was a hod carrier, toting mortar for bricklayers and plasterers.
From the 1930 Census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois:
Martin Cassedy, 35, rent, immigrant, 1905? Naturalized? Or 1909? Occupation illegible.
Agnes (Grady) Cassedy, wife, 30, immigration 1907? Alien, Irish spoken in the home.
Son, Thomas Cassedy, 16, no schooling.
I knew my Dad as a fun and gentle man, accomplished, competent, his past a mystery.
He’d fashioned himself out of thin air.
2012
alumina
Aρpreciating the timе and enerɡy you put into your website and in depth іnformatiⲟn yoᥙ provide.
It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a
while that isn’t the same ߋut of date rehashed
material. Excellent read! I’ve saved yⲟuｒ site and I’m аdding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
jcadmin
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate your time
and attention, really do. J
jcadmin
Jean Cassidy
Thanks so much for the kind words and encouragement! As you can see I include items that strike a chord for me.
Should you come across something that grabs you too, please forward the link to me. I will include you as a contributor.
Best,
Jean
Jean
Thanks so much for the kind words and encouragement! As you can see I include items that strike a chord for me.
Should you come across something that grabs you too, please forward the link to me. I will include you as a contributor.
Best,
Jean