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Subject: [BURGENLAND-NEWSLETTER-L] BB Newsletter No. 79A dtd 30 April 2000
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 08:18:39 EDT

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS -No. 79A
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY
(issued biweekly by )
April 30, 2000

This second section of the 3 section newsletter features an intoductory
article about immigrant travel and contains a partial list of Possible
Burgenland Immigrant Ships. Also see Newsletter No, 79B which continues with
ports of origin, shipping lines and ports of arrival.


POSSIBLE BURGENLAND IMMIGRANT SHIPS (A to O, The Larger Vessels Built Pre
1929)

Previous newsletters have mentioned immigrant itineraries, transportation and
ports of departure. Considering the small amount of time spent on most
crossings, it's surprising how important the names of ships are to people
interested in family history. While the ship mystique starts with the arrival
of the Mayflower, family history interest is mainly due to the fact that a
ship's manifest (many of which have survived) is the first record of arrival
in the new world; a record of the passengers' names, ports of departure and
arrival, dates, place of origin etc. Given the name of the ship and a time
frame, one can get a lot of data concerning an immigrant ancestor.

There were dozens of ships which could have brought Burgenland immigrants
from European and English ports. Some took direct passage from German ports
to America, others involved transfers to ships in other ports. Do not be
misled into thinking that all voyages were direct from German ports to
American ports on German ships. There were "indirect" passages from British
ports following rail journey from Harwich to Liverpool as an example. Many
immigrants also left from English, French, Dutch, Italian (Genoa) and even
Austrian ports (Trieste, Pula, Fiume). Many British and American ships also
made scheduled stops in European ports prior to the trans- Atlantic crossing.

I have pictures of posters appearing in Burgenland towns (particularly
Güssing at the shop of Johann Früwirth in 1922-23) which advertise French
Line ships "FRANCE"- "PARIS" and "CHICAGO [10.5M tons]", Le Havre to New
York. Also North German Lloyd ships BREMEN, EUROPA, COLUMBUS, Bremen,
Southampton, Cherbourg to New York; Cosulich Line "Nach New York mit dem
Schnelldampfern (fast steamer) MARTHA WASHINGTON und PRESIDENTE WILSON;
Holland Amerika Linie, "Nach Amerika über Rotterdam";
Austro-Americana-Trieste, Trieste to New York, Dopelschraubendampfer (double
screw steamer) KAISER FRANZ JOSEF I (1913). Cunard Lines, Royal Mail Line,
Hamburg - Amerika Line, White Star Line, Red Star Line, and United States
Lines are also represented. Hamburg American Line (HAPAG) even had a MS
Burgenland but I can find little concerning her except a picture taken in
1928.

Major ports of emigration changed as surface and ocean transportation
changed. Up until 1914, most steamships were colliers, as opposed to diesel.
Prior to 1902, many transatlantic vessels displaced less than 10,000 tons; by
1902, 15,000 tons or greater became the norm. It was more profitable to run
larger vessels and as immigrant bookings swelled, passengers became a most
profitable cargo. Larger vessels were faster, provided better facilities,
allowed cheaper fares and made more scheduled trips. Most immigrant passage
horror stories, which persisted after the age of sail, involved the smaller,
coal fired steamships or early "steerage" class. Early "steerage" was often a
cargo hold lined with wooden bunks. At best a blanket and straw mattress
(thrown overboard upon arrival to remove vermin) were provided. In some,
passengers even had to provide their own food. During rough crossings,
seawater could seep into the hold. Later "third class" steerage
accommodations were much better providing dining halls, stewards, medical
facilities and better sleeping accommodations.

Below is a list of vessels with a displacement of 15,000 tons or more, all of
which could have been involved in the movement of Burgenländers from Europe
to North America (United States and Canada) in the years before 1930, by
which time the Immigration and Quota Bills (passed in 1921 and 1924) put a
virtual halt to the great wave of Burgenland immigration. Ships built after
that time did bring some Burgenländers to the United States, but the numbers
were small. Post WWII quota immigration by ship lasted until the 1960's,
after which air travel replaced the ship.

Ships were built for a specific purpose or trade route. There were regularly
scheduled routes to North and South America (heavy immigration there and to
Canada after 1925) and elsewhere. I have not listed ships involved in other
than North America migration.

Many ships with large passenger ratings were built exclusively for the
immigration trade and provided more third class steerage accommodations, with
less first and second class cabins. The FRANCONIA 1911 of 18M tons as an
example, provided accommodations for 300 first class, 350 second class and
2200 third class. The FRANCE 1912 of 24M tons provided 534 first class, 442
second class and only 800 steerage. The comfort difference should be obvious.
If your ancestors arrived on other than one of the later larger listed ships,
they could well have had a rough voyage.

The data is from various sources, mentioned in the selected bibliography.
These books as well as some web sites can provide more data as well as
pictures of the ships, see our URL list for web site addresses. Shown are the
ships' names, where and when built, approximate tonnage (rounded to nearest
thousand tons), service speed, number of passengers, shipping firm, normal
port to port route and final disposition. During WWI and WWII, many of these
ships were used as troop ships or laid up in ports of destination or origin.
Many were seized as war reparations and given new names and new routes. I
hope to be able to eventually provide similar data for ships under 10M tons.


ADRIATIC, Belfast, Ireland 1907, 24M tons, 17 knots, 2825 passengers, White
Star Line, Liverpool to New York. Scrapped 1935.

ALBERT BALLIN, Hamburg, Germany 1923, 21M tons, 15.5 knots, 1551 passengers,
Hamburg America Line, Hamburg to New York, renamed HANSA 1935, rebuilt
following WWII, scrapped 1981. (note: Albert Ballin was a Hamburg shipping
magnate, who desired to improve the emigrants lot, since it made good
business sense. After the cholera epidemic of 1892, he established a huge
immigrant depot in Hamburg complete with hygiene facilities, baths, kitchens
[even kosher ones] and sleeping quarters. Called the "Amerika Village", it
accommodated four thousand people at a time. Immigrants were forbidden to
leave until their ship was ready but there were band concerts and even a
library. From this beginning, transport conditions also improved.)

ALSATIAN, Dalmuit, Scotland, 1913, 18M tons, 18 knots, 1745 passengers, Allan
Line, Liverpool to Canada, renamed EMPRESS OF FRANCE 1919, scrapped 1934.

AMERIKA, Belfast, Ireland, 1905, 22M tons, 17.5 knots, 2662 passengers,
Hamburg America Line, Hamburg to New York, largest liner afloat 1905-06,
(seized by US and renamed AMERICA 1914), United States Lines 1921, renamed
Edmund B. Alexander and used as troopship WWII. Scrapped 1957.

AQUITANIA, Clydebank, Scotland, 1914, 46M tons, 23 knots, 3230 passengers,
Cunard Line, Southampton-New York. Last four funnel liner. Scrapped 1950.

ARABIC, Belfast, Ireland, 1903, 16M tons, 16 knots, 2000 passengers, White
Star Line, Liverpool-Boston-New York, sunk by U-boat 1915.

BERLIN, Hamburg, Germany, 1925, 15M tons, 16 knots, 1122 passengers, North
German Lloyd Line, Bremerhaven to New York. Laid up 1938. Sank 1945, raised,
repaired, transferred to Soviet Union. Collision and sunk 1986.

BREMEN, Bremen, Germany, 1929, 52M tons, 27 knots, 2200 passengers, North
German Lloyd Line, Bremerhaven to New York. World's fastest liner 1929-33.
Laid up 1939, scrapped 1941.

CALEDONIA, Glasgow, Scotland, 1925, 17M tons, 16 knots, 1408 passengers,
Anchor Line, Glasgow to New York, torpedoed 1940.

CALGARIAN, Glasgow, Scotland, 1914, 18M tons, 18 knots, 1650 passengers,
Allan Line, Liverpool to Canada, sunk by U-boat 1918.

CALIFORNIA, Glasgow, Scotland, 1923, 17M tons, 16 knots, 1760 passengers,
Anchor Line, Glasgow to New York, sunk by aircraft 1943.

CAMERONIA, Glasgow, Scotland, 1921, 16M tons, 16 knots, 1785 passengers,
Anchor Line, Glasgow to New York, troopship, Australian immigration ship
1948, scrapped 1957.

CARINTHIA, Barrow, England, 1925, 20M tons, 16.5 knots, 1650 passengers,
Cunard Line, Liverpool to New York, torpedoed 1940.

CARMANIA, Clydebank, Scotland, 1905, 20M tons, 18 knots, 2650 passengers,
Cunard Line, Liverpool to New York, armed cruiser, troop ship 1914-18.
Scrapped 1932.

CARONIA, Clydebank, Scotland, 1905, 20M tons, 18 knots, 2650 passengers,
Cunard Line, Liverpool to New York, armed cruiser, troop ship 1914-18.
Scrapped 1933.

CEDRIC, Belfast, Ireland, 1902, 21M tons, 16 knots, 2875 passengers, White
Star Line, Liverpool to New York. Largest ship in the world, 1903-04.
Scrapped 1932.

CELTIC, Belfast, Ireland, 1901, 21M tons, 16 knots, 2857 passengers, White
Star Line, Liverpool to New York. Largest ship in the world, 1901-03.
Scrapped 1928.

CINCINNATI, Danzig, Germany, 1909, 16M tons, 15.5 knots, 2827 passengers,
Hamburg America Line, Hamburg to New York. Interned Boston 1914. US troop
ship, COVINGTON, torpedoed 1918.

CLEVELAND, Hamburg, Germany, 1909, 17M tons, 15.5 knots, 2841 passengers,
Hamburg America Line, Hamburg to New York. Laid up Hamburg duration of WWI.
Troopship MOBILE. Sold to Byron SS Co. 1920, renamed KING ALEXANDER,
Mediterranean-US service, sold 1923 United America Lines, renamed CLEVELAND,
Hamburg to New York service, 1926 repurchased by Hamburg America Line for
Hamburg to New York service. Scrapped 1933.

COLUMBUS, Belfast, Ireland, 1903, 15M tons, 16 knots, 2300 passengers,
Dominion Line, Liverpool to Boston. Sold to White Star Line late 1903,
renamed REPUBLIC, Boston service, later Mediterranean to New York immigrant
run. Sank 1909 after colliding with steamer FLORIDA.

COLUMBUS, Danzig , Germany, 1924, 33M tons, 23 knots, 1725 passengers. North
German Lloyd, Bremmerhaven to New York. Rebuilt 1929. Sunk by fire 1939.

CONTE GRANDE, Trieste, Italy, 1927, 26m tons, 19 knots, 1718 passengers.
Lloyd Sabudo Line, Genoa to New York. Sold to Italian Line 1932 for S.
American service. Scrapped 1961.

CONTE ROSSO, Glasgow, Scotland, 1921, 18M tons, 18.5 knots, 2366 passengers.
Lloyd Sabudo Line, Italy to New York. Sold to Italian Line 1932 for S.
American service. Torpedoed 1941.

DEUTSCHLAND, Stettin, Germany, 1900, 17M tons, 22 knots, 2050 passengers.
Hamburg America Line, Hamburg to New York. Fastest passenger ship afloat at
time. Rebuilt 1910-11 as all first class cruise ship VICTORIA LUISE. Rebuilt
as immigration ship HANSA 1921. Scrapped 1925.

DEUTSCHLAND, Hamburg, Germany, 1924, 21M tons, 15.5 knots, 1558 passengers.
Hamburg America Line, Hamburg to New York. Rebuilt 1930, 1934. Became German
naval accommodation ship. Sunk by aircraft 1945.

DORIC, Belfast, Ireland, 1923, 16M tons, 15 knots, 2300 passengers. White
Star Line, Liverpool to Canada, later cruising only. Collision with French
steamer 1935, broken up.

DUTCHESS OF ATHOLL, Glasgow, Scotland, 1928, 20M tons, 18 knots, 1563
passengers. Canadian Pacific Steamship Line, Liverpool to Canada service.
Troopship 1939, torpedoed 1942.

DUTCHESS OF BEDFORD, Clydebank, Scotland, 1928, 20M tons, 18 knots, 1570
passengers.
Canadian Pacific Steamship Line, Liverpool to Canada service. Troopship 1939,
restored 1947 as EMPRESS OF FRANCE, resumed service to Canada. Scrapped 1960.

DUTCHESS OF RICHMOND, Clydebank, Scotland, 1928, 20M tons, 18 knots, 1570
passengers. Canadian Pacific Steamship Line, Liverpool to Canada service.
Troopship 194O. Refitted 1947 as EMPRESS OF CANADA, resumed service to
Canada. Burned and sank 1953.

DUTCHESS OF YORK, Clydebank, Scotland, 1929, 20M tons, 18 knots, 1570
passengers. Canadian Pacific Steamship Line, Liverpool to Canada service.
Troopship 194O. Torpedoed 1943.

DUILIO, Genoa, Italy, 1923, 24M tons, 19 knots, 1550 passengers, Navigazione
Generale Italiana, Italy to New York until 1928, then South America service,
(transferred to Italian Line 1932), laid up 1940 and sunk by air raid 1944.

EUROPA, Hamburg, Germany, 1930, 50M tons, 27 knots, 2024 passengers, North
German Lloyd Line, Bremerhaven to New York. Fastest liner at time. Laid up
1939. Seized by US 1945, used as troop ship. Given to France 1946, renamed
Liberte, sank at pier 1946. Restored 1947-50, Le Havre to NY service.
Scrapped 1962.

FRANCE, St. Nazaire, France, 1912, 24M tons, 24 knots, 2026 passengers,
French Line, Le Havre to New York. Troopship WWI, resumed service 1919-1932,
laid up 1932, scrapped 1935.

FRANCONIA, Clydebank, Scotland, 1911, 18M tons, 17 knots, 2850 passengers.
Cunard Line Liverpool to New York and Boston. Troopship 1915. Sunk by
submarine 1916.

FRANCONIA, Clydebank, Scotland, 1923, 20M tons, 16.5 knots, 1843 passengers.
Cunard Line Liverpool to New York and cruising. Troopship 1939. Resumed
service 1949, scrapped 1957.

GEORGE WASHINGTON, Stettin, Germany 1909, 26M tons, 18.5 knots, 2679
passengers, North German Lloyd, Bremmerhaven to New York. Interned and seized
by US in NY 1914, troopship 1917. United States Lines 1921. Laid up 1932-40.
Renamed CATLIN and used as wartime transport. Destroyed by fire 1951.

GIULIO CESARE, Newcastle, England, 1922, 22M tons, 19 knots, 2373 passengers.
Navigazione Generale Italiana, Italy to New York until 1925, then South
America service, (transferred to Italian Line 1932), laid up 1940 and sunk by
air raid 1944.

GREAT EASTERN, London, England, 1859, 19M tons, 13.5 knots, steam, sail and
paddle wheels, 2996 passengers, Great Steamship Company. Transatlantic
service 1865-69. Scrapped 1889.

GRIPSHOLM, Newcastle, England, 1925, 18M tons, 16 knots, 1557 passengers.
Swedish American Line, Göteburg to New York service. Sold to North German
Lloyd, renamed BERLIN 1955, Bremerhaven to NY. Scrapped 1966.

HAMBURG, Hamburg, Germany, 1926, 21M tons, 15.5 knots, 1149 passengers.
Hamburg America Line, Hamburg to New York. Rebuilt 1929 and 1933, 1934.
Became German naval accommodation ship 1940. Mined and sank 1945. Raised by
Soviets 1950, renamed YURI DOLGORUKI, scrapped 1977.

HOMERIC, Danzig, Germany, 1922, 34M tons, 19 knots, 2766 passengers. White
Star Line, Southampton to New York service. Scrapped 1936.

ILE DE FRANCE, Nazaire, France, 1927, 43M tons, 23.5 knots, 1786 passengers.
French Line, Le Havre to New York. Troopship 1939. Resumed service 1949.
Scrapped 1959.

IMPERATOR, Hamburg, Germany, 1913, 52M tons, 23 knots, 4594 passengers.
Hamburg-America Line, Hamburg to New York. Largest ship afloat 1913-14. Ceded
to Britain 1920. Cunard Line 1921, renamed BERENGARIA. Scrapped 1939.

KAISER WILHELM, Stettin, Germany 1903, 19M tons, 23 knots, 1888 passengers,
North German Lloyd, Bremmerhaven to New York. World's fastest ship 1906-07.
Laid up and later seized by US in NY 1914. Became transport AGAMEMNON, then
MONTICELLO. Scrapped 1940.

KAISERIN AUGUSTE VICTORIA, Stettin, Germany 1906, 25M tons, 17.5 knots, 2996
passengers. Hamburg-America Line, Hamburg to New York. Laid up 1914 and
given to Britain 1919, Cunard Line then Canadian Pacific as EMPRESS OF
SCOTLAND. Scrapped 1930.

KRONPRINZESSIN CECILIE, Stettin, Germany 1906, 19M tons, 23 knots, 1970
passengers. North German Lloyd, Bremmerhaven to New York. Seized by US in
1917, became US Navy transport MOUNT VERNON. Scrapped 1940.

KUNGSHOLM, Hamburg, Germany 1928, 20M tons, 17.5 knots, 1575 passengers.
Swedish-American Line, Sweden to New York service. Sold to US 1942, troopship
JOHN ERICSSON.
Resold 1947. Scrapped 1965.

LACONIA, Newcastle, England 1911, 18M tons, 17 knots, 2850 passengers. Cunard
Line, Liverpool to New York, Boston. Sunk by U-boat 1917.

LACONIA, Newcastle, England 1922, 20M tons, 16 knots, 2180 passengers. Cunard
Line, Liverpool to New York. Sunk by U-boat 1942.

LAPLAND, Belfast, Ireland 1909, 18M tons, 17 knots, 2536 passengers. Red Star
Line, Antwerp to New York. Broken up 1934.

LAURENTIC, Belfast, Ireland 1927, 19M tons, 16 knots, 1500 passengers. White
Star Line, Liverpool to Canada. Torpedoed 1940.

LUSITANIA, Clydebank, Scotland 1907, 32M tons, 25 knots, 2165 passengers.
Cunard Line-Liverpool to New York. Torpedoed 1915.

MAURETANIA, Newcastle, England 1907, 32M tons, 25 knots, 2335 passengers.
Cunard Line, Liverpool to New York. World's fastest 1907-29. Broken up 1935.

MELITA, Belfast, Ireland 1918, 15M tons, 16 knots, 1750 passengers. Canadian
Pacific Lines-Liverpool to Canada service. Sold to Italy and renamed LIGURIA
1935, sank by aircraft 1940.

MILWAUKEE, Hamburg, Germany 1929, 17M tons, 16 knots, 957 passengers.
Hamburg-America Line, Hamburg to New York service. Seized by British 1945.
Scrapped 1947.

MINNEKAHDA, Belfast, Ireland 1919, 17M tons, 15 knots, 2150 passengers.
Atlantic Transport Line, Transatlantic service to New York. Scrapped 1936.

MINNETONKA, Belfast, Ireland 1924, 22M tons, 16 knots, 369 first class
passengers only. Atlantic Transport Line, London to New York. Scrapped 1934.

MINNEWASKA, Belfast, Ireland 1923, 22M tons, 16 knots, 369 first class
passengers only. Atlantic Transport Line, London to New York. Scrapped 1934.

MONTCALM, Clydebank, Scotland 1922, 16M tons, 16 knots, 1810 passengers.
Canadian Pacific Lines-Liverpool to Canada service. Scrapped 1952.

MONTCLARE, Clydebank, Scotland 1922, 16M tons, 16 knots, 1810 passengers.
Canadian Pacific Lines-Liverpool to Canada service. Scrapped 1958.

MONTROSE, Glasgow, Scotland 1922, 16M tons, 16 knots, 1810 passengers.
Canadian Pacific Lines-Liverpool to Canada service. Sunk by submarine 1940.

NEW YORK, Hamburg, Germany 1927, 21M tons, 15.5 knots, 1032 passengers.
Hamburg-America Line, Hamburg to New York service. Sunk by bombers 1945.

NIUW AMSTERDAM, Belfast, Ireland 1906, 17M tons, 16 knots, 2886 passengers.
Holland-American Line, Rotterdam-Channel ports-New York service. Broken up
1932.

OCEANIC, Belfast, Ireland 1899, 17M tons, 19 knots, 1710 passengers. White
Star Line flagship and world's largest liner 1899-1901. First ship in excess
of 700 feet in length. Liverpool to New York service. Scrapped 1924.

OHIO, Bremen, Germany 1919, 19M tons, 17 knots, 1442 passengers. Royal Mail
Lines, north Atlantic service to New York. Sold to White Star Line 1927,
renamed ALBERTIC, Liverpool to Canada Service. Scrapped 1935.

OLYMPIC, Belfast, Ireland 1911, 45M tons, 21 knots, 2764 passengers. Sister
ship to the TITANIC. White Star Line, Southampton to New York. Largest liner
until 1913. Broken up 1937.

ORBITA, Belfast, Ireland 1915, 16M tons, 14 knots, 887 passengers. Pacific
Steam Navigation Co. South America service. Sold to Royal Mail Lines for
Hamburg-New York service 1921-27. Broken up 1950.

ORCA, Belfast, Ireland 1918, 16M tons, 14 knots, 890 passengers. Pacific
Steam Navigation Co. Cargo ship. Sold to Royal Mail Lines for Hamburg-New
York service 1921-27. Sold to White Star, renamed CALGARIC 1927,
Liverpool-Canada service. Broken up 1935.

ORDUNA, Belfast, Ireland 1915, 16M tons, 14 knots, 1120 passengers. Pacific
Steam Navigation Co. South America service. Sold to Royal Mail Lines for
Hamburg-New York service 1921-27.Resumed South America service 1927. Broken
up 1951.

Ships with names from P to Z to be continued in Newsletter 80A.


BILBLIOGRAPY
Bilder Chronik der Stadt Güssing, P. Hajszanyi, Im Eigenverlag 1990

Coming to America, R. Daniels, Harper Perennial 1990

Crossings, The Great Transatlantic Migrations, 1870-1914, W. Nugent, Ind.
Univ. Press, 1995

Die Amerika Wanderung der Burgenländer, W. Dujmovits, Desch-Drexler 1992

Great Passenger Ships of the World, A. Kludas, Patrick Stevens, Ltd., 1972

Merchant Ships of the World, L. Dunn, Macmillan 1973

Nach Amerika, Burgenländische Landesausstellung, Eisenstadt, 1992

Pictorial Encyclopedia of Ocean Liners, W. Miller, Dover, 1995

The Only Way To Cross, J. Maxtone-Graham, Collier 1972

Newsletter continues as no. 79B.

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