Ellis Island: The Journey and Struggles of Immigrants in 1896

📌 Discover the immigrant experience at Ellis Island in 1896. Explore the emotional, bureaucratic, and social challenges faced by immigrants, and learn about the organizations that helped them navigate their new lives in America.

Handling The Immigrant at Ellis Island, 1896 🗽🌏

Overview and Relevance to Immigration History

This article, originally published in 1896, offers a detailed narrative of the immigrant experience at Ellis Island, specifically focusing on the challenges, emotions, and bureaucratic procedures involved. It is particularly relevant for teachers, students, genealogists, historians, and immigration researchers. It provides a comprehensive look at the immigration process of the time, and the human stories behind those statistics, offering rich content for examining the broader historical context of immigration to the United States at the turn of the 20th century. Through its focus on the varied immigrant populations and the systems designed to manage them, the article serves as a valuable resource for understanding the emotional and logistical complexities of immigration during this period.

Ellis Island, Looking East From Within the Ferry Basin, 1892-1897. Note the Section of Preexisting Cribbing Refaced and Incorporated Into the Center of the Main Crib. NARA II, RG 121, BA-915-A. Ellis Island Seawall Historic Structure Report, July 2003. GGA Image ID # 1494c37a39

It was a day in May, but there was no vernal softness in the air, no balmy winds, no limpid blue in the arching sky. Gray clouds hung over the harbor like a pall—cold, lowering, depressing.

The Lucania was coming in.

She was forcing her noiseless way through the misty wall that shut down between us and the sea. Cautiously, she plowed her way up through the Narrows, past the rugged shores of Staten Island, newly softened in tender green, past the forts, the islands, and the Battery, and at last, drew up with slow dignity and precision at Pier No. 40.

Among her thirteen hundred souls on board that chilly May day were three hundred and fifty cabin passengers and nine hundred and fifty steerage.

A battery's positive and negative poles are not more opposite than the classes represented by the above figures. The very manner of disembarking testifies to the difference existing between the two.

My lady's maid gathers up the rugs, cushions, bags, umbrellas, and steamer comforts—the thousand and one little belongings a woman manages to scatter about her, even when " cribbed, cabined, and confined " in the narrow quarters of a berth.

The deft, well-trained hands assist her mistress in slipping off the loose, comfortable traveling gown and put her into the natty costume with " Paris " written all over it.

As the gangplank is thrown out, my lady, coldly smiling, greets her dear five hundred as she moves off on the arm of the first officer, who is nothing if not gallant.

She steps into the softly cushioned carriage that has been awaiting her arrival for hours and is whirled away, leaving servants, relatives, and friends the disposal of the ten, twenty, or thirty trunks, hampers, cases, and silver-mounted bags that seem the necessary paraphernalia for her annual trip across.

Let us step across the deck. Here in close, narrow quarters, standing like cattle waiting to be unpinned, are a thousand immigrants—the quota that the Lucania empties into our lap today.

There are no languid airs, soft tones, or weary countenances cast with boredom here. Rugged, sun-browned faces are lit up with hope and fear, love, joy, and sorrow.

Hope for success in the new land to which they are voluntary exiles; fear of the unknown future; joy that the long-dreaded voyage is over; and sorrow at the memories tugging at their heart-strings; thoughts " that lie too deep for tears " as the village, the glen, the mountain stream loom up before homesick eyes that perhaps will close forever under these skies. Here in the steerage are no neat-handed Abigails to collect and carry luggage.

The sturdy little mother gives an extra twist to the bright handkerchief knotted under the dark face bronzed under an Irish, German, or Italian sky. Then, she gathers up in her broad arms the most helpless of the dozen or so infants she can call her own and collects the remainder to marshal them into line for the coming steamer.

The father grasps the cord handles of the black glazed bags, full to bursting with their little worldly possessions, and, talking incessantly, moves forward with the crowd to the side of the vessel, where he waits for The Rosa, the little steamer that plies between the incoming vessels and Ellis Island.

At length, they are all transferred—Hans, with his ruddy blonde face, thick boots, beloved pipe, and stolid immobility, in such sharp contrast to his neighbor's volubility; Pat is there with Mary and his little flock, a half-humorous, half-fearsome expression on his honest, open countenance as he moves forward with the rest, jostled by Slovenian, Pole, Scandinavian, Jew, and Austrian.

The sides of The Rosa are perilously near the water's edge, so packed is she with her human freight. She moves swiftly on through the tossing gray waves toward the tiny island lying east of the gigantic Liberty that lifts her friendly torch on high to light the way for all to new homes, hopes, and interests.

Castle Garden

In a few moments, the steamer is fastened to the wharf, and the long, steady stream begins to enter the great receiving room. Thousands reading these lines today can recall their feelings of bewilderment and terror when they landed, a stranger in a strange land, at old Castle Garden, one of our city's landmarks.

Castle Garden was transformed to accommodate the influx of immigrants that began to flood the country in the 1840s. For the past fifty years, it has provided temporary shelter to the majority of the eighteen million who have arrived here, with one-third of them arriving between 1880 and 1890.

Forty years ago, this quaint old building was the largest auditorium in the city. There, Jenny Lind and Catherine Hayes, " the Irish Nightingale," delighted thousands with their sweet voices. Today, it is being fitted up as an aquarium, for in January 1892, the Federal government took the immigration problem out of the hands of the State, and Secretary Carlisle removed the Depot of Immigration to Ellis Island, with Dr. J. H. Senner as Commissioner of Immigration for the port of New York, and Edward F. McSweeney as Assistant Commissioner.

Ellis Island

Ellis Island is a tiny bit of land, but it has its own history. It was here that the Dutch and later the early English governors stored the town's ammunition.

On its shores, the Dutch made their first landing after their wreckage at Hell-Gate had decided their settlement on Manhattan Island. Later, it was known as Gibbet Island because of the executions of criminals that always took place there, and here, for the past four years, the hundred thousand strangers who have done so much for the material progress of our land have been received.

Nowadays, a minute record is kept of every person who enters, but from colonial days to 1820, no record was taken of immigration; however, it is roughly estimated that one-quarter of a million were added to our population during that period.

The awful famine years of Ireland added an immense number, and lately, the flood of Italian immigration that began early this year has increased to alarming proportions. A late Atlantic liner brought as many as 1,151 sons of Italy in one trip. Immigrants of other nationalities have fallen off in numbers.

How about the Lucania's load? In that, too, the majority were Italians, though with a hefty sprinkling of Germans, Irish, and Swedes.

The landing and disposal of a big shipment of immigrants is a most interesting sight. From the time they board The Rosa or another of the transportation steamers, they are in a constant turmoil of excitement until they are tumbled like bundles of luggage into the express wagons at the barge office.

Hans and Luigi, Jon and Pat are hurried about by the attendants through the complicated labyrinth leading to freedom. They obey the attendants' signs, gestures, and appeals as dumbly as cattle and patiently.

They file up the steep, narrow staircase of the main building to the long aisles, where they are questioned by the registry clerks, to whom the dull routine of business has robbed the process of any appearance of interest.

But one would like to look behind those stolid faces down into the frightened, throbbing hearts and sound the depths of emotion that must pervade them at what is, to many, the most momentous occasion of their lives.

With little or no interest, they answer the twenty questions Uncle Sam puts before he decides whether he will adopt them or not: name, age—and even the women don't lie—married or single, occupation, education, nationality, destination, amount of money, friend's or relative's name and address, ever imprisoned, whether under contract to labor, and whether physically or mentally incapacitated, whether deformed or crippled.

A continual hum, like that of a mammoth beehive, goes on, but the guards' trouble does not commence until their charges catch sight of the friends and relatives at the other end of the long room, who have been waiting, perhaps for hours, for their arrival.

With every incoming steamer, there is a demand on the steamship company for passes to the island. It is amusing to note the difference between the new arrival and the friends.

The dress of the women shows the degree of prosperity they have experienced in the new land. The colored kerchief has been replaced by a wonderful creation in millinery, where yellow and purple predominate.

A great deal of cheap, not overly clean lace ornaments the waist, and a poor, unhappy No. 7 foot is squeezed into a No. 5 shoe. Visitors can contact the immigrant once the authorities dispose of the latter. However, as they catch sight of each other, their excitement knows no bounds.

Then, the Babel of tongues begins. Smiles and tears are plentiful. They shriek all sorts of questions across the intervening space, lean far out over the railing, yelling and gesticulating, until the guard, who has lost flesh at his arduous task, more forcibly than politely pushes them back into some semblance of order. When finally they meet, to colder, less demonstrative eyes, the scene is touching.

Frenchmen fall upon each other's necks and kiss with undisguised emotion. Even quiet Hans embraces his brother, who keeps the corner grocery, with half-hysterical " Mein Gotts ! " and " Du Heber Gotts!"

The warm-hearted Irish praise God heartily as they look through a mist of tears at the worn faces they saw last on the dear old sod. Only the impassive English gaze calmly at their excited companions and unfamiliar surroundings, holding on like grim death to their corded boxes.

In many instances, husbands have been separated from wives and parents from children for many years and fail to recognize each other. When their identity is made known, they are clasped in each other's arms and cling to their loved ones while being urged out of the building and down to the ferry landing.

At the Battery, the Italians have another delegation waiting to greet them. Sometimes, the throng numbers thousands and requires the united efforts of a squad of policemen stationed there to preserve order.

Dr. Egisto Rossi, who represents the Italian government as an immigration agent at Ellis Island, attributes the extraordinary influx of Italians to three causes :

• The trouble Italy is having in Africa.
• The depressed financial condition of the country.
• The glowing accounts that the Italian residents of this country are continually writing home to those expecting to come.

Dr. Rossi thinks, however, that the great rush is over now, as Italy's financial condition is improving, as evidenced by the loan of $140,000,000, which was floated a short time ago.

The Italian immigrant comes here to stay. There is absolutely no truth in the statement that his only desire is to amass a few thousand dollars and go home to sunny Italy to enjoy himself during the rest of his days. If he goes back at all, it is to bring out some of his family.

The registers on the island prove these facts. The Italian immigrant has cast his lot in America, and he brings some precious qualities.

But it is when the immigrant leaves the Arizona ferry boat, plying between the island and the city, and turns his face toward the busy streets teeming with bustle and excitement that his real perplexities begin. He is then thrown on his own resources—given over by the government to the tender mercies of his friends, as it were.

Italian Immigrants Leaving The Office Of The Society For The Protection Of Italian Immigrants. Photograph by Rockwood. The World's Work, October 1904. GGA Image ID # 14f2b35e79

But what of those who have no friends here, no relatives who have gained a foothold in the new land?

The numerous immigrant homes along State Street, a minute's walk from the Battery, answer that question.

Years ago, immigrants were the prey of dishonest and disreputable agents or the victims of sharpers. Young girls who had left home with a song or a laugh on the lip to hide an aching heart were never heard from again.

With promises of easy situations and high wages, which would enable them to send for the old folks, they were easily lured away to ruin. The recital of these abuses and the letters of inquiry that came to the churches roused the interest of the citizens in the immigrant.

The Lutheran churches were the first to respond to the appeal. Twenty-five years ago, the fifteen hundred congregations of that denomination in the United States and Canada united their interests and formed an association for the protection of immigrants, each congregation contributing to its support.

A house was rented just opposite Castle Garden, where the immigrants were landed at that time. Work was then begun, which has proved of incalculable value to the many who have entered our gates.

At present, the " Lutheran Pilgrim House" occupies one of the old-time mansions at No. 8 State Street. The house conducts a regular banking business for immigrants only; these German, Swedish, and Danish travelers are thrifty and rarely land here without a little capital to start a home in the new land.

Here, tickets are purchased, and letters are written to intending immigrants. In each letter, a yellow slip is enclosed to serve as identification for the association officers stationed at Ellis Island.

All those who wear the yellow slip-in their hats are singled out. If they go to New York, they are placed in the charge of the missionary, who never leaves them until they are safely sheltered in the mission house. Good, clean beds are furnished for twenty-five cents a night, and plain, substantial meals are provided at the same rate.

Hospitality is freely extended to those who have no money, and help and advice are proffered as to their spiritual or bodily needs. They are kept there until their friends call for them or until they find employment. The house accommodates one hundred thirty people, averaging fifteen a night.

For twenty years, the " Norwegian Lutheran Emigrant Mission " has been connected with the " Lutheran Pilgrim House." Two doors east of the latter, the Sisters of St. Agnes conduct the " St. Leo House," which is run very much on the same principles, with the exception that it was established for German Catholics only, though no one is refused its hospitality.

The same prices are charged, and the same work is done. Guests for the Leo House wear a blue slip on their hats, and are greeted by kindly, alert Mr. Fredericks, who wears on his coat the large gold anchor of the St. Raphael Society. It is he who conducts the little bands of his countrymen to the Arizona and across the park to their temporary home.

The Leo House was established fifteen years ago, with Bishop Wigger of Newark being its president. It is maintained by a fund of voluntary contributions of twenty-five cents a year or more from the laity.

With commendable forethought, our German brethren generously contributed $50,000 toward the purchase of this immigrant home, thus enabling the Reverend director to begin his good work practically debt-free.

Standing between these two German Homes is No. 7 State Street, the home for Irish immigrant girls. Initially, in 1803, this house was one of the most handsome residences in New York.

These three houses are all that are left of a row of twelve built when State Street was the fashionable quarter of the city. No. 4 was occupied by J. Ogden, No. 6 by William Bayard, No. 12 by Samuel Cooper, and No. 7 by the well-known sugar merchant Moses Rogers, all of whose names are closely associated with the city's growth.

Perhaps the good work being carried on there now by Father Henry, Father Cahill, and Father Brosnan and their kind and trustworthy agent, Mr. Patrick McCool, contributes as much to the welfare of the great metropolis as the good work that is being carried on there by Father Henry, Father Cahill, and Father Brosnan.

The object of the Mission of Our Lady of the Rosary, stated briefly, is as follows: to establish a Catholic Bureau under the charge of a priest to protect, counsel, and supply information to the Catholic immigrants who land at Ellis Island; to give them a temporary home while waiting for their friends or looking for employment, and to give them the comfort of a chapel.

This mission was established in 1883 owing to the Irish Colonization Society's suggestion.

During the year 1882, 455,450 immigrants landed at this port. Of that vast number, it is terrifying to think of the percentage that came to harm. In May of that year, a meeting of the Irish Colonization Society was held in Chicago.

After discussing the question, the late Bishop Ryan of Buffalo laid before Cardinal McCloskey of New York a plan to ameliorate the condition of affairs, which resulted in immediately establishing the Mission of Our Lady of the Rosary, with Father John Riordan at its head.

Father Riordan's first step toward the success he later accomplished was to travel through the West and establish bureaus of information in the cities of Buffalo, Chicago, St. Louis, Denver, Omaha, Peoria, St. Paul, and Minneapolis, and have them work in harmony with his mission.

Initially, his private purse was his primary reliance, but later on, appeals to his many friends and to the charitably disposed of enabled him to gather $16,000. With this, he purchased No. 7 State Street.

Once established, the bear devoted all his time to caring for the immigrants as they landed. The daily press recorded thousands of cases in which his helping hand, held out just at the right moment, had saved many a girl from ruin.

Father Riordan continued his missionary work at Castle Garden until he died in 1887. During his four years of service, he had harbored 18,800 immigrant girls. He kept a sharp lookout for all possible and positive dangers to innocent immigrant girls on board the ship, and every offending steamship officer was made to feel the influence of the zealous priest.

Mr. McCool, to whose active sympathy and warm-hearted service thousands of girls can testify, speaks most favorably of the railroad employees on this side of the Atlantic, thus furnishing another proof of the inherent good qualities of the American man who makes it possible for a woman to travel from end to end of our broad land alone and unprotected and never be subjected to insult.

After Father Riordan's death, he was succeeded by Father Kelly, who was compelled to give up the work in a year from ill health. He was succeeded by Father Michael Callaghan, who was a life-long friend of Father Riordan's and strongly resembled the earnest founder of the mission in manner, activity, and devotion to his work.

The great Metropolitan Fair was held during the late Father Callaghan's time, which netted the mission the superb sum of forty-three thousand dollars, thus assuring its future. Father Callaghan's place has been ably filled by Father Michael Henry.

Since the mission's foundation, Mr. Patrick McCool has been its faithful and efficient secretary. His work is immense: He receives and answers an average of fifty letters a day, greets the immigrant girls as they come in, and directs the friends who come to find their sisters, their cousins, and their aunts. Still, he brings to it a trained mind, a big, warm, Irish heart, and an inborn horror of the dangers that menace unprotected womanhood.

In addition to establishing the mission itself, Father Riordan considered its connection with the St. Vincent de Paul Societies throughout the Union necessary. Fortunately, he accomplished this before he died, and the organization has extended to all the large cities of the United States.

No one outside those whose business is to take a particular interest in the immigrant can form any idea of the necessity which demands the cooperation of the St. Vincent de Paul Societies.

The number of immigrants who landed in New York in a year has reached half a million. Few of these immigrants ever traveled even a short distance from their homes until they entered the emigrant ship.

For the most part, they are entirely ignorant of the difficulties attendant upon a journey from one of the rural districts in Ireland to distant points like Chicago, St. Louis, and San Francisco and must be directed at every step. Only the good God, who watches even a sparrow's fall, knows what would become of them but for these missions and their cooperators.*

The limited scope of an article precludes much discussion of the immigration problem. The Contract Labor Law, with its advantages and disadvantages, would require a paper of its own.

The immense influx of Italians demands a solution, and that promptly, as there is not a branch of manual labor in which they are not supplanting other laborers.

* Although intended primarily for Irish and Catholic immigrant girls, this Home is nondenominational in its work. Father Henry and Mr. McCool greet many lonely Protestant girls in their kind way and care for them in the home as carefully as they do on their own. The only distinction that is made is that the Protestant girls are never asked to attend chapel services.

The ardent hope of these earnest workers is that Father Riordan's ambition will someday be realized. The golden cross above a spacious chapel will flash its welcome from far down the bay to the weary, homesick immigrants and point out the spot to all where God's good work is being carried on.

These immigrants are not cared for (or as efficiently as the Irish immigrants; one reason being the fact that out of every hundred, there are only five women, whereas among the Irish, ninety percent. Of all who come here today are girls from fifteen to forty years old, some of whom have neither friends nor relatives in this country.*

The law for deporting paupers, idiots, and disabled people is strictly carried out. Not long ago, a young man who was only a few hours off the ship was found in the street intoxicated.

He was immediately returned to Ellis Island, and the vessel that brought him had one unwilling passenger on its return trip. Sometimes, this law and its enactment have their pathetic side, as in the case of the unfortunate Armenian recently. He had been a resident of the United States for seven years and had constantly sent remittances to his little family in unhappy Armenia. Some six months ago, he went out to bring them here.

When he reached the frontier, he could not, of course, enter his own country, but he met " the wily Turk," who offered to convey his family to him, taking all his money to do it.

For months, he waited, but in vain. He had no Turk, no money, no family. Fortunately, he thought, he had saved his return ticket. Still, when he reached Ellis Island, he was deported as a pauper. However, his old employer in Worcester, Mass., offered to pay his fare to that place and would gladly take such a good worker back.

Five of his fellow compatriots pledged themselves to his support until he found work. Still, the law was imperative, and he was returned.

What phases of humanity, what little human tragedies, what comedies one sees in a day spent at Ellis Island! But running through it all, like a silver thread, is the charity, the goodwill, the kindness of one for another, the purity of heart that holds out a helping hand to the stranger within our gates.

* For a few weeks lately, two Franciscan priests from Baxter Street Church did all that energy, courage, and sympathy could do for their fellow citizens.

But as all their expenses—and they were not light: letters, meals, telegrams, etc.—came out of their own small purses, they were compelled to desist and leave the hordes of Catholic Italian immigrants unattended to save by government officials.

Helen H. Sweeney, "Handling The Immigrant at Ellis Island," The Catholic World, Vol LXIII, No. 376, July 1896.

Engaging Content and Most Interesting Aspects 📚

1️⃣ Contrasting Immigrant Classes: Steerage vs. Cabin Passengers 🚢

The opening comparison of cabin passengers and steerage passengers aboard the Lucania sets the tone for the article. It paints a vivid picture of the differences in social class and the distinct experiences between those traveling in comfort and those in overcrowded, often harsh conditions. The contrast between the wealthy, well-dressed cabin passengers and the weary, hopeful steerage immigrants highlights the stark divide between the social strata of the time.

📌 Noteworthy Image: Ellis Island, Looking East From Within the Ferry Basin, 1892-1897 – This image captures the arrival process at Ellis Island, giving readers a glimpse of the immigration infrastructure at the time, highlighting the difference in experiences for different classes of passengers.

2️⃣ The Immigrant’s Journey and Emotional Impact 🌍❤️

The article offers an intimate look into the emotional states of the immigrants—hope, fear, joy, sorrow, and homesickness—as they arrive on Ellis Island. The human side of immigration is vividly illustrated, showing immigrants as individuals, each with their own unique dreams and struggles.

📌 Noteworthy Image: Italian Immigrants Leaving The Office Of The Society For The Protection Of Italian Immigrants – This image underscores the immigrant support systems in place, specifically the protection and assistance offered to Italian immigrants arriving in America.

3️⃣ Ellis Island’s Role and Evolution 🏝️

The article delves into the history of Ellis Island, from its early use as Gibbet Island for executions to its transformation into the nation's primary immigration station. The historical context of Ellis Island's evolution provides insight into how it became the symbolic gateway to America for millions of immigrants. The article also touches on the challenges faced due to the influx of Italian immigrants, revealing the shifting patterns of immigration at the time.

4️⃣ The Immigration Process: Registration and Evaluation 📝

The article goes into great detail about the bureaucratic process immigrants faced when they arrived. From answering basic questions about name, age, occupation, and nationality to undergoing medical inspections, the routine became impersonal and mechanical, reflecting the systematic approach to managing such a large influx of people. Yet, beneath the surface, there is a strong sense of human drama as many immigrants feared deportation, being separated from loved ones, or facing the unknown.

📌 Noteworthy Image: The image of Italian immigrants leaving an office shows how organized support structures like the Society For The Protection Of Italian Immigrants helped individuals navigate the complex and often daunting immigration process.

5️⃣ The Role of Immigrant Support Agencies 🤝

The article sheds light on the efforts of organizations and missions that helped immigrants during their vulnerable arrival in the U.S. The Lutheran Pilgrim House, Norwegian Lutheran Emigrant Mission, and Mission of Our Lady of the Rosary are highlighted for their humanitarian work. These missions were instrumental in offering housing, food, financial support, and most importantly, guidance, to those who had no contacts in America.

📌 Noteworthy Image: Italian Immigrants Leaving The Office Of The Society For The Protection Of Italian Immigrants shows a glimpse of the support these organizations provided to immigrants once they disembarked, emphasizing the importance of community aid.

Educational and Historical Insights 🏫📜

This article offers invaluable historical insights into the immigrant experience in the late 19th century, making it an excellent resource for a variety of audiences:

📌 For teachers and students: The article serves as a comprehensive teaching tool, especially for those studying the history of immigration. Students can gain a deeper understanding of the emotional and societal impact of immigration, as well as the systems in place to manage the influx of people at Ellis Island. It encourages discussions on the social dynamics of immigration and the experiences of different nationalities.

📌 For genealogists: The article offers insights into the bureaucratic practices that tracked and recorded immigrants, which can help genealogists trace their family histories, especially for those of Italian descent or other immigrant groups who passed through Ellis Island. The records and processes mentioned in the article are a reminder of how important it is to track immigration documents for genealogical research.

📌 For historians: The article provides a detailed snapshot of the immigration process at Ellis Island during a period of massive influx, particularly from Italy. Historians can use this resource to explore the social dynamics, government regulations, and the human experiences that shaped the immigrant landscape in America

Final Thoughts

The article offers a rich narrative that brings the immigrant experience at Ellis Island to life, making it a valuable resource for anyone studying immigration history. It blends historical fact with personal emotion, creating a humanized version of what might otherwise be seen as a bureaucratic process.

This article serves as an excellent starting point for further research on immigration in America, and it can help educators and students better understand the personal histories behind the statistics of immigration.

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