SS Werra Passenger List – A Transatlantic Crossing of Diplomats, Musicians, and Migrants (May 1890)

📌 Explore the 3 May 1890 SS Werra passenger list from Bremen to New York. Featuring imperial musicians, British officers, and Central European elites, this archive is a must for historians, educators, and genealogists.

Front Cover, Cabin Passenger List for the SS Werra for the North German Lloyd, Departing on Saturday, 3 May 1890 from Bremen to New York, Commanded by Captain Richard Bussius. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 2011335d2e

🛳️ Review and Summary: SS Werra Passenger List – A Voyage of Diplomats, Artists, and Dreamers (3 May 1890)

📜 For Teachers, Students, Historians, Genealogists, and Maritime Scholars

🚢 The SS Werra – An Overview of a Transatlantic Icon

The SS Werra, operated by Norddeutscher Lloyd, was launched in 1882 as part of a new class of express steamers designed to serve the bustling Bremen–Southampton–New York route. With an elegant profile, four decks, and robust German engineering, the Werra could carry hundreds across the Atlantic at speeds nearing 16–17 knots. She embodied the shift from mass emigration vessels to more comfortable, modern liners catering to professionals, merchants, and cosmopolitan elites.

🗓️ Voyage Date: 3 May 1890

📍 Route: Bremen ➡ Southampton ➡ New York
👨‍✈️ Commander: Captain Richard Bussius

This voyage, just before the height of the Ellis Island immigration period, captures a unique cross-section of global society—from Austrian composers and military officers to American businesspeople and Viennese intelligentsia.

Senior Officers and Staff

1. Commander: Captain Richard Bussius
2. First Officer: W. Meissel
3. Second Officer: E. Woltersdorff
4. Third Officer: H. Morgenstern
5. Fourth Officer: H. Kenter
6. Physician: Dr. J. Schlensog
7. First Engineer: F. Ziganke
8. Second Engineer: C. Ahrens
9. Third Engineer: R. Tesch
10. Third Engineer: A. Berkelmann
11. Fourth Engineer: J. Siegl
12. Fourth Engineer: P. Arndt
13. Fourth Engineer: H. Pluge
14. Provision Master and Purser: H. Bultmann
15. Chief Steward: C. Meyer
16. Second Steward: D. Sallmann
17. Second Steward: L. Böse
18. Chief Cook: W. Schaeffer
19. Second Cook: H. Dantz
20. Second Cook: O. Hahn

List of Cabin Passengers

1. Mr. Martin J. Ahrens
   [New York]
2. Mr. A. B. Anderson
   [Chicago]
3. Mr. Annear
   [Southampton]
4. Henry Allesheimer
   [New York]
5. Mrs. Ida Becker
   [New York]
6. Miss Ida Becker
   [New York]
7. Miss Toni Burkert
   [Hoboken]
8. Mr. Julius Brink
   [Hannover]
9. Mr. August Beral
   [Berlin]
10. Mr. Wilh. Borch
    [Copenhagen]
11. Mr. Win. Baruch
    [Kansas City, Mo]
12. Mr. friedr. Bärenwalde
    [Wien]
13. Mr. Martin Ballmann
    [Wien]
14. Mr. C. T. Beard
    [New York]
15. Miss F. Comly
    [Philadelphia]
16. Mr. Coward
    [Southampton]
17. Mr. Edwin S Cattley
    [York, England]
18. Mr. Jaroslau Czerny
    [Wien]
19. Mr. Lieutenant H. L. Croker
    [London]
20. Mr. Franz Dupke
    [Wien]
21. Mr. George G David
    [New York]
22. Mr. Franz Dahl
    [Charlottenbuig]
23. Mr. Max Döschner
    [Dresden]
24. Mrs. A Edward
    [usa]
25. Mrs. Auguste Ernst
    [Langensalza]
26. Miss Emmy Ernst
    [Langensalza]
27. Mr. Fritz Ernst
    [Langensalza]
28. Mr. August Ernst
    [Posen]
29. Mrs. Valeria Ernst
    [Posen]
30. Mr. Georg Eilers
    [Bramsche, Hann.]
31. Mr. Georg Ehrhorn
    [Wien]
32. Mr. Oluf Ekedahl
    [Chicago]
33. Mr. Richard Fricke
    [Wien]
34. Mr. F. O. Gillespie
    [New York]
35. Mr. J. A. Gillespie
    [Montreal]
36. Miss Louise Günthel
    [Plagwitz, Leipzig]
37. Mr. Otto Gebhardt
    [Wien]
38. Mr. Paul Grzybowski
    [Chicago]
39. Mrs. Clara Grzybowski and Children
    [Chicago]
40. Mr. H, L. Graef
    [Denver, Col.]
41. Mr. A. Holzmann
    [Berlin]
42. Mr. H. Hughes
    [New York]
43. Miss Franz Hessekiehl
    [Frankfurt]
44. Miss Sophie Hirsch
    [Merchingen, Baden.]
45. Mr. Emil Hoffmann
    [Wien]
46. Mr. Carl Harder
    [Wien]
47. Mr. Josef Homole
    [Wien]
48. Mr. Werner Herhold
    [Hannover]
49. Mr. Carl Heubert
    [Wien]
50. Mr. Johann Heihal
    [Wien]
51. Mr. Fritz Heiland
    [Wien]
52. Heir Hugo Hammann
    [Wien]
53. Mrs. Lina Hassenteufel
    [New York]
54. Mr. Hotchings
    [Southampton]
55. Miss Elisabeth Jaentsch
    [Berlin]

56. Mr. Adolph Kratky
    [Wien]
57. Heir Heinrich Kroger
    [Wien]
58. Mr. Alex Kraus
    [Wien]
59. Mr. Emanuel Knoll
    [Wien]
60. Mr. Franz Kaspar
    [Wien]
61. Mr. Franz Kraus
    [Wien]
62. Mr. Leopold Kruspel
    [Wien]
63. Mr. Theodor Kornemann
    [Pretzsch, Sachs.]
64. frau Anna Kornemann
    [Pretzsch, Sachs.]
65. Mr. Louis Kern
    [Mergentheiin.]
66. Miss Jane Latham
    [New York]
67. Mr. John Loebert
    [New York]
68. Mr. Aug. Liepold
    [New York]
69. Miss Clara Militzer
    [Forst.]
70. Mr. Franz Mührenberg
    [Wien]
71. Mr. Georg Chr. Munk
    [Plagwitz-Leipzig]
72. Mr. August Mentschek
    [Wien]
73. Mr. Konrad Mondl
    [Wien]
74. Mr. Carl Meyer
    [Wien]
75. Mr. Rud. Mayrhofer
    [Wien]
76. Miss Clara Olsen
    [Copenhagen]
77. Mr. Carl Pernet
    [Wien]
78. Mr. Wenzel Pospischil
    [Wien]
79. Mr. Ferdinand Paul
    [Wien]
80. Miss Mathildc Pistor
    [Warschau.]
81. Mr. Adolph Rubenson
    [Chicago]
82. Mr. K. u. K. Österr
    [Hofball-Musik]
83. Director Ed. Strauss and Diener
    [Wien]
84. Mr. Albert Steffahn
    [Wien]
85. Mr. Joh. Siegellack
    [Velbert bei Elberfeld.]
86. Mrs. Anna Siegellack and Children
    [Velbert bei Elberfeld.]
87. Mr. Paul Stephan
    [Breslau.]
88. Mrs. G. A. Springer
    [New York]
89. Miss A. Springer
    [New York]
90. Miss C. M. Springer
    [New York]
91. Mr. G. A. Springer
    [New York]
92. Miss Carolina Schocken
    [Bojanowo]
93. Miss Frieda Schorch
    [Merchingen, Baden.]
94. Miss Sophie Strauss
    [Hardheim]
95. Mr. Sebastian Sende
    [Wien]
96. Mr. Johann Scherer
    [Wien]
97. Mr. Carl Schweigel
    [Wien]
98. Mrs. Clara Sörensen and Children
    [Copenhagen]
99. Mr. Chr. Schöllple
    [Copenhagen]
100. Mr. Joseph Stanek
     [Wien]
101. Mr. Gustav Starke
     [Wien]
102. Mr. Soldau
     [Berlin]
103. Mr. A L. Traeger
     [New-Haven, Con.]
104. Mr. Paul Thalmann
     [Wien]
105. Mr. Albin Thiersch
     [Wien]
106. Mr. August Voigtländer
     [Wien]
107. Mr. Jacob Vogt
     [Wien]
108. Miss, Lisette Westheimer
     [Merchingen.]
109. Mr. Albert Walther
     [Wien]
110. Mr. Conrad Wepf
     [Nassau.]
111. Mr. E. G. Wilkenson
     [Berlin]
112. Miss Josefine Zürn
     [Würzburg.]
113. Mr. Rudolph Zeidler
     [Wien]

List of Passengers, Page 1 of 3, SS Werra Cabin Passenger List, 3 May 1890. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 227cd4a52a

List of Passengers, Page 2 of 3, SS Werra Cabin Passenger List, 3 May 1890. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 227cd75e4d

List of Passengers, Page 3 of 3, SS Werra Cabin Passenger List, 3 May 1890. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 227cea030e

List of Senior Officers and Staff, SS Werra Cabin Passenger List, 3 May 1890. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 227cfaa8ac

Back Cover, SS Werra Cabin Passenger List, 3 May 1890. (Norddeutscher Lloyd) | GGA Image ID # 1dcbf92ef9

📋 Notable Individuals and Social Context

🎼 Director Ed. Strauss – Imperial Hofball-Musik

Perhaps the most distinguished name aboard, Eduard Strauss (1835–1916), the younger brother of Johann Strauss II, was director of the k.k. Hofballmusik (Imperial Court Ball Orchestra) in Vienna. A pillar of Austria’s musical heritage, he was returning to the U.S., likely for a concert tour or cultural engagement. His presence underscores the ship’s cosmopolitan atmosphere.

🪖 Lieutenant H. L. Croker – British Army, London

A representative of the British military elite, Croker's presence hints at diplomatic or observational duties in the U.S.—common during a time of global imperial expansion and increased military diplomacy.

🎩 Mr. A. B. Anderson (Chicago), Mr. H. L. Graef (Denver), Mr. C. T. Beard (New York)

These American passengers likely reflect industrial or commercial ties to Europe, especially as Chicago and Denver were booming post–Gilded Age cities.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Mrs. Clara Grzybowski and Children (Chicago)

Part of the growing German-American immigrant community in the Midwest, Clara’s listing with her children indicates family migration or reuniting with relatives—key points for genealogical research.

🎻 K.u.K. Hofball-Musik Ensemble & Diener (Vienna)

The “Hofball-Musik” designation denotes Austria’s imperial court music ensemble. Their presence transforms the passenger list into a cultural artifact, showcasing the transatlantic flow of high culture.

🧕 Miss Carolina Schocken (Bojanowo), Miss Sophie Hirsch (Merchingen)

Likely from Jewish communities in Central Europe, these women may have been part of the broader Jewish migration wave in the late 19th century, especially from areas under Prussian or Austro-Hungarian rule.

🧑‍🏫 Mr. Paul Grzybowski, Mr. Georg Chr. Munk, Mr. Josef Homole (Vienna)

Judging by their frequent Vienna listing and lone travels, these men may have been academics, civil servants, or artists—figures emblematic of the intellectual ferment in fin-de-siècle Vienna.

📸 Noteworthy Images 📸

🖼️ Front Cover, SS Werra Passenger List | GGA Image ID # 2011335d2e

A classic example of North German Lloyd’s branding, presenting the voyage as dignified and orderly.

🖼️ Passenger List Pages (1–3) | GGA Image IDs # 227cd4a52a, # 227cd75e4d, # 227cea030e

Names and hometowns are elegantly handwritten or typed, useful for handwriting analysis, surname research, and immigration case studies.

🖼️ Senior Officers and Staff | GGA Image ID # 227cfaa8ac

Full transparency in operations—a maritime historian’s dream! The listing provides ranks, responsibilities, and surname spellings.

🖼️ Back Cover – Official Closure of the Document | GGA Image ID # 1dcbf92ef9

Preserves typography, spacing, and design conventions of late 19th-century German ocean liner documentation.

🎓 Relevance for Teachers, Students, and Genealogists

👩‍🏫 For Teachers & Students:

🔹 Illustrates pre-Ellis Island transatlantic migration patterns

🔹 Offers context for lectures on cultural diplomacy, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and maritime technology

🔹 Supports assignments in primary source analysis, global migration, and fin-de-siècle history

🧬 For Genealogists:

🔹 Rare dual-language manifest (often English/German)

🔹 Traces regional origins (Vienna, Leipzig, Copenhagen, Warsaw)

🔹 Documents familial units vs. lone migrants for demographic studies

⚓ For Maritime Historians:

🔹 Reveals operational structure of Norddeutscher Lloyd in 1890

🔹 Includes detailed staff listings—a rarity for cabin-class voyages

🔹 Highlights elite-level sea travel between Europe and America

🧠 Final Thoughts: Why This Passenger List Matters

The SS Werra’s 3 May 1890 voyage is more than a passenger list—it’s a microcosm of an Atlantic world in flux. As empires flourished, industries expanded, and cultures converged, steamships like the Werra were the arteries of modernity.

With its impressive cast of cabin passengers—ranging from imperial court musicians to military officers and American businessmen—this voyage represents transatlantic society at its cosmopolitan best. It's not just who was traveling, but why and how they traveled, that makes this list so historically meaningful.

💡 Encourage students and researchers to mine this document for names, connections, and stories—they’re all here, waiting to be discovered.

📚 Dive deeper with the GG Archives for essays, immigration case studies, and classroom exploration of global migration and ocean travel! 🌍🛳️✍️