Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo "Seascape"
The S/S Potsdam was constructed for the Holland America Line by Blohm and Voss in Hamburg, Germany - launched in 1900. The ship was 168 meters long (550 feet) and weighted 12.6 tons DWT. It had twin propellers and capable of up to 15 knots, a disappointment for the designers. The ship could transport 2300 passengers. In 1915, the Swedish American Line purchased the ship and it was renamed the S/S Stockholm. One of its most notable cruises occurred in 1917 as the Stockholm brought home from "The Great War" one thousand African American and Puerto Rican soldiers of the 369th New York Regiment, the "Harlem Hellfighters" - so designated "Hellfighters" by the Germans. The 369th ". . never lost a man to capture, lost a trench or a foot of ground to the enemy."*
In 1923, at age 19, John Oskar Lindell, my father migrated to America. The following is from his travel report to his father and mother.
S/S Stockholm; June 23, 1923 - Midsummer's Eve, 1 o'clock.
Today we have thought about going ashore to pick some birch leaves. I just wonder where dad has picked leaves to dress the maypole this year. You cannot ask for a more pleasant weather than we have today. It is evident that we are heading south, it gets warmer everyday! We have received a radio message telling that a heat wave is passing America. I am seriously thinking of sending a radio telegram to you in a few days. I can imagine how happy you would be, 10 words costs 6 crowns. The ship does hardly dive at all today; we have the best imaginable weather. We had rough seas for a couple of days, when the ship rolled for sure. If she starts to roll now it would not affect me at all.
A ship like this is not as comfortably fitted as you would think. There is no room for writing; one has to write in the 3rd class bar on the serving table, which is often very dirty with beer, orange cordial and cigarette ashes. The best way is to lie bent forward and write against the leather sofas, provided that you have a book underneath of course, if not it is more difficult. When the passengers get sick they crawl up on deck where they lie in big heaps on tarpaulins like lifeless, most of them on their stomach, which is said to be the best. Those suffering from severe seasickness remain in their cabins. You should not think that everybody is sick, far from that, those who have avoided being sick are real noisy indeed, they sing, dance, play cards and tell stories. All games with money involved are strictly forbidden. You are not allowed to stay in your cabin during the day and I don't want to either. There is a terrible smell that I don't like and some surfaces are freshly painted too. On Midsummer's Day we had rough sea and on Monday as well. Thus I did not feel inclined to write on any of those days.
Tuesday between 3 and 4 PM.
On Midsummer's Eve there was dancing on the deck and cinema in the dining hall. We have movies a couple of times per week. Every afternoon between 4 and 5 a string-band of 6 men plays fine music I can tell you. I sleep in a 6-bed cabin on the starboard side in the stern of the ship. As cabin pals I have an 18 year old boy from Gotland. He travels to his father in the USA, whom he has never met; further two boys about 25 years old from Norrsunda in Gastrikland; an American sailor and finally a boy who has been employed by the Hamburger Brewery in Stockholm, working in the office. He travels to his brother who owns a cutlery factory in Rockford, ILL. Decent boys all of them. A 6-bed cabin is very narrow, but now I am used to it so it's OK. In the morning we have to dress two at a time. Two of the six hangers are on the inside of the door. At the ship's owners office I saw pictures of 4-bed cabins but not of any 6-bed cabin, because they don't want to show how narrow they are. Today I am sitting in the gentleman's saloon, which is rather good. The band plays while I am sitting here and they play beautifully, believe me. The American sat down right opposite me just now, shirt sleeves rolled up, his arms covered with tattoos.
Please excuse my handwriting! Some people say that we won't be allowed to go ashore until Monday while US citizens would be let ashore already on Sunday. In any case we will arrive on Friday. We start getting restless on board. We want ashore as soon as possible, we have had enough of sea journey. We were many who thought this would be a pleasure trip, but you could hardly call it that. The days are getting nice now, we had +20 C in the shade (68 F) and there is a strong wind. The musicians are just now playing a charming piece of music. When I get up on deck I will ask "Hamburger" about its name, he will know that as he like me loves music. "Hamburger's real name is Knut Palmgren, he has a small . . .(?)
The mist does not become less dense until now. Otherwise the weather is very fine. The sun is warming and no wind. We have nearly +25 C in the shade (77 F). Not until today did I touch the food I brought. Our group had a party on the stern, we ate butter and bread, anchovies, sausage, smoked ham, cheese and crisp rolls. I have not tasted the cordial. They have been kind enough to withdraw the dessert from the dinner menu except on Sundays of course when we get a dessert and one beer each.
* Wikipedia - see S/S Potsdam, S/S Stockholm; see also The 369th New York Regiment.;
Ellis Island Foundation.
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