[History of the American Negro in the Great World War by W. Allison Sweeney]@TWC D-Link book
History of the American Negro in the Great World War

CHAPTER III
16/18

In Stettin they were lodged in pig pens, and next morning were sent off by steamer to Rugen, whence they made their way to Denmark and Sweden without money or luggage.
Sweden provided them with food and free passage to the Russian frontier.

Five of our fellow-passengers went mad." The steamship Philadelphia--note the name, signifying brotherly love, so completely lost sight of in the conflict--was the first passenger liner to reach America after the beginning of the European war.

A more remarkable crowd never arrived in New York City by steamship or train.
There were men of millions and persons of modest means who had slept side by side on the journey over; voyagers with balances of tens of thousands of dollars in banks and not a cent in their pocketbooks; men able and eager to pay any price for the best accommodations to be had, yet satisfied and happy sharing bunks in the steerage.
There were women who had lost all baggage and had come alone, their friends and relatives being unable to get accommodations on the vessel.
There were children who had come on board with their mothers, with neither money nor reservations, who were happy because they had received the very best treatment from all the steamship's officers and crew and because they had enjoyed the most comfortable quarters to be had, surrendered by men who were content to sleep in most humble surroundings, or, if necessary, as happened in a few cases, to sleep on the decks when the weather permitted.
Wealthy, but without funds, many of the passengers gave jewelry to the stewards and other employees of the steamship as the tips which they assumed were expected even in times of stress.

The crew took them apologetically, some said they were content to take only the thanks of the passengers.

One woman of wealth and social position, without money, and having lost her check book with her baggage, as had many others of the passengers, gave a pair of valuable bracelets to her steward with the request that he give them to his wife.


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