Steerage Passenger Conditions by Hannah O'Connell Hugo’s description of his time spent as a steerage passenger was modest in comparison to the inhumane conditions which emigrants had to endure. Two years prior to Hugo departing Finland, United States officials traveled undercover, across the Atlantic on all major steamship liners, posing as European immigrants to observe the conditions of the steerage, the cheapest accommodation available. What they witnessed was described as “evil and revolting.” The book Finns in America, described the Finns departed from Hangö “whose passports, luggage, and tickets were examined as if they were taken from beasts.” The steerage was divided into three compartments—families, single women, and single men. Hugo rode SS New York which could accommodate up to 1,000 passengers in steerage. Though the ship was outfitted with running hot and cold water and electric ventilation, it was insufficient in serving the large number of immigrants on board. Each passenger was provided a berth, also known as a bunk-bed. Berths were two tiers, each bed had about two and a half feet of space above, six feet long, and two feet wide. Hugo’s mattress was most likely made of straw or seaweed, with a life preserver for his pillow. There were no hooks to hang his possessions, and no space to store his belongings. His berth would have served as his bed and dining area.
Sea sickness was the most common illness for the immigrant passengers. There was a hospital on the ship, but seasickness was not a condition that was treated. There were not enough washrooms to accommodate all the steerage passengers, and there were no sick buckets provided. The floors were usually wet, and unwashed. The vomit from the seasick usually stayed on the wood floor for a long time before being cleaned. To get service from the crew, immigrants would offer bribes. If the weather permitted, Hugo and other immigrants could find relief from the squalid conditions on the top deck. This was in stark contrast with the first class accommodations, which had a library, smoking room, and a large dining hall, seating over 500 passengers, with a massive glass dome to let in natural light. Food Available Onboard Food on the ship was usually poorly prepared herring and potatoes, or some other type of meat. Coffee and tea were also provided. The portions were sometimes small. Other times, the food was so old passengers could not eat it and half of the prepared food would be thrown into the sea. Fruit and vegetables were not served. Though fruit could be purchased at the commissary, most often immigrants were coming to America for economic reasons and,thus, could not afford such luxuries Left: SS New York Right: Immigrants coming to US
Royal Museums Greenwich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Library of Congress no. USZ62-7307
