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Leaving from Liverpool
Derkin & Elsk Van Den Bergh
Derkin & Elsk Van Den Bergh and their family had emigrated
from Holland to Canada via Liverpool in 1906. They stayed at the
Dominion Line boarding house in Upper Frederick Street Liverpool
for 8 days before sailing. Their departure was delayed as the ship
arrived late in Liverpool.
"March 29th 1906: after giving the boarding house a good
and careful look of inspection, the place looked really cleaner
than we thought. At the back of our dining room was a long shed
in which the Poles and Russians were served- they were all single
men. The evening meal consisted of white bread, corned beef and
tea. They gave us a big room with four beds - the sheets looked
fresh and clean. We decided to stay together, although four beds
for fourteen people was no luxury."
"March 30th: breakfast consisted of white bread, jam and
coffee, but a complete absence of plates and an unfresh looking
table cover did not help us enjoy our food. After breakfast was
over we went into the centre of Liverpool - what a busy place
and what traffic. If we could imagine Liverpool without fog and
smoke it would be an impressive city. Now we go to the harbour
- thousands of heavy loaded freight wagons roll with ear deafening
noise over cobbled streets. It swarms with many emigrants."
"Friday 6th April: just after midnight someone from the
steam ship office comes storming in and announces that we all
must be ready to leave at 4am. Finally there appear big carriages.
The street is crowded with emigrants. Passengers are packed as
herrings in a barrel into the carriages, baggage and all."
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Liverpool