118: “The Island of Hope and Tears:” Ellis Island
History That Doesn't Suck
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Traveling in Steepage
Steerage passengers face constant sexual harassment. Many can't figure out how to work the too few toilets, so they just relieve themselves wherever. Showering and laundry aren't happening either. Some post 19 hundred ships have new steerage ak a third class which divides steerage into shared rooms for eight or less people. But these ships are rare, and you and i aren't that lucky. To give but one example, a cholera outbreak sends 26 of the moravias 350 ellis island bound steerage passengers to their watery graves on a late 18 92 voyage. Twent three of them are infants. Jews staying cosher basically live on water and bread all the way
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