Now that I know when and how my Great Grandfather Andrew Alfred Baker immigrated from Germany, there's only the demand to know more. Where in Germany did he live the first eight years of his life? What fate did his father meet? Who was his great grandfather?
For now, the ship story fulfills that thirst. The ship he came on his it's own story too.
The Salier was in service from 1874-1896. It was a combination sailing and steamer ship.
Andrew Alfred, his mother, and siblings were in steerage which, according to one source, could have been as many as 500 people. Yikes!
Look at that ship. It's hard to imagine being an eight-year-old boy and stuck under deck with hundreds of people for such a long journey.
It sure makes my gripes about the family station wagon on vacation seem petty.
The Salier made the news in 1896. It wrecked off the coast of Spain and 281 people drowned. Sad.
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