 |
| STEAMSHIP "SS ELBE" |
| The express steamer "Elbe" (1881-1895) The first express steamer of the Nordeutascher Lloyd, the "Elbe". This ship combined speed with comfort and was designed to give passengers in 1st and 2nd class considerably more space. The designer, Johann G. Poppe, was the first to realize the idea of a "floating luxury hotel". At the beginning of the 1880's NDL was able to offer several departures a week on the "ELBE" and her sister ships, the most frequent and comfortable service between New York and the Continent. The "ELBE" was virtually always fully booked. She also went on three voyages to Australia. The "ELBE" sank following a collision with a British steamship in the North Sea in 1895. 332 people lost their lives. Shipyard: John Elder & C0., Glasgow Construction Date: 1881 Length: 127.46 meters Width: 13.72 meters Gross Tonnage: 4,510 gross register tons Passengers: 321 in 1st and 2nd class, 796 in steerage class |
| Photograph of the ELBE, about 1890. |
| Passengers in steerage class did not enjoy great luxury but their accommodation was no long provisional. A minimum degree of hygiene was possible and with a considerably shorter crossing time of 8 days, the voyage no longer filled people with dread. In steerage class there were iron bedsteads and space for 796 adult passengers. Bathrooms and toilets were two floors up on the lower promenade deck. Meals were eaten in the cabins. the cabins were disinfected after every crossing and the mattresses changed. Since the bedsteads were not permanent fixtures, freight could also be taken on board on the return voyage to Europe. |
| Declaration of Intention Form |
 |
| Here is the copy of George's Declaration of Intention papers. Dated June 26, 1918 |
| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DECLARATON OF INTENTION Invalid for all purposes seven years after the date herof State of Illinois In the Superior Court of Cook County, County of Cook George Krappmann, aged 38 years, occupation Laundry Driver, do declare on oath that my personal description is: Color white, complexion, fair, height 5 ft 6 inches, weight 154 pounds, color of hair, Brown, color of eyes Blue other distinctive marks, none I was born in Grafenhausling, Germany on the 22 day of May, anno Domini 1880; I now reside at 1737 Estes Ave., Chicago, IL migrated to the United States of America from (Blank) on the vessel Elbe; my last foreign residence was Grafenhausling, Germany: I am maried; the name of my wife is Katherine; she was born at Chicago and now resides at Chicago, IL It is my bona fide intention to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign princek potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particulary to (Blank) (Blank), of whom I am now a subject; I arrived at the port of (Blank), in the State of (Blank), on or about the 21 day of May, anno Domini 1902, I am not an anarchist; I am not a polygmist nor a beliver in the practice of polygamy; and it is my intention in good faith to become a citizen of the United States of America and to permanently reside therein; SO HELP ME GOD. signed by George Krappmann Subscribed and sworn to before me in the office of the Clerk of said Court at Chicago, Ill, this 26 day of June anno Domini 1918 signed by John Kjellendar (Clerk of the Superior Court) and L.H. Hatley, Deputy Clerk |