USAT MERRITT 1923 ... On July 1, 1923, the army transport ship USAT Merritt out of Manila, Philippines, docked at Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay. It carried five hundred and twenty-six Russia "boat people" survivors of some seven thousand who had fled Vladivostok eight months previously as victorious Communist forces advanced on the last out post of resistance to the Bolshevik revolution.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Monday, December 18, 2017
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Monday, December 11, 2017
Monday, October 30, 2017
Russians, Departing on Transport for Mainland, Thank People of Hawaii
Honolulu Advertiser
June 23, 1923
Hollywood missed a rare chance yesterday morning for filming a "mob scene" of foreigners when the 450 Russian refugees who fled from the red terror in Siberia, marched off the transport pier and entered automobiles supplied by Honolulans for two hour ride around the city. Sailors of the czar's old navy, officers of the old imperialistic and later revolutionary regimes, those who had once been well to do, and those who were and would be again artisans, mechanics, professional men, together with women and young people, women who typify the beauty of Russia, others with real broad faced ox-like features of the peasant class, all of whom walked down the gangway from the US Army Transport Merritt, which is conveying them from Manila to San Francisco.
Picturesque "Mob"
The were a "mob" that the movie directors would have grabbed as almost any European scene with a bunch of Russians, or those from its provinces, as the garb was distinctly that of Russia. The sailor's and the soldiers still clung to their dinky little naval and military caps, the sailors to their bell mouth trousers, the soldiers to their boots with their trouser cuffs stuffed into them. Soldiers and peasants wore the belted tunics, peasants even the women marched with military precision, for military life followed them from the cradle. All were more or less drab garb, with little or no money, and no homes in Russia to depend upon with the future still hazy and relatives dead, some butchered the ruling regime in Russia. There role as refugees has been a series of mishaps.
Morale Hard Hit
Their morale has been hard hit and is now low so others aboard the Merritt state, and so ask, "Why shouldn't it be? After all they have gone through, with nothing to do and knowing that they have not even a country they can call their own."
Even pleasures, they seem to take seriously. Although they saw from the Merritt's decks auto after auto line up on the streets, and were informed that they would be taken out on an auto ride, yet they came off the steamer with stolid faces. There were some trepidation among many. Some of the girls clung to their relatives, others to stalwarts young male companions of their exile.
With uncertainty ahead of them for years, their entry into the street yesterday still held some uncertainty, for there were soldiers everywhere. They passed along through a sort of human lane, and there were soldiers everywhere. They have seen nothing but soldiers in a more or less war-like attitude since 1914, nine long years, and often they were herded between lines of soldiers to fate they knew not what.
June 23, 1923
Hollywood missed a rare chance yesterday morning for filming a "mob scene" of foreigners when the 450 Russian refugees who fled from the red terror in Siberia, marched off the transport pier and entered automobiles supplied by Honolulans for two hour ride around the city. Sailors of the czar's old navy, officers of the old imperialistic and later revolutionary regimes, those who had once been well to do, and those who were and would be again artisans, mechanics, professional men, together with women and young people, women who typify the beauty of Russia, others with real broad faced ox-like features of the peasant class, all of whom walked down the gangway from the US Army Transport Merritt, which is conveying them from Manila to San Francisco.
Picturesque "Mob"
The were a "mob" that the movie directors would have grabbed as almost any European scene with a bunch of Russians, or those from its provinces, as the garb was distinctly that of Russia. The sailor's and the soldiers still clung to their dinky little naval and military caps, the sailors to their bell mouth trousers, the soldiers to their boots with their trouser cuffs stuffed into them. Soldiers and peasants wore the belted tunics, peasants even the women marched with military precision, for military life followed them from the cradle. All were more or less drab garb, with little or no money, and no homes in Russia to depend upon with the future still hazy and relatives dead, some butchered the ruling regime in Russia. There role as refugees has been a series of mishaps.
Morale Hard Hit
Their morale has been hard hit and is now low so others aboard the Merritt state, and so ask, "Why shouldn't it be? After all they have gone through, with nothing to do and knowing that they have not even a country they can call their own."
Even pleasures, they seem to take seriously. Although they saw from the Merritt's decks auto after auto line up on the streets, and were informed that they would be taken out on an auto ride, yet they came off the steamer with stolid faces. There were some trepidation among many. Some of the girls clung to their relatives, others to stalwarts young male companions of their exile.
With uncertainty ahead of them for years, their entry into the street yesterday still held some uncertainty, for there were soldiers everywhere. They passed along through a sort of human lane, and there were soldiers everywhere. They have seen nothing but soldiers in a more or less war-like attitude since 1914, nine long years, and often they were herded between lines of soldiers to fate they knew not what.
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Russians Aboard USAT Merritt Under U.S. Laws
Admiral Stark Issues Strict Order
Upon Departure from Olongapo
Prior to the departure of the Russian refugees from Olongapo, Philippines on May 26, 1923 the following order was issued by Admiral Stark, who remained behind:
"1, During the whole passage all of the Russians must comply with military laws, rules, and regulations."
"2. In all cases of coaling or shifting coal or cargo, all of the men, without exception, must give a hand, seniors as leasers, juniors as laborers."
"3. All men also must help daily in cleaning up the ship."
"4. All those having firearms are to hand them over to the ship commander promptly and unquestionably. A receipt will be given and the arms returned on arrival in the United States."
"5. Keeping and consuming of alcoholic beverages is strictly and categorically forbidden."
Thousands of immigrants, some Russians included, are saving money to pay their passage to America. You are going free of charge. You should always remember this, and be thankful to Americans for their kindness to you with such treatment. The only way for you to pay them back is by being of irreproachable conduct and by carrying out the work of the ship's routine as directed by the authorities. You must remember that by your conduct during the passage you will be building up your recommendations and references, and consequently you will be met over there, in America, accordingly. Every one should be imbued with the sentiment of duty, and remember that any offense committed by one of you will be a dirty spot on the conduct of the whole group and bring harm to all Russians.
Honolulu Star Bulletin June 20, 1923
Monday, February 20, 2017
Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation
Monday, January 16, 2017
Commemorative Medal
"In the memory of our fathers who left their motherland forever." These words on this remarkable medal commemorate the 90th year anniversary of The Great Exodus of the White Russians from Vladivostok, October 22, 1922.
The artist is Kyra Tatarinoff, she and her husband Peter are members of the Russian Historical Society in Sydney, Australia. Peter's father, Sergei Tatarenoff, participated in this historical event. After spending come time in the Philippines, when the opportunity came to immigrate to Australia, he took it. This would be his new country and final home.
Monday, January 9, 2017
Holy Trinity Cathedral
The oldest Russian Orthodox parish in the western United States, founded in 1868. The cathedral was built in 1909 by the late Patriarch Tikhon of Russia, then Arch Bishop of San Francisco, after the original structure was destroyed during the 1906 earthquake. Expanded in 1934, restored and remodeled in 1979.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
10 Year Reunion Photo
Picture taken in 1933, showing passengers of the USAT Merritt celebrating the ten year anniversary of arrival on July 1, 1923.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)