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America
As the Baltic steamed through the Golden Gate into San Francisco Bay, Seamus' excitement was almost more than he could contain. He was glad that he had been able to get a place right on the railings of the starboard side. As he looked over at the City of San Francisco, he saw so many new buildings and structures, more than he had ever seen in his life. The Valley of Cummeragh was out in the back and beyond, but this place seemed to be the very center of the world. Seamus thought that he had never seen such a magnificent sight on all his life. As he looked over at San Francisco he saw the twin towers of a church. Painted a bright and clean white, they were rising high on the landscape and looked like a mighty Cathedral. Seamus still had no idea of where Port Costa was, but he hoped that it was nearby as he wanted to explore this great American city.
When Seamus looked along the shore, he saw canons sticking out of some of the walls of the buildings. Along the top of the walls, he then saw men walking back and forth carrying guns on their shoulders. This must be, Seamus presumed, some kind of army place. Seamus would have to ask Paul Walsh about this.
At one point Seamus felt a slight bump, as though something had hit the ship. He looked down to the water and saw several small boats coming along side of the Baltic. Seamus could see some of the officers and sailors of the Baltic and when they did not appear to be concerned, he figured that this was the way it was done when a ship came into port. He would also have to remember to ask Paul Walsh about these small boats sometime.
"America! We're in America!" Seamus said as turned towards Pat Mahon. "Can you believe it?"
By now even Pat Mahon was smiling. He just shook his head and said to Seamus,
"This is something, this is really something!"
Seamus looked around for the other roommates from 104, but they had disappeared into the crowded deck. Seamus felt bad that he had not been able to say what he thought would have been a proper good-bye, but it was too late for that now. They were on their own.
As Seamus continued to take in all of the sights and sounds of the San Francisco Bay, he cried out, waving his hands towards the heavens,
"Oh God, this is so beautiful! Thank you dear God!"
Pretty soon the small boats along side the Baltic started to push the Baltic towards an island that came up on the left side of the Baltic. Seamus wondered what was on the other side so he pulled Pat away from his place at the rail and said,
"Come on, Pat, I think we need to get to the other side of the boat."
By now it seemed as though the entire third class was out on the deck. For himself, Seamus wondered how anyone could even think about being indoors and miss all of these beautiful sights. They were missing everything. Seamus and Pat pushed and shoved their way to the other side of the boat and were able to secure a spot ont he rail. From there they could see a sign that read,
Welcome to
ANGEL ISLAND
United States of America
Department of Immigration
On either side of the sign flew the American flag, though they were much bigger flags than the ones that flew at the office of the American Agent in Queenstown. Seamus thought that this must be the most fantastic sight possible. He was really in America! He sighed and started to say something to Pat, but the words escaped him. He just could not believe that he was really in America.
Gently, ever so gently the Baltic pulled along side the dock at Angel Island. Seamus watched as sailors from the Baltic tossed heavy ropes to workers on the dock. Who then very precisely tied the ropes of huge metal posts. All of a sudden he heard a loud splash of water. Pat heard it too and said,
"Well, they must have dropped anchor. This must be the end of the line for us Seamus. I wonder when he get off the boat"
Seamus and Pat watched as the workers on the dock moved a long walkway into position and then secure it with smaller ropes. Pretty soon a finely dressed sailor headed down the walkway and presented some papers to a very official looking man. Seamus wondered if this man was some kind of policeman from the American government. The man smiled at finely dressed sailor and shook his hands. Seamus said to Pat,
"That must be the captain of this boat. I wonder what he is up to and when they will let us off the boat! I can't wait!"
"Well, my friend, I suspect that we are going to have to wait. I get they let the fancy people from first class off first and then they will allow the likes of us off."
Seamus knew that Pat was most likely correct, but he was still too excited looking around at his new home to be worried about when he would be able to actually set foot for the first time on American soil. He thought of the soil that he had from his father's grave in Old Dromid Cemetery back home and hoped that he Pa was still watching over him in this new place.
After watching the first class passengers leave the Baltic for about thirty minutes, a sailor came to the third class deck and asked for the peoples' attention. When things were fairly quiet he explained the immigration procedures that would be followed. Seamus, Pat, and the rest of third class was told that they would proceed to a stairway where they would be led to an area in the front of the boat. Once there, someone from the Baltic's staff would be at a small table. Each person, young and old alike, would have their names checked against the master list and then they would be given a blue piece of paper with their name written on it. String would be attached to the paper so that each person could wear the paper around his or her necks. They were to keep this paper around their necks until the American government people allowed them out of the front of the building that they saw on the other side of the dock. Once outside of the building they were free to go wherever they wanted to go. If someone was meeting them, that was where they would be waiting.
"Any questions then?"
As anxious as Seamus was to get off the boat, he was doubly grateful that nobody had a question. He was even more grateful when the sailor from the Baltic started to get people lined up that he and Pat were towards the front of the line. He would be among the first to get off the Baltic and set foot on America! It was really, really happening!
Seamus and the rest of the third class passengers were led by what seemed to Seamus to be a round about route to the deck where they would get their name tag and finally be taken off the Baltic. When they finally arrived at the point of disembarking Seamus noticed that there were three tables set up to pass out the name tags. This was a relief to him since he had thought that this might be a very time consuming process. Seamus and Pat were able to go to the tables together and for that Seamus was grateful. As excited as he was about being in America, he was also nervous and it was good to have a friend nearby.
The official at the table examined the papers that Seamus and Pat showed him and then compared them to the list that he had on the table. When he seemed satisfied that all was in order, he wrote their names on the blue cards and told them to put them around their necks and to head down the walkway. From there one of the American officials would direct them to their proper destination.
With his official blue American card around his neck Seamus felt much taller than his five feet ten inches. He was so proud of himself and that he was finally, finally setting foot on American soil. He wished that his mother could be here to watch him begin his new life, but he also knew that she had to stay home with the rest of his family. As he walked to the metal walkway leading to the dock, he paused for a moment and thought of his father,
"Da, will ya be with me now? You're up there in heaven and now I'm here in America? What do you think, Da? Is this ok?"
Pat shoved Seamus in the back and said,
"Get going, will you? We can't wait forever!"
Seamus turned around and said, "Sorry!"
With that he also ran down the walkway. It was as though his excitement had returned. Seamus seemed to know that his father was happy and praying for him. His life as an American was truly beginning. He was now the 'merican Gilchrist!
The American official took a look at Seamus' blue tag and directed him to the door to the left on the building in front of them. Seamus turned and waited for Pat to have his tag examined and together they went into the American Government Building on the docks at Angel Island! Once inside the building Seamus looked around at what seemed to be the largest building he had ever seen. It was one giant room with poles and ropes set up to organize the people into neat queues as they waited to see whatever person would finally allow them outside to America.
"Pat, I just can't believe that we have come all the way from Queenstown and now we are here in America! I just can't believe it! We're actually in America!"
"Yea, we're here! I just hope that it is everything they say it is. I just hope that it all goes the right way. Well, let's hope these Americans get the queue moving a little faster."
Seamus smiled and turned back towards the front of the room. It seemed that an eternity had passed before Seamus finally stepped up to the booth where the American official asked to see his papers. Seamus took all of his papers and handed them over to the American official. He asked the official,
"Sir, do you need to see this blue tag?"
With a very bored expression on his face, the official looked at the tag, made a noise with his mouth, and then returned to Seamus' papers. He took out a card and began to ask Seamus questions: When was he born? Where? Parents names? Other family members names? In later years Seamus said that he could never remember all of the things he was asked. He was so anxious to get outside and get moving to his new home in Port Costa, wherever that was.
The official asked him,
"Who is Paul Walsh, young man? Is he related to you?"
"No, sir. My Da..."
"Your what???"
"My Da."
The official looked very annoyed and asked him again,
"What is, who is, your 'Da?'"
"Oh, sorry, sir, I mean, my father, he used to work for Paul Walsh and when his wife died he came here to America and now he asked me to come live with him."
"Your father used to work for this Walsh man?"
"Yes, sir, he was a carpenter, but he died last November."
"Hmmmmmmmmmm, sorry to hear about that. Never easy to loose a parent. Well, young man, this is your immigration card. Keep it with you and if the police or some other government official asks, you must show it to him. You can go through the doors behind me now. Is your Paul Walsh waiting for you?"
"I sure hope he is, sir!"
"Well, that is all there is then. Welcome to America, young man. Next!"
Seamus went a few steps ahead and waited until Pat Mahon talked to the American official. Together they went out the doors and Seamus and Pat both started to laugh and cry all together. They were at the end of their journey from Ireland. America was before them and they both wondered what direction their lives would now take. They shook hands and agreed that they would try to get together some other time. Seamus told Pat.
"I was glad to meet you, Pat, on the dock back there in Queenstown. Good luck to you and thanks for being a friend on the boat."
"Ok, Seamus, good luck to you! See you soon, maybe!"
With that Seamus and Pat parted company. Seamus' attention immediately turned to looking for Paul Walsh in the crowd that was gathered behind a fence on the right side of the American Government building. He saw that many people were holding signs with names of people that they were waiting for. As he walked into the crowd he began to panic and think that maybe Paul Walsh had forgotten him. What a state that would be. New in America and without any place to go! Please, dear God, let Paul Walsh be here somewhere! Seamus just kept walking, all the while looking around him, hoping that either he would see Paul Walsh or Paul would see him. Just when Seamus was beginning to panic again that he would be left all alone here on Angel Island, he heard his name be called out,
"Seamus, over here! Seamus Gilchrist, over here! It's Paul Walsh! Welcome to America! How is your family, Seamus?"
With a smile that reached from ear to ear, Seamus went over to Paul Walsh, shook his hand. All he could say, as he wiped the tears from his eyes was,
"Thank you for everything!"
"Come on, boy. We've got to go catch the ferry to Oakland and from there we will take a train to Port Costa and you will be home."
Thinking of his father's grave back in Old Dromid Cemetery, his home there in the Valley of Cummeragh in County Kerry, Seamus said,
"But my home is in Ireland."
"I know it is, but now this is your home to. Here you are going to live and work and marry and raise a family. You and I are the lucky ones. We have two homes. We know where we're from and where we are. Seamus, my boy, America is now your home as much as Cummeragh is your home. Keep the two of them together in your heart and I know you'll do well! Anyway, let's hurry so that we can get to Oakland before too long."
"Mr. Walsh, did you say we're going to Oakland? That's where my friend Pat Mahon is going."
"Seamus, call me Paul, if you don't mind. I know I'm not your father or your uncle. But I am your friend and I want you to know that I will do what I can for you. Ok?"
Feeling very uncomfortable to call an adult by his first name, Seamus meekly smiled and said,
"Thank you, sir, I mean Paul."
"So your friend Pat is going to Oakland, you say. Does he have family there or what?"
Seamus shook his head and said,
"I don't know, I just don't know. He wouldn't talk about his family too much on the boat. About all he would say is that he wanted to go to school and become a teacher. I told him that I hoped that we could stay friends, but since I don't know exactly where he is going or where I am going, I do not know what will happen."
"All right then, right now we will let the good Lord take care of that. Now we have to get on the Garden State Ferry here and get over to Oakland and then we're off on a train to Port Costa. Come on, let hurry for the next sailing of the Golden State."
As they got to dock next to the dock where the Baltic had tied up, Paul gave Seamus his ticket for the ferry ride and shoved him ahead. The young ticket agent was totally bored with his job and just took Seamus' ticket, tore it in half and gave part to Seamus and said,
"Straight ahead!"
Seamus was amazed that this agent did not seemed to know or care that he was new to America. He was just another person that wanted to get on the ferry to Oakland. Seamus liked the idea that he was being accepted in this small way as just another American. He was no different from anyone else.
Paul led him to the very top of the ferry. Seamus was worried, however, that we was invading the first class area of the ferry. Paul assured him that those distinctions were not important on the ferry. He could go anywhere he wanted. All he had to worry about was showing respect and acting with dignity.
Finally the ferry's engines started up and they pulled away from the dock. As they headed across the San Francisco Bay Paul pointed out Alcatraz Island. When Paul told him that it was a military prison, Seamus laughed and said,
"Well, I guess that I don't want to be going there, do I?"
They passed Yerba Buena Island, saw more sights of San Francisco and then loked at Oakland to his left. Seamus tried to look at everything, but it was impossible. There were just too many wonderful things to see just now. They would have to wait for another day.
When they finally arrived at the docks in Oakland Paul told Seamus to follow him to the train station. There they had to wait for almost an hour before a train would take them to Port Cost. Paul used this time to tell Seamus something about his new home in Port Costa. He told him that it was about as far to Port Costa from Oakland as it was to go from Cahirciveen to Kilarney. Seamus understood and then told Paul,
"You know, a few months ago I was as happy as I could be there in Ireland and now I am here. I am happy to be here, but, I worry about my family and everyone back home."
"Seamus, don't worry about that too much right now. We just have to get you to Port Costa and then we will worry about these things."
Finally the train arrived, late as usual Paul noted, and they began the last stage of Seamus' journey to his new home in America. He tried to point out parts of Oakland and Emeryville. They passed Richmond and San Pablo. They went along the Carquinez Straights. They went by the sugar factory in Crockett and he saw the brick plant in Eckley.
As they were passing the brick factory in Eckley, Paul told Seamus to gather his things together since they would be getting off at the next stop. Seamus kept looking out the window at all of the new and wonderful sights before his eyes. It was almost too much for him.
Not two minutes after they passed Eckley, the train, which was already going slowly, slowed down even more. When he heard the whistle blow, Seamus knew that they had arrived. With great excitement he looked out the window of the train and saw a small white sign with black letters saying just Port Costa. This is it. This is my new home, Seamus thought.
With his heart beating so fast that Seamus could barely breath, he grabbed his satchel and cloth bag and followed Paul to the door of the train where he carefully stepped onto the small metal stool. As he stepped onto the rocky ground at the train stop in Port Costa, Seamus looked around and around at his new surroundings. Paul Walsh had some small idea of what was going through Seamus' mind just then so he waited until Seamus was ready to move. When Seamus finally picked up his things his mouth was trembling and he could barely say,
"Paul, I don't know what to say! This is so beautiful."
"Seamus, come home now. You need to have something to eat and then you need to rest. Later you can explore your new home here in Port Costa. We're off!"
With that Paul led Seamus to a small house near the American Post Office. Paul told Seamus that he did not have to call everything the "American" Post Office or the "American" Government Building. Now that he was in America, he would only see American places.
"You don't have to use that word so much any more. I mean, when people see you now they aren't going to say there's that Irish boy or that American boy. They're just going to say there is that boy with red hair. Anyway, you're an American now."
"My brother Tomas said that I was his 'merican brother!"
They laughed together as Paul opened the door to his home in Port Costa and said,
"Welcome, young man, to your new home!"
Paul showed him around the house. It was small, but it seemed to be very comfortable. At the back of the house Paul showed Seamus a small room and said,
"This is your room. Why don't you put your things away and then come out and we will have something to eat. Maybe then we can walk around town. Ok?"
"Ok, Paul. This is great. I don't have too much so maybe I won't be too long!"
Paul then went to see what they could eat for dinner. After several minutes Seamus never came back of his room. Paul glanced in and saw that Seamus had fallen asleep on this bed.
He shook his head and thought,
"Well, the boy's had a long journey and he must be tired. He can eat later."
Yes, Seamus had had a very long journey, but now he was home, his new home in America!