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Birthday and Childhood
I was born in Maynooth, Ireland. I grew up very poor. My father left my mother when the youngest girl was born leaving my mother pregnant with my brother. I was the oldest, with 6 sisters and a brother. It was a struggle to get the things we needed, my mother couldn't get a good job. I started to work in a factory to help my mother provide for the younger ones. -
Trip to Ellis Island
My girlfriend and I traveled over here on a ship. The ship was crowded, hot and loud. We were scared and disorented. It took 12 days to get to Ellis Island. -
Health Inspection.
Before we could enter we had to go through a health inspection. They made us take off all our clothes in front of everyone. It was humiliating. They swabbed our eyes and mouthes for disease. We were cleared and let in to America. -
Arrival
When we arrived to America it was mass hysteria. It was really crowded and loud. We were promised housing and food for a few days if we voted for Tweed. How could we not accept. We agreed since we were hungry and scared. My girlfriend contracted a hoarse cough. -
Got a Job
Empire State BuildingI got a job once we got settled in. Since steel has grown into a big industry they need a lot of workers. Right now I am helping to build the Empire State Building. It is very risky and dangerous, but I need the money. We use a lot of steel. -
The Death of my Love
My girlfriend has passed away. We noticed she had a horrible cough when we arived here in America. She died from the influenza. It was horrible and living in a slum did not help. It was very difficult to see her that way. I will see her again in heaven someday.
