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Birth
My name is Clan McCabe and I was born on November 21, 1840 in St Andrews ,Scotland. Then when I was almost 2 my father lost his job. So my family moved to Northern Ireland. In a little town called Moville near the coast. We joined our cousins in potato farming. My older cousins taught me how to pick potatoes. All was good until the summer of 1845. I'm writing this for my family so they do not forget what we had gone through to make it to America. -
The Famine
It started out like any other summer. All I remember was my father complaining about the potatoes And how we wouldn’t have enough potatoes for the harvest. I was too young to totally understand what was really happening. I do remember seeing little black bugs on some of the potatoes. Our way of life was over. So my parents decided that we were moving to the land of opportunity to escape the famine. -
Journey to the Land of Opportunity
Celtic , the boat was big to me, but was small to all of the other passengers. My parents would keep me away from other people. They were worried that I would catch their sickness. It was a rough three weeks on that crowded ship. Many people in need of a good bath. The rocking of the ship kept me up for most of the nights and made many people sick. I couldn’t wait to get off that dreadful ship. -
Ellis Island
I was so excited when I could step on solid ground that I collapsed. I turned to see my last look of the ship that took me to the land of opportunity, the Celtic. My parents didn’t look too excited and they looked very pale. Next was my family. nervously went first in fear of having to go back on a boat. I was relieved when they passed me through, but that wasn't the same for my parents. -
The Lady in the Mist
I was at the breaking point after the 3 weeks and I couldn’t bear another night on that terrible ship. Then on a misty morning I heard someone say "land" and I ran up the stairs to see land and something else. At that moment I couldn’t comprehend what my eyes were seeing. It was a magnificent green lady guarding the bay. At that split second everyone filled the deck. There was pushing and shoving to get a clear view, but no one said a word. We were speechless. -
Finding a Job
I've been in America for 10 years now without my parents. I don’t know if I will ever see them again. Someone let me move in to their tenement. This year I'm getting a job to support myself. I saw a help wanted sign at a steel company and I'm going to look into it. They man said he would hire me, but I had to work long and hard hours for pay. I agreed so I could support myself. As I left I saw 2 angry looking men approach me. They said they just wanted to talk….
