Faber Emigration

The loss of the first EDAM had opened a chapter of accidents such as befell many shipping companies in the second half of the last century. The ROTTERDAM was wrecked on the Dutch coast in 1883 and the MAASDAM was burnt out in mid-Atlantic in the following year - sad endings for the two pioneer ships of the Line. In the same year, also, the AMSTERDAM was wrecked on Sable Island, Nova Scotia.

Fortunately at this time the affairs of the Company were largely in the hands of two exceptionally able men, Jhr 0. Reuchlin and Mr. Jan V. Wierdsma, whose qualities were complementary. To obtain fleet replacements at minimum cost a programme of buying really sound second-hand ships was embarked upon, replacing some of their old compound machinery, after a few years' service, with triple-expansion engines. Between 1886 and 1889 seven good ships were acquired:

During this period one further loss was sustained, late in 1887, when the W. A. SCHOLTEN was sunk in collision in the Channel off Dover at night, unfortunately with heavy loss of life.

In 1888 a start was made toward putting the Company's services on a broader basis. A scheduled call was introduced at Boulogne for American passengers to France and as a transit port for Mediterranean emigrants. Later in the year a new service from Rotterdam to Brazil and the River Plate was inaugurated. Two new ships, DIDAM and DUBBELDAM, of 21700 tons, were ordered for this route, the older ships of the line being used until their delivery. At the end of 1890. however, the crisis in the Argentine having brought trade and immigration to a standstill, the ships were transferred to the Rotterdam-Baltimore run.

In 1893 the agreement with the KNSM expired but by this time the New Waterway allowed the largest ships direct access to Rotterdam. Conditions were again bad in the USA, which with other economic factors, including intense shipping competition, made 1894 a very bad year for the Company, but in the following year things began to improve. The DIDAM and DUBBELDAM were sold, being unsuitable for the North Atlantic, and a new ship was ordered from the proceeds of the sale. All the second-hand ships that had proved so satisfactory having been built by Harland & Wolff, the order for the new ship was placed with these builders. This was the third ROTTERDAM, a much larger ship of 8,186 tons, and the Company's first twin-screw vessel. In the late 1890's future prospects appeared much brighter and, before delivery of the ROTTERDAM, a still larger vessel, the 10,500-ton STATENDAM, was laid down at the same yard.

As the new tonnage came into service the old ships were sold: P. CALAND, SCHIEDAM and ZAANDAM in 1897, OBDAM in 1898. In the latter year VEENDAM sank after striking a submerged wreck in the Atlantic, the passengers being transferred to the ST. LOUIS. At the end of the century when the fleet consisted of the STATENDAM, ROTTERDAM, SPAARNDAM, WERKENDAM, MAASDAM and AMSTERDAM, the Amsterdam New York passenger service was discontinued.

Cunard Archives: Baltic I

This is one of a suite of pages describing the Cunard Archives held at the University of Liverpool: Cunard Archives Welcome and the Ships index.

Baltic 1 (1871-98)

Statistics

These statistics are derived from NRP Bonsor, North Atlantic Seaway, 5 vols, David & Charles, 1975-80. White Star is covered in volume 2.
Gross Tonnage - 3,707 tons
Dimensions - 128.01 x 12.46m (420 x 40.9ft)
Number of funnels - 1
Number of masts - 4
Construction - Iron
Propulsion - Single screw
Engines - Four-cylindered compound engines made by Maudslay, Sons & Field, London
Service speed - 14 knots
Builder - Harland &-, Wolff, Belfast
Launch date - 8 March 1871
Passenger accommodation - 166 1st class, 1,000 3rd class

Details of Career

The Baltic was one of four ships launched by White Star in the 1870-72 period, the others being the Oceanic, Atlantic and Republic. All these ship were so called 'longships' because the length to beam ratio was 10: 1, instead of the usual 8:1 ratio. There were separate chairs for every passenger, portholes were enlarged to allow more light in and there were two double bed bridal suites. Fares were £16s for a saloon passenger and for steerage passengers.

The ship was originally named the Pacific but the name was later changed due to the fact that a ship of the same name had been lost in the Atlantic just fifteen years previously. For its maiden voyage the ship was renamed the Baltic. It made its maiden voyage on 14 September from Liverpool to New York, via Queenstown. During January 1873 it gained the Blue Riband after making a record crossing between New York and Queenstown in 7 days 20 hours and 9 minutes.

On 18 November 1875 the Baltic was responsible for rescuing 26 crew members of the sailing ship Oriental, after it had become waterlogged in the mid-Atlantic. On 3 April 1883 the ship was chartered by the Inman Line to sail from Liverpool to New York. It had made fourteen round voyages on this route by March 1885 and the Inman Line then decided to re-charter the ship for a further three years.

On 5 May 1888 the Baltic returned to the White Star service but only made one voyage before being laid up at Birkenhead. Soon, however, it was sold to the Holland America Line and renamed Veendam. The passenger accommodation was then altered to accommodate 150 1st class, 60 2nd class and 800 3rd class passengers. On 3 November 1888 it made its first voyage for its new owners on the Rotterdam to New York route. In 1890 triple expansion engines were fitted Nederlande Stoomboot Maatschappij at Fyenoord, Rotterdam. The ship continued this service until February 1898 when it sank after striking a submerged wreck in the North Atlantic, luckily no lives were lost.

No records of the White Star Line, prior to its merger with Cunard in 1934, have survived. There is, however, the following item in the University Archives specific to the Baltic 1.

Leaflet giving cabin plans of several White Star vessels, including the Baltic - 1872.

Many Help with Information

Others have been helpful. Subject: Re: Drawing/Picture Veendam. There is an active mail list that is doing a good job putting people researching how their ancestors emigrated. I subscribed and found immediate help in my quest. Their e-mail address is emigration-ships@northwest.com.

There are two pictures and history of this vessel on the unofficial Holland America Line web page. This is a direct link to the Picture of the Veendam I . Paul Petersen also advertises a photo of her.

FABER'S Passage to New York on the Veendam

I have just come across one of Robert Swierenga's updates of Dutch emigrants to America. This list covers 1892 and 1893 (I think).

There is a long list of Fabers, but the ones that seemed to fit with your research are as follows:

Faber's Passage on Veendam May 17, 1893

Name           Age Sex  Trade    Orig.       Destination     Ship      Date of Sail
Faber, Evert    16 m b laborer   Holland p   Paterson NJ     3 Veendam 05171893
Faber, Evert    58 m h laborer   Holland p   Paterson NJ     3 Veendam 05171893
Faber, Froukje  00 f d           Holland p   USA             2 Veendam 05171893
Faber, Froukje  23 f w           Holland p   USA             2 Veendam 05171893
Faber, Gerben   18 m b laborer   Holland p   Paterson NJ     3 Veendam 05171893
Faber, Hendrik  24 m s laborer   Holland p   Cleveland OH    3 Veendam 05171893
Faber, Jan      20 m h merchant  Holland p   Paterson NJ     3 Veendam 05171893
Faber, Jeltje   62 f w           Holland p   Grand Rapids MI 3 Veendam 05171893
Faber, Meindert 26 m h cook      Holland p   USA             2 Veendam 05171893
Faber, Ulbe     15 m s laborer   Holland p   Paterson NJ     3 Veendam 05171893

Apparently, all of these people came aboard the same ship. With a complete explanation of the codes you might be able to figure out who's who. If you are interested let me know.

My 3 great grandmother was Sjoukje Faber (*1814 Franeker). I can send you data on her ancestry (about 4-5 generations) if you're interested. (I'm at work now and don't have the information with me).

Job Ulbe FABER Passage to New York on the Veendam

I wrote concerning the passage of the Veendam 05/17/1893. My gggrandfather sailed to the US on that date. He was the son of Ulbe Jobs FABER.

"Please give me any information you might have of the ship Veendam that sailed 5/17/1893 to New York, USA. If there is a web page that might have any pictures or collateral materials, I would appreciate knowing about it."

Though there is no web page that we know of, here's a little info. The Veendam you are speaking of was built by Harland and Wolff, Belfast in1873 for White Star Line as the "Baltic". Measuring 3707 gross tons, she was 420 feet long and 40 feet in beam. An iron hulled four master, she had one funnel and a single screw. Top speed was 14 knots. She could carry 150 passengers in first class, 60 in second and 800 in third class during her ten year Holland America career which ended when she sank at sea after hitting a derelict on Feb 6, 1898. Sorry that I cannot help with pictures.

History about the Veendam - Holland America Line

Weathering the Storm

From Publication of Holland American Line History