Halfway to America: The Tragic Sinking of the William Nelson

Halfway to America describes the plight of emigrants who sailed to America in the 1860s, usually in the steerage deck - where the conditions were cramped, lacked privacy, and had only the bare necessities. This book follows Heinrich Dirkes and his son Johannes from the time they leave their village in Bauler, Bitburg-Prum, Prussia. While traveling from Antwerp, Belgium, to New York in 1865, the ship William Nelson caught fire when buckets of hot tar spilled. Tragic and horrifying, more than 400 poor emigrants died. The lucky survived. This book describes the details.

Nearly all of the emigrants were poor, and were making the trip for a better life in America. Also on board were 30 crew members including the captain, plus about 30 passengers traveling in cabin rooms that cost much more than steerage. Once the American Consulate in Havre, France learned of the tragedy, it quickly set about limiting the liability of the ship owner and the captain. The Swiss government in particular was outraged at the lack of accountability in the US because only 16 of its citizens survived from the 176 on board.

The tragic details of the burning of the ship William Nelson is an important chapter in immigration history that should not be forgotten. This book will interest historians, educators, and those who are looking to learn more about American history and their ancestry.