May, 1870

I am very uncomfortable. I am in the steerage class, which means I am squished between dozens of other immigrants. There is hardly any room to move, or even write this passage. I now sleep on the same bed as four other people, strangers who I hardly know! Everything is dirty and extremely unsanitary. The air stinks and smells of vomit, and the toilet emits an awful stench. The food is rotten and inedible. I led a few of my companions to protest this outrageous treatment to the captain by bringing a plate of the disgusting food to him. It was going very well until one of my foolish companions shoved the captain’s face in the rotten meat, which got him locked up in the ship’s ‘jail’. I wish with all my heart that this voyage will soon be over.

Jacob Riis