S. S. Chemnitz
Chemnitz (1901) – North German Lloyd
The ship was built for the Emigrant Trade, Capable of carrying almost 2,000 Immigrants in Steerage.
Built by: J.C. Tecklenborg, Geestemunde, Germany
Tonnage: 7,543
Dimensions: 428′ x 54′ (453′ o.l.). Twin-screw, 13 knots. Triple expansion engines. Two masts and one funnel.
Service: Mainly in Europe -Baltimore.
Sale: Acquired by Ellerman Wilson Line after World War I.
Fate: Sold to Dutch shipbreakers in November 1923.
Sister Ships: Cassel, Brandenburg and Breslau
Solve the Mystery
Help me find more information.
- What happened to Max Kibrick? the Kibrick family says that he was on the Chemnitz with Sol, Sam, and the Licht brothers, but I can’t find him on the manifest and Sol and Sam’s oral history doesn’t say anything about him being on the journey with them.
- Did Max travel by the name Rosenberg?
The Story of the SS Chemnitz 1898-1923
Steamship that carried Sol and Sam Friedman to Galveston in 1913.
The SS Chemnitz was a steamship of the Norddeutscher Lloyd, a German shipping company that operated from 1857 until 1970. The Chemnitz was built in 1898 by the AG Weser shipyard in Bremen, Germany, and was launched in January of that year. It was named after the city of Chemnitz in Saxony, Germany.
The Chemnitz was a passenger and cargo ship designed to carry passengers and freight on its voyages. It had a length of 138 meters (453 feet), a beam of 16.5 meters (54 feet), and a depth of 11.4 meters (37 feet). It had a gross tonnage of 7,527 tons and could reach a maximum speed of 14 knots (26 kilometers per hour).
The Chemnitz was used on several routes during its service with the Norddeutscher Lloyd. It initially operated on the company’s transatlantic service between Bremen, Germany, and New York City, carrying passengers and cargo across the Atlantic. It also served on the company’s service between Bremen and Baltimore, Maryland.
During World War I, the German military used the Chemnitz as a troop transport ship, and it saw action in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. After the war, it was returned to the Norddeutscher Lloyd and refurbished before being put back into service on its transatlantic and Baltimore routes.
In 1923, the Chemnitz was scrapped by Dutch shipbreakers.
As for the number of passengers and crew members, the ship could carry, that would depend on the specific voyage and its intended use. However, as a passenger ship, the Chemnitz could have taken on several hundred passengers, along with a crew of several dozen.” {However, she traveled with at least 1800 in steerage on the journey with Sol and Sam}
— From: ggarchives.com
Historical Data
On this passenger list you can see (on lines 10 and 11) Shmuel Friedman, age 18, and Solman Leib Friedman, age 17.
Their occupations are listed as “trader”. They are able to read and write, their nationality is Russian and their race is Hebrew. Last permanent residence is Kopaigorod, the name and address of the nearest relative in country of origin is “father Srul Friedman”, ie Israel Friedman, in Kopaigorod, Podolsk. On the second page, go down again to lines 10 and 11 and you will see that they intend to go to San Francisco, Cal.
Their passages were paid by “self”. When asked if they have $50, they say “no”. When asked if they have been in US before, they say “no”.
In the column for name of friend or relative they are going to join they say “L. Abrams” at 520 Hayes St., San Francisco. They say “no” to the questions “Whether a polygamist, and whether an anarchist”. Condition of mental and physical heath is “good”. They are not deformed or crippled. Sam is 5’3″ and Sol is 5′ 4″, both have fair complexions, black hair and brown eyes, neither have marks of identification. Place of birth for Sam says Russia, Kopaigorod and for Sol it says Russia and something I can’t read…Zoporod?.
Also, you will see, on lines 6 and 7 that they are traveling with two friends from Kopaigorod, Boruch and Abram Melech Lechtus (Licht), ages 18 and 17, “clerks”, both from Kopaigarod, Podolsk, from their father Leish Lechtus, they are both going to San Francisco, tickets paid by self, no cash on hand, never been in US. They also are going to see L. Abrams at 520 Hayes St. in San Francisco. They are 5’3″, and 5’4″. Black hair and brown eyes, no scars or deformaties. Both born in Kopaigorod. The name of the ship was “S. S. Chemnitz“, sailing from Bremen on July 17, 1913.
Timeline of Sol and Sam's Journey on the Chemnitz
This timeline includes information about the journey of the S.S. Chemnitz in July-August 1913, carrying Sol and Sam Friedman as well as the two Licht brothers.
Researching this project, I found that there was a lot of information about the comings and goings of the ship Chemnitz in the Newspapers. For me it is fascinating to know, almost to the minute, where my grandfather was, on his journey to Galveston, Texas, from Bremen, Germany.
If you would like to view images more closely, click on the image and use the magnifying glass icon to zoom into the document.
S.S. Chemnitz - vessels bound for Baltimore in 1913, with Captain Miltzlaff, from Bremen, Germany on 17 July, 1913. The ship stopped in Baltimore before going on to Galveston, Texas where Sam and Sol left the ship and entered the United States for the first time.
Sailed 17 July, 1913 at 3pm from Bremen with 715 passengers for Baltimore and 1800 for Galveston, Texas.
Chemnitz Due This Afternoon - ship arriving in Baltimore at 3 P.M. on July 30, 1913
Arrivals And Departures - Port of Baltimore, July 30, 1913 - Chemnitz arrives in Baltimore and docks at Pier 9, Locust Point.
Steamer Chemnitz (Ger), Miltzlaff, from Bremen for Baltimore, was 430 miles from Nantucket lightship at 12 M 27th instant (this means that the ship arrived on the 27th day of the current month ie July). The "M" means noon.
Passed out from Baltimore - SS Chemnitz for Galveston - August 1, 1913 at 4 A.M.
Two children aboard the Chemnitz, along with Sol and Sam and the Licht brothers, died during the voyage. Barbara Krunzynaka, age 2, from Poland, of diptheria and Heinrich Zemler, age 3 of Germany, of inflammation of the lungs.
The Captain of the Chemnitz was Paul Mitzlaff and his brother
The Chemnitz arrives in Galveston from Baltimore on the 8th instant (August 8th), originally from Bremen, a German Vessel, under Captain Miltzlaff.
The SS Chemnitz from Bremen, having landed in Baltimore, is now cleared for Galveston. A Schumacher & Co. (Albert Schumacher & Co., German shipping agents for the North German Lloyd Steamship Company, headquartered in Hamburg and Bremen, Germany)
Vessels in Port - Chemnitz in the Port of Galveston, Pier 30.
The Chemnitz returns to Bremen 9 days after landing in Galveston with Sol and Sam and the Licht boys. On board are 100 steerage passengers who were being deported because of not passing health inspection. They would be returned to Bremen and not allowed in US. The ship sailed at 5 pm.
At 3:45 A.M. the Steamer Chemnitz (a German vessel) passed out of Baltimore on its way to Galveston.
SS Chemnitz passed out from Baltimore 2d (2 days ago) at 4 A.M., bound for Galveston.
This is a list of all of the cargo that the SS Chemnitz was carrying, in addition to Sol, Sam and the Licht brothers. A. Schumacher & Co. are the shipping agents.
Vessels Destined for Galveston - Chemnitz from Bremen (having left Bremen on July 17 1913).
Sailing Schedule of Chemnitz after delivering Sol and Sam Friedman.
An advertisement for the return journey to Bremen, from Galveston. The steerage fare is $35.00.