From Russia With Love

Decide to Immigrant to America

Oct 17, 1883

My whole entire family is dead, The Russian government knew that we were Jewish and threw us out on the streets in the middle of October. Out of the three of us (my mom, 6-year-old brother and I) I was the only one who survived. Left with no one, I decide there is no better choice but to start fresh and go to America.

Set Sail

Oct 19, 1883

My ship to America sets sail. Aboard it are a hundred more people with the same hopes as me. I decided to bring a small gold bowl that has been passed down in my family for years that i could hopefully sell in America for some good money, I also brouth to extra sets of clothes; all of these possesions are in a small bag i can easily carry on my sholder.

Arrive at Ellis Island

Nov 9, 1883

Our Ship arrives at Ellis Island! I could spot the Statue of Liberty and I knew I was in the land of the free.

Mugged

Nov 16, 1883

As I am leaving the Immigration center I am mugged by a strange man. He punches me in the gut as he grabs my bag with all of my belongings. I am left stranded with nothing - and not for the first time in my life.

Start the Immigration Process

Nov 16, 1883

After eight days of waiting around with stangers, I finally get my chance. They interrogate me and I pass all of the tests. It was very hard to understand because everybody spoke different languages. It was a good thing that I was so healthy and so strong,

Women in Disguise

Nov 17, 1883

I have always been very strong. I am not manly like a man, but just very strong and very independent. I feel I will be able to get a job quicker and faster if I disquise myself as a man. I find clothes in an old rundown dumpster behind a building that reek, but tell myself this will have to do.

Searching for Work

Nov 17, 1883

I need to head west as soon as possible, so Istart to look, as I am searching I meet a man my age (around 24-years-old) he is packing up a covered wagon on the edge of town. He believes me to be a man (as I wanted him to) and asks me if I am looking for work. I say yes I am, and I am strong, and smart also. He says if I am what I say I am then he would let me ride on his wagon to Oklahoma for free as long as I helped him repair his wagon and take care of the horses. I accept his offer.

Wagon Trouble

Dec 29, 1883

As I am traveling along the trail to Oklahoma with my 'employer' (I learned his name was Jacob), Our wagon breaks down as we are trying to cross a river. It is freezing, and we are stuck on the side of the trail for two days as we are trying to repair it.

Pneumonia

Dec 31, 1883

Jacob catches pneumonia from our previous expedition of having to cross through the river. I am now having to take care and man the wagon all on my own.

Jacob Dies

Jan 12, 1884

Jacob has now died from Pneumonia. I now realize that the wagon and horses could now be mine and I decide to continue along to Oklahoma on my own.

No Food

Feb 2, 1884

I have hopelessly run out of all of my food. I am starving and my horses are barely at a trot as they go along the trail.

Food Findings

Feb 5, 1884

It's three days after we have lost all of our food. I have stopped the horses and we have pulled over to the side of the trail because they can go no longer when I see something out of the corner of my eye. I get up with my bow and arrow in hopes of finding something. It turns out it was a deer that had died recently. I decided it was a good enough option enough for food and bring it back to my wagon and cook it.

Rest Stop

Mar 19, 1884

I reach Tennessee and find a rest stop. From there I can finally rest for the first time on this journey.

Discovered

Mar 20, 1884

As I am eating with a group of men at the camp, one of them sees my hair falling slightly out of my cap. He says: Hey! And starts to pull the hair farther out of my hat. I get up and run to my wagon. I snap the reins and my horses immediatly start trotting away from the rest stop.

Land Race

May 10, 1884

I have detatched my fasted horse from the wagon and ditched the wagon. I am about to participate in the land race. The gun fires and I am on my way.

Struggle

May 10, 1884

As I am racing for land a man is racing next to me, he is closing in and I know that I might lose this one. He whips my horse from behind and my horse throws me. I try to get back on desperatly as he races ahead. I hear a gunshot and he falls from his horse. I don't know who did it but I had no time to think or care about it. I got back on my horse as fast as possible and raced for land.

Oklahoma Home

May 11, 1884

I have finally successfully achieved my goal and claimed my land of five acres in Oklahoma. A place that I can call home at last.