This ship was owned by the American Lines. It routinely traveled between Antwerp, Holland and Philadelphia in the 1890's. The trip took about 2 weeks. My paternal grandfather Emil Thoma took this ship, departing from Antwerp, Holland on 14 Dec. 1892 and arriving in Philadelphia on 30 Dec. On this particular voyage of the Switzerland, the Commissioner of Immigration shows that there was no loathsome sickness on board. Also, no idiotic or imbecile, stowaways, felons, misdemeanors, detitute, cripples, blind or deaf on board.

There were no females who were pregnant or alone and there were no persons in violation of a contract of labor law. The report of the Commissioner of Immigration in Philadelphia dated 30 Dec. lists 12 s in the saloon and 282 in steerage for a total of 294. There was just one death and birth (same premature baby) on board.

The Switzerland was a 2,816 gross ton ship, built by Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co, Jarrow-on-Tyne in 1874 for the Red Star Line of Antwerp. Her details were - length 329.4ft x beam 38.6ft, straight stem, one funnel, two masts, iron construction, single screw and a speed of 13 knots. There was accommodation for 70-1st and 800-3rd class s. Launched on 17 Jan 1874, she left Antwerp on her maiden voyage to New York on 24 Apr 1874. In October 1878 she made her first voyage from Antwerp to Philadelphia.

Between 1878 and 1884 she sailed between Antwerp and New York or Philadelphia, and between 1884 and 1904 sailed from Antwerp to Philadelphia, except for one New York voyage in each of 1884, 1886, 1888 and 1901. In 1897 she was refitted to carry 3rd class only and on 26 Oct 1904 commenced her last voyage from Philadelphia to Antwerp. In 1905 she was sold to Italian owners and renamed Sansone and was scrapped in Italy in 1909. [ Reference Source: North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.2,p.851]