Ella Buuck's wartime diary: View pages

Lorenz had the services for adults in Thode’s cabin, also a children’s service.

I made good time in the queue for melries ((probably the "Milréis", the Brazilian currency described at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milr%C3%A9is)), got my papers fixed up in a hurry. We were allowed $15.00 per person. We only took 2 and got the other money for Beaver and Mossberg ((Were they from HK?)).

There was a movie again, also a lecture on Rio. In the evening Frese and Mrs. Ziegler came to visit us. We are due in Rio ((Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)) early in the morning.

Danny ((?)) called us at 6 o’clock and already at that time we saw mountains and we hurried out on deck so as to see everything. Was it ever a glorious sight! And every few minutes new beauty appeared. The sunrise helped to make it perfect.

We anchored at 8 o’clock after breakfast. I again had to line up for the money. I signed over $75.00 U.S. to get 15,000 melreis. Then at 10a.m. we began moving to shore, docked after 11 a.m., then for a grand confusion of trying to get passes to get off. We were all ready, but it took until 11:40 until we had the passes, so we took our lunch on ship first and then went on shore to have a look around. All the interesting things to be bought—one just couldn’t help but want to buy.

We returned at 1:30 as we wanted to join the gang going up the mountain. There were 150 in all. We finally started at 2:15 and had an hour’s street car ride, then the tram trip up. It was beautiful to see. The view cannot be described. The statue is huge and very impressive. The palm trees are immense and all parks or gardens are very nice—lots of hedges and all nicely trimmed. We finally returned to the ship at 6:20, tired and hungry.

After supper we got the children to bed and made ready to go again. The Zimmermanns, Mrs. Ziegler, Lorenz and I took a bus downtown, went walking around and at 9 o’clock, took a taxi to Rev. Hasse’s home. The Kleins joined us. The visit there was very nice. They are fine folks, have a nice church. We had a nice lunch with them and returned again at a late hour by taxi. Betty had stayed with Bobby and kept him from being too lonesome.

We were up early and right after breakfast we went downtown to do shopping. Had a nice time looking around and bought quite a few things.

At noon we were back on ship, turned in our passes and that ended our shore leave. I got busy right away washing clothes, also did some ironing, then rested and at 4p.m. we were all on deck to see the ship make ready to leave. They lifted the gangplank and slowly moved away from shore.

About 45 minutes later 3 men passengers appeared who had failed to make the ship. A motor boat picked them up and brought them alongside, but they were afraid to try the rope ladder so they were put into the tug and later when the pilot boat arrived they were put on that and finally got into the ship.

We had grand views as we were leaving Rio. The climax was as the sun was just behind the statue and it made a perfect picture to see it that way. The sunset was grand with all the mountains around.

We are already a day out. The 12 days will soon pass and we shall be nearing N.Y.

After supper we had a long talk with the Thodes and Zimmermanns and got to bed rather late.

Today the outside swimming pool was opened. Since it was still cold and windy, Lenny did not go in.

This afternoon I went to the movies.

After supper I did a lot of writing in my diary.

It’s getting warmer and it’s really very nice out. Also very smooth going. I’m trying very hard to get Leonard’s sweater done.

We packed one bag today, another will be fixed tomorrow.

Leonard has been swimming twice today. We took a snap at the pool. It’s getting hotter.

Today we again had services in Thode’s room. It being Ziegler’s 20th anniversary, she treated us all to beer.

Our 12th anniversary, but Bobby didn’t feel well all day. The weather is very hot and stuffy. Everybody is all in. I had to stay with Bobby so couldn’t have a treat with the gang.

We had real excitement today for at 5:00 the ship made a sudden turn and soon we discovered an object in the water which looked like a raft, so we pulled alongside to see. About 6:00 we passed a burning ship, the ruins of which certainly gave one the shivers.

It’s a bit rougher and cooler. Bobby still isn’t feeling well.

It’s hot and our cabin isn’t very good, too stuffy. Did some packing. Time is passing very slowly.

Took Bobby to the Dr. this morning as he had a bad night.

Saw a good movie today. They also had a good program this a.m.

Things are beginning to stir. Had to get passports, landing cards and vaccination certificates. Did ironing, more washing and also packing.

Had services in Thode’s room. Rev. Klein preached.

Bobby is much better. He had a haircut today.

Dr. Cooper took a picture of all the children today. We took snaps yesterday.

Heard that we are to get in at 10 a.m. Tuesday. It will be very exciting.

((From here, Ella's writing changed from a diary format to notes that were probably written later. Laura has divided them by date, based on other records of the time.))

We docked on Tuesday morning. ((August 25)) That day only the Diplomats and some suspects got off. We all were a little put out when we saw some of our friends get off the first afternoon already and wondered why they got a break, but soon we knew why. They were being sent to Ellis Island for questioning. Hearing that, we were only too glad they had not called on us.

On Wednesday ((August 26)) morning at 9 o’clock the “B’s were told to get off and have their baggage inspected by customs. This took almost two hours but they were very kind. After that we had to go back on the ship and be questioned by the F.B.I. That took fully two more hours. Finally, we had to get a certain card signed yet and then we were free to get off.

By 2 o’clock we walked off the gang plank, had a baggage man take our things out to where we could check them over to the Pennsy R.R. Station and get our few baskets and walk to where they had the mail and where the people were waiting for their husbands and friends. Many an anxious wife was standing there for the second day already and some I know had to wait until late the following day before their loved ones came off. We had messages for some of them and several were friends from Hong Kong who had come all the way from California to meet their husbands.

One lady, Mrs. Burnside, whom we knew well on Cheung Chau ((Island)), practically loved me to pieces when I told her that she could expect her “Mac” any minute. Just about that time Dr. Brandt ((Director of Foreign Missions for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)) grabbed me and greeted us all most heartily. Rev. Kleps, one of the New York pastors, was there also.

Oh, yes, there were also many newspaper reporters there and we now know what it means to be grabbed by photographers. We were about the first with smaller children to leave the ship, surely they must have been the attraction. Certainly our old tacky looking clothing and worn out luggage was not.

We were put into a taxi and Rev. Kleps went with us to the hotel where they had arranged for our rooms. We had from Wednesday to Friday ((August 26-28)) evening there. We enjoyed going shopping. Our hotel was right in Times Square and all very handy. We saw quite a bit of the city, Wall Street, and other spots.

We arrived in Fort Wayne on Saturday afternoon ((August 29)) where the family and friends met us. Again the photographers were there but this time they were much more polite and did not fight among themselves and push each other as they had in New York.

To say the least, Fort Wayne ((Indiana)) looked mighty good to us and so did the chicken dinner that we had been talking about for months. Lest you get me wrong, we were also very happy to see all the family there, yet: for, not having heard for 8 months, we were not sure what to expect.

((This is the end of Ella's wartime diary.))