February 2010 Quiz

For this month’s question, I thought I might do something from the Hanifl (Grandma Sophie’s) side of the family… As you may know, Sophie was born in Oggau, Austria, or as it was known at that time, Austria-Hungary. Her parents, Karl and Theresa [Laschitz] Hanifl, decided to immigrate to the US.

What was the name of the ship that carried them to the US? (And, for extra credit, what year did they emigrate from Austria?)

A. HMS Pinafore
B. WS Graf Spee (pronounced “Grahf Shpee”)
C. SS Schiedam

You’re on your own for the date… It is, after all, extra credit!!!

Check back next month for the answer!

-- ANSWER

The correct answer is: C. SS Schiedam. The HMS Pinafore only existed in an operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan and the WS Graf Spee was a German "pocket battleship" that was scuttled by her captain off Montevideo, Uruguay after the Battle of the River Plate (Rio de la Plata) in December, 1939.

I’m not 100% sure of the source of the information about the SS Schiedam, but, I’m pretty sure it came from Karen [Currie] Hoel. Karen is a grand niece of Sophie [Hanifl] Pendleton. She has done a lot of research on the Hanifl side and I am thankful for the information that has filtered down to me from her.

There was also an “extra credit” portion to the quiz… When did Karl and Theresa emigrate? Karl, Theresa and 4 of their children (Sophie, Frank, John and Mary) arrived in New York on 11, May 1891. Three other children (Theresa, Rosalia and Josef) died prior to the time Karl and Theresa left Austria. Also, all the research I have done indicates that, at that time, a trans-Atlantic crossing took about 2 weeks!