The Five Day Hidden Passage
June 6, 1845

My first day aboard the ship, “Liberty” was surprisingly for the most uneventful. My parents and I had expected my stealing away onto a ship to be more of an ordeal but bribery does come in handy when doing less then legal undertakings. The head of cargo that goes by the name of Richard Smith had been very nonchalant about the whole ordeal, I believe this is due to the likelihood that he has done similar transactions many times before. Instead of buying a costly ticket to bring me to the new world, all my family had to buy was a large crate and use some of our savings for Mr. Smith. All I had to do to gain my passage was squat in the crate silently for about half of an hour while I was loaded aboard with the rest of the cargo destined for the hull. Mr. Smith arranged for the crate baring myself to be placed on top of a pile, and then discreetly loosened the lid so I could let myself out later when I was positive that I was alone. That was how my first day as a stowaway took place.
June 7, 1845

Boredom was the predominant factor of my day. I had rations in my crate with me which will hopefully last me the duration of my 5 day sea voyage. I took stock of all that was in my possession and it amassed to 4 boxes of crackers, 6 apples, 2 cheese blocks which had been salted and 12 containers of water. It was plenty for a 15 year old Irish girl to live on for only a week. I took stock, and write in my diary with the limited light that I get from between the slats in the hull of the ship towards where the dusty ceiling meets the walls covered in a grime that feels similar to uncoagulated butter. I had plenty of time to sort through my quarters for my adventure. There are many crates containing fabric sheets, and some containing metal rods, some barrels are full of alcohol, and then just miscellaneous boxes containing little things like nails, or horse shoes.
June 8, 1845

I made an exciting discovery this morning which I used to spend the many hours of the day. The cargo ship can transfer cargo and passengers, but it is no luxury liner. Loosely fitted slats that have been worn down through the years leave small gaps in the walls between rooms. My cargo holding gave me the excellent vantage point of the calves and feet of the commons room above the door at the top. After noticing this after my aimless wandering this morning, I have since stacked crates so as to place myself closer the holes in the slats. I could hear everything within a five foot range of where I sat. The majority was just about the passing persons travels. It helped to pass the time in the day, and then I got to get to know some of my fellow albeit legal passengers.
June 9, 1845

Disaster has struck again, this time on my flee from previous devastation. The potato blight which ruined my hometown farming community had left millions without food. This time rats have attempted to leave me desolate and hungry. I have eaten every meal while on the ship though so I am not hungry for the rest of the day. I’m not so as optimistic about the status of my stomach tomorrow though. I still spent the rest of my day after taking the empty inventory of my supplies on listening to the passengers and crew as they walked by. The snippets of conversation that I heard though are what got me through the day and took my mind off matters. I have all the time in the world now and extra to do nothing so I’ve come up with a game of sorts. You take the snippet of a conversation and then you ponder about that person, and their life, their family, their dreams, and you just take it as far and for as long as you can.
June 10, 1845

Finally, I have been released from the crate which shielded me from prying eyes. Mr. Smith has earned every penny for this endeavor that he has enabled me to go through. I exited the cargo in an identical fashion as gaining passage with the exception that I had only the scarce supplies of 2 containers of water. After releasing me, Mr. Smith even pointed me in the direction of a factory looking for working girls. I hope that my wages will be enough to support my family in addition to myself. A new chapter will start on this fresh soil, and I look forward to reliving it through my diary. I swear this is what kept me sane in the dank corridor of the hull of the “Liberator”, but a five day ship ride is a fair trade in my book for a chance for a fresh start for liberation.