Die Welt-Post, Thursday, 11 August 1921
Page 8, "Heartbreaking Song of Woe from Russia"
Balzer, Saratov Region
2 June 1921
To: David, Alexander and Jacob Däcker, Lincoln, Nebraska
Most valued and much beloved brothers, your dear wives and children:
I, your only remaining brother in Russia, and my wife and children find ourselves in good health, such health I also wish for you from the bottom of my heart.
Now we want to tell you that we sent you a letter 8 days ago in the care of one of Bressi's sons who left here on his way to America. "Ach," things are going badly for us here. I have no peace by day or night and thus we think almost constantly of you and would like to emigrate to you in America today rather than tomorrow. We ask you from the very bottom of our hears for advice and assistance and for ways and means for us to come to you as quickly as possible.
Being discussed here is the sending of German delegates to Saratov who would represent us German colonists regarding emigration. Thus it is my request, dear siblings, that you send tickets for our family's ship passage because that is the best way to go. This advice was given to me by Habermann's Wilhelm. This thing is of great concern to us and not a joke because there is nothing more here to live on. Every day we look starvation in the eye. Oh, how many have already starved because there is no more bread to be found. There is little hope for the harvest because there has been absolutely no rain all summer. For this reason we ask you again from the bottom of our hearts to look out for our best interests and send us the passage tickets and write as quickly as possible so that we can sell everything in preparation for the trip.
We have 4 children, Heina is 14, Amalia is 11, Emilie 8 and little Marie 2 years old. And dear brothers, if an endorsement is necessary, then provide it for us. There is nothing else new to write about. Read song number 642 in the old songbook, which begins as follows:
"Im grossen Elend kommen wir,
Im grossen Glauben, Herr, zu Dir," etc.
In closing, be very affectionately greeted by us all and write very soon to your brother and sister-in-law,
Heinrich and Katharina Däcker
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
Page 8, "A Russian Letter from Schoolmaster Würtz"
Remarks by the Editor: Our readers will be pleased to know that after such a long time they have a letter to read from Beideck Schoolmaster Würtz, who, as he relates in his letter, has been for some years the Schoolmaster in Dönhof. Last week a Welt-Post agent was in Loveland, Colorado, and met with Mr. John Löbsack, the father-in-law of Mr. Würtz, who gave him the letter for publication, which now follows, word for word:
Dönhof, 5 June 1921
Dear parents-in-law and family:
Years have gone by since we last received a letter from you. We here do not know if you are still alive and how things are going with you.
Now, today, with this letter, I will again attempt to make contact with you. Before all else, I must tell you that we are now to be found in old Dönhof where for the past 3 years I have been the Schoolmaster; and we are also pleased to tell you that up to now all are in good health, but that last month our Klara died unexpectedly at the age of 12 from an "Giftpochen" (abscess??). She was a good student and a capable and hard worker at home. Two years ago death came to our home and took our son Herbert from us at the age of 2 years. We still have 3 children, their names and ages are as follows: Viktor 10, Frieda 6 and Emma, 2 years. Our parents are still alive and live with us.
Conditions in Russia, as you probably know, are sad. In addition this year there was another harvest failure. Many people have left for other places. I have already buried many that have starved. One does not know what is yet to come, therefore we would like to emigrate to America if it is possible. Please write us quickly and in detail, if you are able to advise us. Write us about everything in general, about conditions in America, about the harvest outlook, etc. If you, dear parents-in-law, do not know about the emigration question, please, inquire of people who are knowledgeable in these affairs.
Send your letter to Germany, addressed to: Berlin W., Motzstr. 22, Verein der Volgadeutschen. They will forward the letter to us; naturally, you must give them our address (this last is no longer necessary because direct Postal Service between America and Russia has been reestablished---editor).
Johannes is in Frank at a large factory...the boys are in Frank in the administration, Emma is in Katharinenstadt. Grandmother is still living and remains in Frank. "Vetter" (cousin/uncle??) Adolph's Adolph is a "grosser Gentleman" (big/important man?) in Balzer. Now we send you all our best greetings; we also greet Pauline and her family and all our friends.
We await a quick reply and remain your children,
Alexander and Maria Würtz
(In the following lines the Schoolmaster tries to write in English. Much of it is confusing because of the awkward sentence structure, nonetheless it is understandable. The writer should is to be complimented for his attempt and diligence---editor).
"Dear Gustav: Can you me writen an letter? I can English lesson. The Viktor and the Frieda are pupiles. They walk in the school every day. I ame schoolmaster. How much you years? and Sascha and Karl? What do you learn? Good bye. Al. Würtz."
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.