Chapter 376: Chapter 55 Fraudulent Immigration
The fire burned for a full two days and nights until a heavy rain poured down, extinguishing the terrifying blaze. But two-thirds of Chicago’s downtown had irrevocably turned into scorched earth; hotels, commercial buildings, opera houses, banks, and postal buildings were all engulfed by the flames.
Charred bodies were seen all over the streets, but many of the deceased were burned to ashes by the fire. Others, in a panic to escape the disaster, fled to the shores of Lake Michigan and jumped into the lake to their unfortunate demise, with floating corpses scattered across Lake Michigan. The streets near the Heixinggen Bank’s Chicago branch were crowded with disaster victims.
To prevent an outbreak of disease, bank employees conducted a two-week disinfection of the area surrounding the bank and established refugee shelters around it.
Although the Chicago branch wasn’t built in the city center, more financial resources were spent on land and construction, making it Chicago’s largest bank in terms of area, with surroundings as open as East Africa itself, used for landscaping.
"Mr. Manager, here’s a telegram from the New York headquarters!" the secretary interrupted Odyssey, who was in a good mood, sipping tea in his office.
Odyssey: "Are they well-informed then?"
Although communication in Chicago was mostly disrupted, the western district’s link had been restored. Apart from the western district, most of the city’s rail yards, the southern side, and the docks, mills, and lumber yards along the Chicago River were unaffected by the fire.
Odyssey picked up the telegram and read it, frowning slightly: "Ah, there’s never a moment’s peace. And how come I didn’t know about the East African Immigration Commission in Chicago? Have you heard of it?"
The secretary shook his head and said: "Mr. Manager, if you haven’t heard of it, there’s no way I could have."
Odyssey: "Alright, let’s not dwell on this issue. The New York headquarters wants us to collaborate with the Immigration Commission, but the concept of migrating from America to other regions seems quite fantastical!"
Odyssey didn’t doubt the success, though. The Chicago fire burned away the lifelong savings of many Chicago citizens.
The streets are now full of refugees, and if they’re left unattended, even getting food could be a problem. In reality, such a situation has already occurred, as robberies in the western district have been ongoing since yesterday. Relying on the U.S. government is less dependable than hoping for divine intervention. Right now, the rescue frontlines in Chicago are fought by self-organized relief groups and churches formed by Chicago citizens.
The appearance of the East African Immigration Commission in America is not surprising. Apart from Germany and Austria, the largest population of Germans is in the U.S. Though there’s a diversion to East Africa, by 1870 the German population in the U.S. had reached over seven million (historically over eight million), with eighty percent having immigrated between 1820 and 1870. At this time, the total U.S. population was just over thirty-six million (historically over thirty-eight million).
At that time, East Africa’s entire population was around seven million, with a significant number being newborns and immigrants from other ethnicities. It was certain that Germans in the U.S. outnumbered East Africa, the German nation.
Moreover, Germans in the U.S. were more genuine than those in East Africa, though some counterfeit ones came from places within the Austria-Hungary Empire like Hungary. They are even better than a country like East Africa, where the real is made fake. While exaggerating, East Africa indeed transformed German identity from bloodlines to cultural identity.
Quickly under the Chicago branch’s cooperation, the East African Immigration Commission began engaging in activities in Chicago.
"Hey brother, where are you from?"
"?"
"I mean, have you considered developing somewhere else? We specialize in finding jobs for the unemployed."
"Really, sir!" Chicago citizens lit up at the mention of jobs.
"Ahem, of course, but the job location is not in Chicago; it requires relocating elsewhere."
"That’s okay, sir. Look at this scorched land; I bet my restaurant’s owner is just a pile of ashes now. I really don’t know what to do! My house is gone too. Waaa..." Saying this, the man burst into tears.
It touched those who heard, evoking tears from many.
"Ah, don’t worry, everything has passed. At worst, start over from scratch. A grown man crying like a child!"
"Easy for you to say; pity me who crossed the ocean and arrived in America from Europe at 15 years old. After so much hardship, now I’ve lost all my savings!"
"Brother, this disaster is destined for you. Didn’t Jesus get crucified back then? Now with God’s blessing, here I am to help! I’ll take you to a good place, with conditions no worse than Chicago, just lacking entertainment and a bit dull, but as long as we work diligently, we can survive well there."
Upon hearing this, his mind immediately thought of the West, "You’re not planning to recommend a western job to me! I tell you, I’m quite timid and heard it is chaotic in the West. I don’t want to become a cowboy or anything."
"Relax, I wouldn’t deceive you, right? Even dogs don’t go to the western areas. The job I’m recommending is far from Chicago but very stable—more stable than Chicago."
"Um..."
Seeing his hesitation, the Immigration Commission member said, "Don’t worry, we’ll take the waterway. Today’s ship is heading east through the canal."
This was intensely misleading. Taking the waterway certainly wasn’t going west, as going west usually requires land routes, either by wagon or railway. He presumed the Immigration Commission’s staff were arranging work for him in New York or another city.
"Alright! Are we setting off now?"
Having lost everything save for his life, he was quite unburdened.
Immigration Commission: "Of course, just follow me!" They could deceive one person at a time.
In the following days, the Immigration Commission was busy recruiting people in Chicago. Although Germans were the main targets, not everyone was identified as such, relying only on appearances, attire, and accents for judgment.
The Immigration Commission also packed the surviving Chinese from the Chicago fire. Chinese Americans were easily recognizable with their distinctive plaits.
And Immigration Commission employees spoke unrefined Far East dialect: "Ni hao (hello), Xuyao gongzuo ma! (Need work?)"
Most Chinese immigrants were the lowest-level laborers without any other options. Never mind whether one is being tricked, they’ve already been deceived into coming to America—what’s there to fear!
The number of Chinese in Chicago was quite significant, with some casualties in the fire. However, American estimates of casualties were only three hundred, excluding Chinese, Italians, Indians, Black people, and those without family or connections. As an immigrant country, America had many familial less individuals.
Therefore, the actual death toll in the Chicago fire was unclear. But Chicago branch manager Odyssey believed it was over ten thousand, with more than three hundred bodies carried out from the city center alone. And there were those burned to ashes, drowned, or trampled to death...
The disorder following the Chicago fire emboldened the Immigration Commission, taking anyone regardless of being German, tricking them onto the ships, directly transporting them to New York, then onto sea vessels. According to the Immigration Commission, it’s headed south, but the responses were ambiguous. Immigrants assumed it was to the southern U.S., but which "south" was up to the Immigration Commission to decide. East Africa is located in the southern hemisphere—no explanation needed for those who understood.
Once they were deceived onto the sea vessels, they fell under the care of East Africa’s military personnel, with enthusiastic fellows instantly transforming into strict soldiers. This provoked genuine German concerns: weren’t they being drafted for military service? Many Germans migrating to America had fled from conscription and war, hence their anxiety as ships sailed toward East Africa from New York.
Everything was conducted in secret since it wouldn’t be appropriate for the East African government to openly recruit people under Americans’ noses. The Immigration Commission used various means of deception, never mentioning their final destination was East Africa.
This batch of immigrants might not match the quality of those from the German regions for East Africa, but it was what East Africa needed. Included were numerous railway workers, just right for East Africa’s forthcoming railway constructions.
Beyond America, the East African Immigration Commission had actually spread across the Americas; Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico were all targets for the East African Kingdom.
Most Germans migrating to the Americas were lower-class civilians, with many struggling and dissatisfied with their fortunes. This implied opportunities for recruitment. The East African Kingdom didn’t prioritize abilities; as long as one could speak German, guard slaves, and farm obediently, they’d be considered a good immigrant.