En septembre 1912, Auguste Arnal part des cévennes gardoises pour les états-unis où il décèdera en 1981. Il débarque à New-York, s'installe à cleveland puis à Aurora (Ohio). Durant cette période il envoie à la famille les photos de sa réussite. Vers 1968 il acquiert une radio grandes-ondes et communique avec la France. Devenant petit à petit aveugle, il envoie cette fois des cassettes audio enregistrées lors de communications radio avec Mr brun en France et destinées à sa nièce. "Mon oncle d'Amérique" a bien existé. Je suis parti sur ses traces, la légende familiale ne suffisant plus, du lieu de son débarquement jusqu'à sa tombe, en traversant des paysages qu'il a peut-être lui-même traversés.
Photo d'arrivée à New-York; auguste Arnal et son cousin venu l'accueillir. sept.1912
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He's the one on the right. My great grand-uncle, the brother of my paternal grandmother's father.
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October - November 2001
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In the boat, on the way back from Ellis Island.
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On the quay of Kings Highways, New York
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My grandmother used to say: "My uncle from America, when he came once..." or "Auguste, my uncle from America..." It was usually with these expressions that the tales of the family legend began.
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Interior, metro, New York.
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Under the street, New York.
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He married Lucy
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Immeuble à New-York
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On the metro platform
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Building with Stars and Stripes
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Motel room. Buffalo, Ohio.
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He became a magician...
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On the road, towards the north, after leaving New York.
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Mon oncle, à velo, 1934
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... and poker player.
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New York suburbs
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Towards Hartsdale, New York
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Philadelphia
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Stationary train
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New York
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Station and Hudson
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Wagon, New York
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Tappan Zee Bridge, highway viaduct over the Hudson, State of New York.
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Towards Hartsdale, New York
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My grandmother used to say: "He came once, from America, he had a lot of money. It was almost as though he could make dollar bills appear at will. He bought us all kinds of things. Especially things we needed." My great grand-uncle, the brother of my paternal grandmother's father.
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... and when I asked him if he cheated at poker, he replied in a whisper: "But that's what poker is, Marcelle!"
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Metro, Washington
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Brooklyn
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I learnt that he always had powerful cars for leaving cities as quickly as possible, wherever he played. Skilled with his hands and his eyes, "he could pick out the cards in play after two rounds on the table." Auguste also thought ahead.
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His first win at cards? A car, some money, a building in New York.
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To be continued...
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