Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-08-31
THE EMIGRANT SHIP.
A SKETCH FROM LIFE.

During the last summer, business summoned us 10
one OF the wbarves Of this city, at the moment when
ship from Liverpool had just arrived bringing some
Two hundred and hily emigrans, men, women and
children, chiefly IRISH. Mich as we have heard and
read OF the condition of many OF the poor passengers
we never fully realized their dis,resSes, until we per
sonaly witnessed them
The emigrant ship whose arrival we witnessed, had
been seventy odd days from port port Her passen
gers were OF the poorest class. Their means were
nearly exhausted in gong SrUm Dublin to Liverpool,
and IN endeayos 10 obtain work in the latter city, pre-
vous TO bidding reluctant but eternal farewell 10 the
old country. lhey came on board worn out--wan
the very lie Of many depending on speedy pas
sage over the Atlantic. In this they disappolnt-
ed The ship had encountered succession Of terri
tic gaies-lt had leaked badly and they had been
fined grea, part Of the voyage TO their narrow quar-
tiers between decks, herded together G a no lsome and
residential atmosphere, Uttered with damp and
full o! filth.
What marvle tia, disease and death invaded their
ranks. One after another, many died and were launch
ed into the deep The ship entered Fayal to rent
and there that cline Of endless summer proved to the
emgrants fatal than the blast Of the Upas pois-
oned valley of Java. The delicious orange the mild
Pieo wine, used literally by the passengers sowed the
seeds OF death yet more freely among their ranks
On the passage from Fayal, the mortality dread
iul but at len 9Th decmated and diseased, the band OF
emgranls arrived at Boston.
II was summers day--but no cheering light fell
upon The spires OF the city. ltwas damp and gloomy
the bay spread out before the eye like huge sheet OF
lead, and the clouds swept low and heavily over the
hills and house tops. After the vessel was moored,
all the passengers who capable of moving or be-
ing moved came up or were brought up on deck
We scanned their wan and hagsard features with Gu
rloslty and pity.
Here was the wreck of an athletic man, his eyes,
deep sunken in their orbits, nearly CLASSY
those OF corpse--his poor attire hung loosely on MS
square shoulders. His matted beard rendered his
sickly. greenish countenance yet wan and livid
He crawled about the deck atone-his wife and five
children, they for whom he had lived struggled, for
whose sake he making his last desperate exerIlon
had all been taken from him on his voyage. We adj
dressed him some questions touching his family
'Ihey are all gone" said he''the wife and the chl
dren. The last one--ihe baby--died this mornin' -
she lies below They're best of where they are"
In another place sat shiyering ragged man the
picture of despair. A few Of his counirymen had
gathered around him offered him some food. He
might have taken il eagerly some days before Notc
he gazed on vacancy without noticing their efforts to
induce him to take some nourishmenl Sui they per-
severed and one of them held cooling glass OF lem
onade TO his parched lips.
Seated on the after hatchway was little boy who
had that morning los, both his parents He shed no
tears. Familiarity with misery had deprived him OF
that sad consolation. We passed on 10 a group OF
riShnen gathered round an old gray haired man lying
al length upon the forward deck One OF them was
kneeng beside him "Father! Father" said he ear
nesty"Rouse up for the love Of Heaven. See here !!
I've brought We some ponidge-Iase sup ov it--It
will give ye heart and life.
Sorrow a BIZ Of life is LEFT in The old man any how