The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-12

SHIP CHARLHs CRO0KKR,
OFF LONG ISLAND, June 6, 1854.

TO THE EDITOR or THE NEW YORK HERALD. 81.
SIR-Having, with much surprise to myself and
fellow passengers, seen in your paper OF the 4th
inst the announcement of the arrival Of the above
named ship, in which 1t is stated that we have had
thirty-one deaths during our passage, and those
deaths caused by that worst Of all scouges cholera
induces me to write this letter. trusting should you
consider it worth insertion in your highly and very
justly appreciated Journal it may serve to allay in
some degree the very natural alarm such state
ment published by you will create. In order to
avoid occupying much of your valuable space win
endeavor to give You an outline OF our voyage, in
order that you may Judge Of the nature and cause
Of such number Of deaths taking place.
The ship was advertised aud appointed to sail
from Liverpool on the Oath of April, at which time
numbers Of the passengers were on board. She did
not leave dock until the 27th, and went into the
river, where she remained until the Sd day of May
on which day at two o'clock we were towed out into
the Irish channel. We had very tardy passage
through the channel, having to encounter contrary
winds, and were on the tack all the way through
The ship rolled very much which caused the MAORI
ty of the passengers to become seasck. On the 18th
the first death occurred-a young man who had been
sick from the first and it was stated by the person
who slept with him that he had not been able to
taste food for four days. Upon this young man
being taken alarmingly i'll, it was found out much
to the surprise and indignation of the passengers,
that there was no appointed surgeon on board to rem
der assistance to any person who might require med
cal aid. 1t happened that passenger "a Dutchman)
came forward and represented himself as medical
man, and was allowed to take the young man in
charge, but did not save him. Each subsequent
day numbered more deaths up to the 18th May un-
til they reached 80 and not 81, as stated in your
paragraph. This number in the period Of time
stated may appear somewhat large and appear 10
many as bearing out the presence of cholera, but
it will in some degree show If not positively refute
the idea that those deaths the result of that
disease. In the first place we had $50 passengers
on board, the allowance to whom by the ship was,
each adult "a lbe navy biscuit, lbs. oatmeal Id.
flour, lbs rice, ID. sugar, OF. Of tea, OF. of
salt per week and quarts of water daily.
Now. this appears very liberal and good allow
ance Of provisions, and 80 it is, in oatmeal par
ticularly, but not In others, such as sugar
and -four, which are the most essential as
they assist in rendering the other articles Of use
These articles were delivered out regularly weekly.
for four weeks. when the -four and sugar was found
to be consumed, and none was given out. Indepen-
dent Of this there was no salt put board at the
time OF sailing; the delay at the onset of eight days
had swallowed up the private sea stores Of nearly
thrown upon the ships provisions, which, Judging
from the quantity OF waste in biscuits, oatmeal rice,
&C., and the grumbhng and ssatisfactionexpressed
by the very humblest of the steerage passengers,
These provisions, be they what they might, had to
be cooked and when tel you that $50 persons had
to cook their victuals In close galley, fifteen feet
long, two feet wide, with two stoves, one four and
You will see that many had to wait long time for
their breakfast, dinner or tea, in fact many were
glad If they could obtain one cooked meal daily.
Such was the provision made for cooking, and no
wonder that sickness should take place where per-
sons, used to proper food and proper cooking, were
obliged to submit to their food being half cooked or
not cooked at ALL This was the case owing to eating
raw or half cooked oatmeal and rice, with biscuits
az coarse as the oatmeal, which brought on dysen-
terry and weakness Of bowels and terminated fatally,
as such were the symptoms of all that died.
Indeed, as proof that it was not contagious
disorder that had slept with, or been in constant
attendance upon any Of the individuals who have
died during any part Of the voyage, and the whole
OF the passengers now on board will say that they
contagious, but treated the whole as the result Of
the want Of proper food, care and attention, so ne
cessary on board ship, particularly with such as
were siling and delicate when coming on board.
We have been kept here on board since Saturday
last, and were inspected by the medical officer, who
selected eight persons only as fit for hospital and
they were Immediately sent there; the rest Of the
activity, and appetite, the last of which they can
not satisfy, having provisions and cannot obtain
anything from the ship but biscuit, oatmeal, rice
and tea; and was il not for the good and sympa
thizing feeling which prevails with the passengers
who have friends to bring them provisions, by
sharing their provisions many deaths would be
added to our previous list through starvation. con
assure you, sir, in conclusion that so far as appre
henson Of danger may appear to the inhabitants Of
New York, car only cay, If had the nearest or
the dearest friend relative should not fear their
passing week on board, so far l am from appre-
bending the least danger
am, sir, yours most obediently, and in haste,
JAMES GOuGH.