Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-11-23
WHAT HAPPENS TO FEMALE PASSEN.
GERS On EMIGRANT SHIPS.

The following extract is from a communica-
ton written by surgeon on board the emigrant
ship Henry
"Let US just inquire who are those monsters
in female form We have just seen shouting,
jeering and laughing with the sailors, whilst
throwing overheard the body Of one who was 50
lately amongst them Three weeks before
those girls were quiet, apparently well con-
Quoted, and some mild looking, with faces in
which the physiognomist would in va n look for
indications of the savage depra,ity he now sees
depicted there. They were modest girls-many
of them brought up virtuously and religiousy /;
strict in the observance of their religious du-
ties; their character and conduct above all sus-
piclon but in q fatal hour they were induced
to emigrate to America-some from necessity,
sthers, perhaps, from the invitation OF friends
who had preceded them, and many feeling that
all e1ertion in their native home was insult
fcient to relieve their parents from the burden
of their suppOrt-with the laudable ambition
of achieving inpependenee and contributing to
the relief and comfort Of their parents in the
decline of life.
at may be worth pausng here to inquire
into the system adopted to bring about the de-
structi0n of those young women, which is ex-
aetly alike in all the cases | have witnessed
During the first two or three days passeugers
are perfectly terrified by the atrocities and
frghtful bodily injuries which they sec inflicted
around them. They themselves getting a few
drives and knocks and plenty Of curses soon
perceive that they are now embarked on long
and drcary passage, helpless and unarmed, per-
fectly at the mercy Of miscreants, whose acts
have so frequently of late been brought before
the public by the press that need not more
particularly describe them. When night sets in
each passenger retires to rest with a forbsding
mind, when all is quiet and supposed asleep, a
sudden shrek is heard from a female Some
gather around her, while others hurry for the
medical officer. He arrives, and finds a girl,
generally very young, say about 16 or IL years
of age, lying on the hOOr Of the between decks,
with pale and terrified countenance. gazing
wildly around from face to face; he interro-
gates those around as to the cause; they shake
their heads, but are dumb he asks the girl
herself; she turns her eyes quickly around;
they rest for one moment On some object, and
are as quickly averted; she shudders makes
an effort to Sit and says she is better; she turns
to look again, and sees an officer of the ship,
who has most oficiously attended, lantern in
hand, standing a little aside. The mystery is
now perfectly intelligible-at least to any med
ical man who has been twice across the Allan
tic with passengers. In all cases inquiries are
useless, because terror has taken possession Of
the unfortunate passengers. The next night
there may be repetition Of the same scene and
with the same girl; have known it to occur
oftener than twice but watch the girl ask
hcl3 uuiAhS tuS udg lOllOWinS, tue cause Vi nor
alarm. She was frightened she says; but at
what! No art can extract from her an answer,
but before one week has elapsed, that girl has
become one of the worst prostitutes in the ship;
she is perpetually about galley and fOrcastle,
in the midst Of the sailors. She has been visited
at night, and, not being found u ready VICTIM,
was, upon the alarm, threatened with the
knife, or being thrown overheard, if she told
The threat had its effect on her. and on her
companions around her also. This scene Of at
rociOus villany occurred in the last ship I
sailed in! The girl was between Is and 10; ;
and, although daily conversed with her for
four days during my visits between decks,
nothing could induce her to give up the slight
est information; but male passenger, who
slept in bunk adjoining hers, said, She is
all right now; We shall have no moro scream
ing; it's all right, Doctor" There was 10 mis-
taking his manner and mode Of giving this
information; and the poor girls conduct was
sufficiently cOnfrmatory Of it, for she became
one of the most unblushing prostitutes on
board"