, 1865-02-21
REFUGEES AT CAIRO.
Alleged Inhumanfty OF the Illinois
Central z. r. Company.
Official Investigation of. the
A0Htr.

DEAR OH deftWlLn pIease uHu LIE l0l"
lowing statements Of our agent at Cairo and
conductors In charge Of refugees that left
Cairo Jan. Il, 1865, at 9 O'Clock p. m::
Mr.. J. johnson, agent at Cairo, states that
J. Sites, Superintendent Refugees Home,
called upon him, and they talked about stoves
for the cars. Mr. johnson informed Bfr.
stites that 1t was impossible to furnish them,
as he had not the stoves, and even If he had,
the cars that he would be compelled to fur
niEh him were box cars, and not suited for
stoves. Alters thorough examination OF cars
Mr.. Stites expressed himself satisfied. as 1t
was the best Mr. johnson could do. Mr..
johnson states most emphatically that there
unloaded from, but on the contrary they were
clean box cars from which grain had been un-
losded.
Mr.. Quinn, who attended to making up the
train, states that he examined thoroughly all
the cars and they were clean and In good
order. The ear containing the sick be swept
ont, and the doctors In charge ssid they we're
perfectly satisfied and got into the car with
them. One refugee e Woman) was left In the
freight house, where the others were taken
from, n dying condition, and did die soon
that numbers Of the children appeared to be
in dying condition when they were trans-
feucd from the freight house. to the cars, but
Fl iom The quantity Of blarke2s, bedding, &C.,
&C., put into the cars with them, he consid-
cred they we're made comfortable, the wealth
cs being mild.
Mr. johnson states that In no instance have
ufugees been detained or remained longer
than the first train, unless at their request.
Refugees BY car loads are constantly being
transported ever the road, and they are al
lowed to pick out the cars to 60 In,
ard they usually have {as In this case)
q quantity Of bedding, which they prefer
to arrange In the cars to suit themselves, &C.,
| &c. II there have been any cases where tef1-
gees have remained over train, it has been
On account Of their not having transporta.
| passenger cars at that time. and had no sol.
d,cr care, and he did the worry best he could
under the circumstances, as they had con-
stautly been going forward in box cars. and
the weather WIS 80 mild OF the time that he
did not giye it a second thought. The Doc
tors only desired to have car with stove
in it that contained the sick, as theJ conB.d-
cred the others land so atated.) comfortable
enough with the quantity Of bedding and
clothing they had.
There ore numerous cases where refugees
could have gone In passenger cars, but they
bedding, goods, DC.
Weather. January 8th, warm and raining !;
9Th, showing; 10th, line and cool; 11th,
weather fine, and 12tb. river rising: Conduc.
tor George states he left Cairo for Centralia at
o'clock ?. m:, January 18th, and Ieachea Cen
| when he left Cairo or during the trip, hut was
| thaWiug all day. Noticed boys at various
| points along the road snow -balltng. No COM
plant Was made to HIN as to the condt-'
dltion Of refugees until he reached
/ Richview, ten miles. from Centralls, when
hs they came out they remarked to Mr..
George the children were suffering with TIE
cold. Mr. G, stated he had two cahoose cara,
(no one in them) with fires, and II they had
| told him the children were freezing he would
have assisted them to Have removed the chill
| thsy we're very seriously of, as the doctors
appeared to go very le1surely to and return
from their dinners. The doctose informed
Nr. G. that four Of the children had died up
On the way- ME. G. looked into the car aud
noticed they appeared to have plenty Of blAn-
cred up and looked comfortable. Not 4
| word passed between the conductor and doc
tors ns to the condition OF the children until
| they reached RIchyieH and the doctors CAME
out to dinner: Mr. 9eorgc, further states
that not one Of the cars that be saw contain
! ing refugees had had stock In, but on the con-
trary, they looked clean, and had the appear
| ance Of having had grain in them. The night
WIS somewhat chilly but not freezing cold.
| Mr. Stiles states TINT four children we're
| buried at Central1a, and that no complaint
| Was made to him as to the condition Of the
| refugees while at CentrallA-
Conductor Hosteter states tie lett Centra2fa
| for Decatur At O'Clock p, H., arrived at 3:S5
f. m, 14th, On time. One Of the doctors re-
marked to him he thought It was very hard to
| car, and that was full Of children: nothing
said to the conductor about any children dy-
| Ing on the way: the night WAS pretty cool !;
nothing transpired during this trip more than