The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-07-12
Barbarous Treatment of Immigrants.
The Guelph &C. Vest Adre,tt$er OF

The Guelph ". VEST -IdtaItSer oI
Monday, says IN ,......
Shortly after noon on Sunday, long
and heavily loaded immigrant tram passed
through Guelph, en- route to the Western
States. There were, We should think, eight
hundred or nine hundred persons, crammed
III ten common grain cars, with the doors
boarded up part way, and small square
hole IN the upper rear conner to let III the
air. For the benefit Of those who have
less knowledge of railways than ourselves,
we would say that these cars are built per-
tectly tight, for the conveyance Of grain
and other inanimate things. Cattle and
pigs would sutfocate In them, and SO they
have superior accommodations their cars
having strips up the side, with space for
ventilation between.
These immigrants were from Germany,
and had ridden all the way from Point Levi
(near Quebec boxed up in this fashion. =
The train probably left there on Thursday
previous, and might reach Sarnia on Sun
day night, SO that they would have to remain
on board three whole days and nights, at
least. There was not ghost of seat to
be had and if there were, no one could
have had a chance to sit down; even stand
ing up, they were Wedged in so tight as
| hardly to be able to move 1t was not
thought worth while to give the smaller
children, girls and women, a separate car,
or to leave them room to sit on the floor
once In while, and rest their aching limbs
No doubt the burly ya-hoos and their
! lmpromptu sweethearts had huge time
Of 1t, jammed IN perpetual embrace akin to
a moderately powerful hydraulic press but
what pitltul sight for poor old women, OK
pectant mothers, and decripit grand faith
ers-for stumpy boys and delicate little
girls, who stood on tip-toe, turning up
their pale faces between their taller fellows
to get mouthful Of fresh air.
livery one who has ridden good dis
| lance on a train knows very well how sweet
it sometimes is to get draught Of fresh
water, the mingled heat and dust Of a
crowded car making the traveller drink like
a fish. By the time these poor, half fam
| ished wretches reached Guelph, they were
| actually painting for water and when they
caught sight of some pals which had been
placed tor them on the platform, several
sprang over the boarding before they could
! be handed up to them. The two or three
| buckets passed into the cars were seized by
strong, rude men in front, who dipped in
their heads almost to the ears, and in this
way gulped down the precious liquid :
Meanwhile could be heard from the midst
Of the cars the fearful cries OF mothers in
behalf Of their babes, the passionate APP
peals of cid men and damsels, and the sobs
and groans of children, who stretched out
their pitiful little hands with faint entreat-
les: jIassT! HaSSer 0 qeJea ,cdsSer! P"
La vain, however, as the sruf tones of the
conductor were heard above all, No time,
get on. They seemed scarcely to under
stand the order, till they heard tho engine
whistle, when they redoubled their cries,
clapping their hands to their lips, and ex-
claiming Dnsteh Wassey = in the most
affecting strains. Thetrain rolled off amid
the maledictions of the bystanders, who
declared it the most shameful sight they
| had ever met with in Guelph"