The New York herald., 1869-03-14
THE FEVER SHIP.

amined-Thetr Statement Of the Ill-Trcat.
nsent and starvatlou Of the Passengers.
At twelve O'Clock yesterday Commissioners Of
Emigration O'Gorman, McElroy and Kapp assem-
bled In their room ut Castle Garden and proceeeed
10 take tesrmony in the Of John Carey Hsainst
The James Foster Jr. Mr.. Charles II. Marshall, with
Mr. Thomas n. Hubbard as counsel, appeared 70
represent the owners and agents Of the vessel,
Messrs. Marshall 4 Company. Oficer Samuel VIII
son Daniels OF The Twenty-third precinct, who took
charge or the James Foster, Jr., when she arrived
at this port, was also present during the proceed
lnga sA &a
Mr. OGorman inquired OF Mr.. Hubbard whether
be was ready TO proceed with the investigation
Mr. Hubbard All the onicers OF the vessel are now
lying sick abed but suppose that need not prevent
Ms from going on to-day.
rgsrMoNY OF ROBERT BLAcKMoRE.
Robert Backmore, one OF the passengers, was the
FIRST witness sworn and examined by Commissioner
Kapp He testified az follows:-
O. Where are you from 2 A. London, SIP.
@ Were you passenger on board the ship James
Foster, Jr.f A. Yes. Sir.
Q. A steerage passenger A. A steerage pas
senger.
@ Where did you engage your passageS A. Lv-
erpool. . t.t
O. Did you make written contractq A. Yes; this
N my contract now produced
@ When did you leave Liverpool9 A. left to so
into the Mersey the 18th Of December; went on
board the 18th l3th am not which; left Liv-
erpool on the 10th.
O. When did you arrive here9 A. am not quite
sure OF the day OF the month when we arrived; 1t
was last Monday evening, believe.
@ How many were you on b0ardf A. can't say;
calculated $50 passengers In the steerage depart
ment.
O. When were the first provisions served outa A.
The day after went on board they served small
portion Of provisions to last until Saturday.
O. Have You any complaint to make az to the
treatment you received on board shipf Just tell
your whole story. A. have do not think the
provisions were the quantity the contract ticket
specified, and that some OF them not good; the
nour was bad
O. How about the bread9 A. The bread was very
good, cir.
Q. How about the pOrk2 A. have no complaint
against the pork or beef some was not good; there
was very small allowance Of provisions all the
time; It grew less every week; II we made any COM
plant the carpenter would take away what we had
on several occasions, but not all the time; we had
sugar enough; then he took away what we had and
put 1t backs we went to the captain about it, and he
said we must go 70 the carpenter.
q. How often did this happen9 A. Two or three
times. ....
Q. What did he take away from your A. Sugar.
No, think not sir.
Given out three times day, and sometimes rather
more; the quality OF the water very good up till
within the last fortnight; then they served us with
sat water, at least rain water, but there great
deal OF salt water in it.
Q; How were you treated by the crew of the shipa
A. They never inflicted any punishment me ut
any time; was never struck by any means have
seen plenty OF others struck
,..o. What forY A. Oh, for nothing PARTICULAR only
annOyauCeS. n n n
cruel disposition that II You answered him asked
h.m @ question he would just as soon turn round
and give you blow as not; he never did II TO me,
but he has threatened several times.
q. How did the captain treat your A. did some
great many things for him and went to him when
was very short OF provisions, and had nothing at
what had done and he said, "Not God damn bit
To save your life."
By Commissioner o'Gorman:-we You alone, or
mad you any family with y0uf A. was alone, sir.
q. Were the fires all the time sufficient for cook
fngS A. Sometimes the carpenter would not serve
think that happened seven or eight times during the
passage ne served It late In the day. but not In the
morning. ,ws,ns he would ct keep Us perhaps t eleven Or
the time the passengers were all cooked for It was
time to go to bed; very well; we had to do with one
Q. How many ranges or cooking places had you
got therc3 A. Only one.
In ths contract which you say you received NJ Liver
pool before leaving2 A. have not, in quantity
a.
provisions every week served to us that are crossed
here; we received provisions every week, but not
the quantity we should have had.
q. In what respect was the fautf A. In all OF
them, sir; they never weighed anything
@ Did they measures 4. Yes. but they did not oil
the potts. they would half fill 1t and then pour half
OF IL OF again as they put 1t in the bags.
q. How much was It SHORTY A. could not say;
we had no means 81 testing on board; we calculated
we had about half during the first month, and 1t
shortened after that: had only about three bis
cults the first week and two and half the last; we
were about half way, stating our grievances
and requesting him to see that they
way; we presented it, and all the steerage psssen-
gers signed 1t; did not take IL TO the captain my
sef but read the contents Of It; the captain never
answered II; steerage passenger here In the hos
pital has copy Of 1t In his possession.
Q. What Is his namef Ennis; don't know his
O. Have you anything else to say2 A. No but
with regard to the passengers, sir; ! went IN the
a 70 See scx na ew nay nays
lying In the hospital and the first thing they asked
me was TO entreat me to bring them something to
cato fetch them some raw peas or q bit OF rice,
or glass Of water, anything could get, they
were starving; we had moi thing 10 give them; /
the hospital and buried; believe 1t AS the next
morning; this was three or lour days before the
BY Commissioner O'Gorman--what part OF the
ship was the hospital INF A. On the upper deck.
:. q About beating the passengers; describe some
thing you saw about beating them; mention one IN
stance9 A. l never saw q great deal OF beating OF
the passengers only by the carpenter; we were
almost entirely In his hands, and when we we're
fetching water, for instance, II we brnshed
clothes against him he would not ask us TO move
back but the nrst one that was near him ne would
strike with his INST anything he had In his hand to
make us move back; saw HIM strike one man 1--we
timea
q What man was thatf A. He has given his evi-
dence; do not know his name; he is here.
:, q Describe what you saw done TO that man : A.
He struck him with his fist hve times; he gave him
one Two blows In the face; the man did not show
any marks OF being hurt after.
O. Was any provocatlon given to the carpenter for
thisf A. not at all that occasion; not the slight
est, because he could not avoid it.
O. Avoid whatS A. Avoid pressing against the
carpenter.
q What was the carpenter doing at this tlmes
"A. Drawing water-measuring water.
O. Did you see any man struck by the carpenter
win any belayingp pinf A. Not q passenger, SIR.
O. How many passengers died on the voyage that
you knew A. Four SIR, believe.
: O. Were you sick yourself during the voyages A.
Yes.
a. With anything more than sea sicknessG A.
On, yes, worse than that.
q. We're you IN the hospitaiS A. No, air.
q. Have you read over the statement In this con-