Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-04-13
Demons on Shipboard- The Middle Ras-
sage 0utdoue by an Emigrant Ship.

a few days ago the ship James Foster, Jr.,
of the Black Ball line, arrived from Liver
pool with many of her passengers prostrated
by ship fever. She sailed from Liverpool
with about $50 emigrants, of which number
%, including some of the crew, died OF bad
treatment aud insufficient food during the
voyage. On Saturday an Investigation was
instituted at Castle Garden, before Commits
sioners O'Gorman, kapp and McElroy, and
Superintendent Casserly. Mr.. Charles Ii.
Marshall. one of the owners OF the ship, was
present with counsel. One of the passengers,
an intelligent English plumber, Robert Black
more, testified that the first provisions were
issued the day after sailing, and that they
were never in quantity or quality such as the
contract required. The only good article was
the bread Although having no measures or
weights to determine, the witness was sure
that the allowance was only about half OF that
stipulated 1t was better at first, but decreased
in quantity and was deteriorated in quality
until nearing this port Each passenger
should have received three quarts of water a
day, but they did not get half that quantity.
All the provisions aud the Goals were served
out by the carpenter, who, when asked for
better food, answered his petitioners with a
kick or u blow. Sometimes he would not give
out food until bedtime, and ottentines the
passengers were compelled to go to bed supper
less. This witness once went to the captain
aud asked for something to eat, and was
answered Not a id bit to save your life"
a petition, reciting their grievances, was also
drawn up by the passengers and presented to
the captain, who took no notice oft. Shortly
before arriving at this port witness went into
the hospital and was entreated by the sick
there to get them something to eat, even dried
peas or rice, or drink of water. He could
not do it, and the next day three of them were
brought out dead. Passengers were required
to come on deck at half past o'clock for
their allowance of water, and were often kept
until o'clock waiting the carpenters pleasure;
if they were not there at the time they had
to 90 without. Witness never saw the captain
or mate strike passenger, but had seen the
carpenter and bOatswain do SO frequently
The crew were often beaten, and the passen~
gers had to do their work.
Patrick Caveney corroborated the foregoing
account, and said that he near dying of
starvation on the voyage. For week he
lived on less than two quarts of oat meal, aud
unless man fought his way to the galley he
could not cook his food he saw the carpenter
knock tooth ont of boys mouth another
young man fell on skylght and cut his face,
duu Was OlneI hO was puI IA'S VIZ
hospital, but one night the carpenter dragged
him out to make him work, and he died the
next day. Witness frequently saw the car
penter and boatswain strike passengers on
one occasion a sailor named Woodward, after
being forced out of the hospital and compelled
to work fell exhausted on the steerage deck,
trothing at the mouth and in q dying state
one Felix, who acted as cabin boy, put his
head down the hatchway, and asked where
that -- was on learning, he came
down and kicked him violently to make him
rise; the man groaned and said he was dying;
the rufian continued kicking him. and finally
had him hoisted on deck by rope, where he
was left, partly naked, until dragged into the
hospital; he died the same night.
Officer Daniels deposed that the carpenter
and boatswain had been lodged in Richmond
county jail, and that the captain and first
mate (brOthers) were i'll in Brooklyn. On the
part of the owners Captain Marshall denied
that they had any desire to prevent full in
vestigstion. The examination was adjourned
untilthe following Monday,-Ne,o York Sun.