The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-10-27
The Coolies at Sea-A Sad and Distress
ing Picture.

ing Picture.
From the Honolulu Advertiser.
We have endeavored TO gather from diff.
terent sources the facts relating to the
voyage of the San Salvador ship Dolores
Ugarte from Macoa to this port en- route
for Calao. The ship is registered 800 tons
and left Macao with COS coolies on board.
Ii seems from the statement of one of her
officers that willie loading, after having
obtained some 200 souls, they rose on the
crew aud overpowerlng them jumped
overheard and swan ashore. The boats
started in pursuit and recovered one half Of
the number. About the middle of June
last the ship finished loading and sailed on
her voyage across the Pacific Ocean tor
Caliao.
For three weeks after leaving port the
coolies were not permitted on deck. They
we're slowed between decks in four rows
two amidships and one in each wing, a
space sixteen inches wide being allotted to
each individual. Atrer three weeks i'm
prisonment below, under grated hatch
on deck in gangs of fifty, for one hour,
for the purpose OF exercise. The deck
was In charge of sentries armed to the
The after part OF the deck was separated
from the main deck by barricades defended
by carronades Ia order to get the
amount of exercise necessary in the tine
allotted the men were compelled TO move
lively being melted thereto from time to
time with the lash of The cat. Soon after
being allowed to come on deck some
difficulty occurred between the crew and a
gang of the Chinese, which resulted in the
jumping overheard Of a number of the
coolies; our informant said eighteen.
hope of a release from this involuntary
bondage by overpoweriDg the crew, died
out, and the coolies settled down in DE-
spair. Soon it became necessary to
allowance them; and we were given dish
in which their food and water were served
out to them. After careful weight and
measurement, we find that they we're
.han han one me- pint itff Of water per diem. Some
Of them had not been able to expend the
advance paid to them in the barracoon at
Macao, and consequently had few dol
lars ~ith them. They state that when
the pangs of thirst became unbearable
they would hold dollar up through the
gratings and call for water; when pot
Of water would be given them and the
money retained.
They were frequently whipped, from
twelve to twenty-tour stripes being in
hicted each time. The sentries kicked and
| cuffed them continually. During the voyage
about twenty-four deaths occurred. The
mate declared that st night the stencil
from the main hatch was ovcrpowering
To use his own language: "You could
not hold your head over the hatch one
minute without vomiting" The condi-
tion of the ship and coolies on the arrival
here was miserable. This We state on the
authority of gentleman who has followed
the sea for years. The condition OF the
| forty-three who were landed here tells a
story of inhumsnity which appeals to the
sympethies Of every citizen OF q Christian
community.
On the forenoon of the 26th ult. it was
rumored that forty three coolies, from the
Dolores Ugarte we're in a house back of
the old Liberty Hall plemisee. Learning
this, citizen secured the services of an liz
The sight presented on entering the yard
was enough to excite the sympathy and in
dignation of any man. Some of the un-
their turn for washing, unable to move
hand or foot. Others we're in the hands of
some natives, who placed them in tub and
poured water upon them. Several of the
parties were stripped in the presence Of
different witnesses, and afforded sight
only equal by the representatives in the
American papers of the Andersonvile and
the Belle Isle prisoners during the recent
rebellion. One had cied and was buried.
; The poor emaciated creatures gave indubit
oh NJ ,ph 70 n
man" Twelve were in the last stages OF
decay, some with ship fever, others with
diarrahea. Two at least had ulcers in tne
corner of their eyes so far advanced as 70
render them blind for life.
The interpreter questioned them regard
ing the incidents of the voyage, after
which be asked them il they desired to re-
turn to the ship, and all who could, ans
wered in the negative. They were then
asked if they wished to remain on these
islands, and the answer was in the afhrma-
tive. The interpreter was then instructed
to say to them that they could remain here;
and there was no law which would compe
them to return to the ship. The joy
evlnced by them more than repays the
trouble and annoyance experienced by the
parties who befriended them Knowing
the excited condition OF the Chinese, and
of the natives who were witnesses to the
suferiDgs Of the coolies and also aware oi
the resources of the agents of the ship
which would be called into action to re-
consign the poor creatures to . slavery,
from which death would be a happy deliv-
erance, if they we're aware of the intended
exodus, it was determined to take such
steps as would prevent mob or riot. The
leading Chinese were made aware of the
wish of their eouo,rymen to re.nain here,