The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-06-22
FROM WHEELING TO IRELAND.
Homeward Bound.
WHEELING, June 2, 1870.

was the same us that previously passed
over ON the 10Th April. No incident
worthy of notice occurred until the morn
ing of the 10Th, when was again waiting
ut the quay Of Queenstown, 10 embark for
the land Of the West. The Cunard
steamer Siberia was then at the wharf,
full of passengers. She had left this port
for New York several weeks previously,
but had broken her propeller shaft in mid
ocean, and returned here for repairs. The
voyage buck, being under sail, was pro.
tracted; and the passengers complained
OF being placed OH short allowance Of
food, and suffering great hardships. Two
other steamers Of this line, the Nemesis
and Palmyra, were hourly expected from
LiverpOOl-thC former bound for New
York, and the latter for Boston. l had
been ordered to report at the Cunard Of
flee at 7 o'clock, A. NJ. About 400 persons
were waiting around the office door at
that hour. But it did not please the Off
cials of the establishment to open it until
10 o'clock. The crowd Of cmigrants
waited these three hours on the street with
the utmost patience. When, ut length,
the door was opened, there was rush.
Each passenger handed up his ticket for
examination. If it was correct, 1t was re-
tanned, and he ordered TO repair to I'M
other office near the landing for further
-orders. In about an hour aNerward the
whole crowd was taken to small yard
on the quay belonging to tho company.
Here they were obliged again to stand for
several hours. 1t was n relief to many
who were by this time exhausted by long
waiting, to hear the order given that pas
sengcrs Tor the Palmyra should pass into
an inner yard. Thither they repaired and
then were put into room resembling a
prison, where they were ordered to re-
main. In this small space, which remind
cd one of the black hole Of Calcutta, about
400 persons were thrust and had to stand
about two hours. The people in waiting
there were squeezed as tight as it was
possible to puck them. Two men, each
wearing IL cap with two yellow bands,
then called ont the passengers names, and
the person thus named came forward, re-
ceived Il ticket and emerged again into the
light OF day. When the list was all read
over, one OF the men with yellow bands,
asked if there were any single passengers
by the Nemesis, who were willing to be
transferred to the Palmyra, and 60 to New
York Uia Boston. Four passengers volun-
teered and were booked accordingly. The
whole multitude then went to the pier,
where the steam tenders, Jackal and Lord
CLYDE were waiting with steam up. Such
sight as the dock yard presented nj this
time is beyond description. Not less than
800 Cmigrants, men, women and children
were awaiting the order to embark.
Hundreds of land sharks were prOwling
about seeking whom they might devOur.
The vendors of every description Of mcr-
chandisc were Justify brawling forth the
praises and Cheapncss Of their goods.
Men ind women were selling every
conceivable article that might be
needed on ship board-sucll as mat
tresses, blankets, eating utensils, fruit,
candy, clothing, cakes and matches.
Mingling with this throng were numer-
Gus crowd oil beggars who were very i'm
Fortunate in urging their claims upon u
benevolent public. Sad indeed were the
tales each told Of his peculiar case Of dis
trcss. One blind beggar attracted my at.
tcntion. He was led by little girl from
one group of cmigrants 10 another. He
offered to give the "blcssing of tho blind"
to any one for one penny. He assured
each also, that his blessing would save
them from any calamity ut sea. An cml-
grant and his wife standing near me, gave
him the requisite fec, and the poor cren.
turc, solemnly clevating his hands und
raising his sightleSS OrDs, repeated the
Lords Prayer in tull,-"Our Father who
art in Heaven, &C."-aiter which he
recited the following: "Hail Mary, full
of Grace, our Lord is with thee; blessed
art thou among women, and blessed is the
fruit Of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary
Mother OF God pray for us sinners, now
and in the hour of our deNth-AmCn"-
and then "NIay the blessing OF the poor
blind man be wild yG all yer days. And
may God be wild ye and may the protec.
ton Of God and his Holy Mother be wild
yc on the great deep and save yc from
danger and harm. Amen"
Ii was now announced that tho
Palmyra was entering the hNrbor,
and passengers for her were ordered to
go aboard the tender Jackal. An officer
with yellow bands on his cap stood ut the
Cangway to examine the tickets Of each
passenger as he walked the plank. The
luggage was also carried on board.
Among the candidates for emigration
were the four men who had been trans.
fcrrcd from the Nemesis. The first Of
these presented his ticket to the officer,
when the latter burst into violent rage
and rudClv thrust the passenger back,
saving, "You hold q ticket for the Meme.
sis and you arc trying TO cheat
us by going on the Palmyra
stand back, sir, I say, stand back, or III
make you" The passenger looked aston.
ishcd, and said, "Sir, ii you would be
kind enough to examine my ticket, you
will sec that havebeen transferred to the
Palmyra, and that it was done by the OIL
Ger on duty, who -" Silence, sir
shouted yellow bands, and further parley
was prevented by one OF the sailors VIC.
lently selling the passenger and thrusting
him back on the pier
Meantime the tender was filled 10 hel
utmost capacity, and she started Off with
the first instNlment Of passengers for the
Palmyra; TO return Immediately for the
remainder. Passengers for the Nemesis
then went aboard the tender, Lord Clyde
In about an hour the JaCkal returned with
her passengers to the wharf; the steamer
which had arrived in the harbor having
been the Nemesis.
The Palmyra was not then in sight
The tender, Lord Clyde, then sailed put
her freight and passengers on the Meme
sis, and in about an hour afterwards thu
latter took her departure for the New
World. When the tender, Lord Clyde
returned TO her wharf, the remain
, ing passengers for the Palmyra were
ordered TO embark, The passenger