The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-09-24
Horror. OF the Middle Passage.

THE following communication was written Tor
publication in the Gazette, but owing to want OF
space ~(although it treated its readers to an entire
page of white paper,5it was declined. The denial
made in that paper regarding the truth Of the state
ments referred to, renders its publication imperative,
in justice to Rev. S. E. Bishop, the Friend and the
advertiser. We offer this statement Of facts to those
who have so vehemently ~maligned and abused the
parties who sought to relieve the Chinese on board,
and who succeeded in securing the freedom OF the
Chinese which were landed, for their more mature
and deliberate consideration. This is the traffic which
is supported by a leading mercantile house. A con-
Germ that is said to have surrendered the agency ofa
line of steamships, because, forsooth, it would neces
state the labor of their clerks ON the Sabbath. Con-
sistency is a jewel rarely met with in this latitude, at
this time.-EDIToR p. c. IL
Mr.. EDITOR Having been requested by a num-
Der of our leading citizens, merchants and others, to
make a statement as to what l saw on board the ship
Dolores Ugarte, 1 will now give, in as few words as
possible, my experience while on board that ship.
I went on board that vessel the day after her ar
rival here, in the prosecution Of my business, and
remained on board about one hour. In that short
space of time 1 saw one Of the coolies, a boy, seized
by an officer, thrown down and his head pounded
upon the deck. He was then allowed TO get up and
while so doing received n kick that sent him sprawl
ing his length upon the deck, the poor fellow then
made his escape moaning piteously. I saw another
coolie attempt TO come on deck, when he was attacked
by the guard who kicked him in the head and drove
him back below in the most brutal manner l saw
others struck by the guards. The guards carried
ratans or a cat-o-nine tails in their hands.
1 also saw a sick man taken from forward and
brought amidships, being supported on each side by
IL nool;o a,I cllnvvnI h-a u,o, ..Io .nl.
along and whipped his legs to make him step quicker.
The poor fellow wore only n pair Of pants and they
were saturated with his excavations.
y The sight was so repulsive and heart sickening that
I turned away and did not see what disposition was
made of him.
As for the cleanliness Of the ship between decks, I
cannot say, as | did not go below ; / made the attempt
twice but was driven back by the stencil, which was
intolerable. The mate seeing my retreat laughed and
said the stencil was nothing then compared 10 what
it was in the night when all the coolies were fastened
below. He assured me that he could not hold his
head over the ~hatchway q minute during the night
without vomiting, and from the experience l had just
had 1 could easily believe him. There was an iron
barricade between the main and mizzen masts, with
an iron door on either side Of the deck. One Of
these doors was kept open and guarded by a sentinel
armed with a musket with bayonet fixed.
There were no barricades forward. All the matches
had heavy iron gratings which were fastened down
by clasps and padlocks. l was told that a third OF
the coolies were allowed on deck at a time through
the day, which gave each coolie four hours on deck
of the twenty-four.
The coolies / saw on deck were more detected and
than any | have ever seen on board q
vessel touching at this port.
l visited the vessel again on the third day after
her arrival, remaining on board about two hours,
and saw a repetition of what / had seen on the
occasion in the way Of kicking, knocking and
the coolies.
The mate informed me that more Of the coolies had
been taken sick and that he had written the Captain
q note telling him that the coolies would all die unless
they were allowed more liberty ON deck and fresh
TO wash in. The Captains answer arrived soon
after | got on board, and the mate at his own accord
me the substance of it, which was to have the
coolies all washed in fresh water and make them as
comfortable as he could. The operation Of washing
commenced without delay, and over two hundred
we're stripped and washed while | remained on board.
Out Of this number / am sure that there were not
that were not emaciated and scurfy, and n
portion of them ~fearfully SO. One poor fellow
was driven ON deck by one of the guards and came
lettering along TO one Of the tubs where he was
lie was nothing but skin and bones. Two
coolies commenced washing him and the cold water
set him to shaking SO violently that he had TO be
supported by his comrades, to keep him from sinking
Down on the deck.
He turned his head to the hatch ~wistfully, saying
plainly by the act, take me below. Two Of the
coolies took him TO the hatch, but were ordered back
by one Of the guards, each receiving a lash from the
cat-o-nine-tails. Water was then poured upon him,
he was scrubbed until there was scarcely n
left in him, and was then taken below 10 all
appearance insensible. One man was pointed out 10
Dy the ndle II "a meTCnhnIs WHO nhl Teblue near
Macao, who, according to the mates statement, " had
got on a tight been drugged and awaked 20 find
himself bound on a foreign voyage. The appearance
IF this man was certainly in his favor.
The mate also informed me that, while taking on
board the complement Of coolies, about two hundred
If them made a rush and jumped overheard, about
,ne hundred efecting their escape.
The next day l again went on board, the ship
'eing underweigh.
| was not witness to any whipping this day, the
being busy working ship, and taking on board
l saw from twenty TO thirty sick men
ying on deck, some were covered with blankets.
Iany Of these poor creatures were too sick to move
much. The crew working ship, repeatedly trampled
them, which caused them 10 groan piteously,
.tretching forth their emaciated arms. and give their
guardians q most beseeching look. On
his occasion 1 had a conversation with the Captain.
lie stated that he did not care for the loss Of the sick
mes which had been sent on shore, and which had
dected their escape, as they would all have died IL
etained on board.
Very truly yours, G. w. GELETT.