The New York herald., 1872-09-25
Narrative Of a Voyage Across the At
r. lantic on the Third Deck Of an
Atlantic Steamship.
WHAT POVERTY IS MADE TO ENDURE.
Fifteen Hundred Passengers Packed and
Thrown Together on the Decks.
The Food Nauseous and
WretchedIy Cooked.
SeaSickness Cruelty Intensified and 0rdi-
nary Decency Outraged. .r
DEATH LOOKED FOR AS A RELIEF.
What it Costs to Provide for Storage
Passengers and the Profit Made Out
Of Them by the Companies.
The Steerage Passenger More Profitable Than
the Occupant Of the Saloon.
Need for Prompt Legislative Action
to Enforce a Remedy.
SeasickneSS Cruelty Intensified and 0rdi-
nary Decency Outraged. ~"
DEATH LOOKED FOR AS A RELIEF.
What it Costs to Provide for Steerage
Passengers and the Profit Made Out
Of Them by the Companies.
The Steerage Passenger More Profitable Than
the Occupant Of the Saloon.
Need for Prompt Legislative Action
to Enforce a Remedy.

CO EnlOrC0 u homcUys
The attention both of Europe and America has
recently been called the condition of the steer
age passenger" In his transit from the Old World
to the New. SO large has been the emigration from
Germany Of this class OF the population OF that
country that, 1t is said, the imperial government
looks upon the exodus OF its subjects with re.
gret, and 1t is not unlikely that some despotic ef
fort will be made to prevent Its continuance In
this aspect OF this phase Of humanity the fact that
the steerage passage from Europe to America is q
fortnights endurance OF suffering and discomfort
that the criminal classes are not required to sub
NIT to, has aroused a spirit OF inquiry on both
tinents, and 1t is not unlikely that international
action will be taken by which the steerage passen-
ger will not be packed and treated quite 80 much
after the fashion Of manacled creature in slave
ship. The story as given below of recent expe-
rience on board one OF the Atlantic steamers will
go far to stimulate prompt and decisive action in
the direction OF an amelioration Of these evils.
About year ago was inspired with desire to
emigrate from England and try my fortune In the
Great Republic OF the United States Continuing
In the same mind until the commencement of the
Summer which has just departed, made the ne
cessary arrangements and found myself upon the
25th Of June in Liverpool, with all the necessary
negotiations with the shipping agents settled, de-
cided to come out by the Allan Line OF steamers,
running between Liverpool and Quebec. When
secured my berth In the Sarmatian a steerage
passenger, was informed by the clerk in charge
Of the underground steerage office that should
have to be on board by six O'Clock in the morning.
had written two or three OF my friends telling
them to be in Liverpool early on the morning of the
day Of my departure, therefore this news was Of a
mr. mn Ioau mt do I af ouc pIo no1
of the unreasonable hour and, after good deal
Of beating about the bush, was told that could go
on board by the tender leaving Princes Land.
ing stage at half-past eleven o'clock. For my part,
cannot see why all
THE sTEERAGE PASSENGERS
many Of whom leave their native land for ever,
and their friends never to see them again, should
not all always be accorded this privilege. All
the steerage and intermediate passengers are ex-
amined about twelve o'clock and this being about
the only reason why their attendance is required
on board, large steamship owners might surely ex-
ercise q little humanity in allowing the steerage
passengers by their vessels to remain on land until
three four hours before their departure for they
allow cabin passengers-who, as I will shortly
show, do not pay in anything like an equal ratio
for their transportation to the steerage passen-
gers-to embark after the vessel has commenced its
voyage. The tender with the frst-class passengers
is, believe, always securely attached to the shp
and the luggage seldom transferred before the
mouth Of the Mersey Is left far behind.
Having obtained the necessary utensils for the
voyage made for the landing, and there saw q
large number OF persons who were to be my COM
pani0ns for nearly fortnight.
THE HURRY AND BUsTLE,
naturally was immense; and, after waiting about
half an hour saw my luggage placed on board the
tender, and at once stationed myself with It,
We had to wait upwards OF half an hour longer
before we sailed for the Sarmatan, which lay in
the middle OF the river. l could see from the
steamboat that there were already great many
persons on board, and that upon our arrival
large addition would be made. At last the tender
was freed from the landing stage and we moved
towards the ship that was to carry us across the
Atlantic. As we drew nearer the expressions of
Of the vessel grew louder and
louder, and nearly all considered themselves
June the day of sailing. No one could deny that
the ship itself was noble one. over three thou
sa nopes we IT.
tanned by the steerage passengers OF pleasant
voyage, hopes that 1t only required day at to
hat box In hand and rug over my arm the stew
ards and other attendants were excessively polite
Der Of my cabin. told one OF them at once that
was steerage passenger, and asked him to show
me to my berth and bunk. His politeness disap-
peared Instantly, and he ordered me on deck to un-
1ergo the medical examination by
THE EMIGRATION DOCTOR.
:, Having heard something OF the tyranny exer-
cised on board ship submissively ascended the
Doctor. lie soon entered on his duties and com,
thought that his energy had died away consider.
ably after he had critically examined about two |
hundred men, women and children. When Ipassed |
1inl-not unm0ved at having to go through the or
1eal OF q medical examination, and fearful lest |
,ility OF nv leaving English waters-he talking
% a gentleman beside him. with wave Of his
,and .,,,sI while ,.sd looking in another direction,
fSnsy Se Saw ms to move must Gn naps Hs
,een at a distance Of some half dozen |
'ards. Having gone successfully through this farce |
= medical & examination, KAN was allowed to explore
lrst deck below the main deck, was directed to
make another descent and to turn to the left, and
informed that should then stand some chance OF |
ions went down, but did not find at once the |
portion Of the ship wanted ! lost my way, and
gain had 70 apply to hurrying and not over civil
II the BERTH but my eyes, not having become accus-
omed to darkness, being almost
sUFFOCATED WITH HEAT,
md pushed about irom one side to the other BY
ersons hurrying about in all directions, failed 10
erceive the numbers of the hunks contained In
he berths) at the top OF the door OF the berth. l
managed to get into the berth sideways-the door
rown person entering 1t In any other manner
nd found the number Of my berth, which was next
Q That OF friend who was emigrating with me.
toutly refused 10 turn out. In the berth there
Tere about twenty hunks, just large enough to al
ow person to lie down in. There were two
op rows @ wers almost level p''S with two
ort holes, while the bottom rows were
2 state Of darkness. The shipping