The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-03
OCEAN STEERAGE ABUSES.

What Another Passenger says-His
Story OF . Trip ON tho Imman steam
ship City OF Limerick.
NEW YORK, Jan. 81. 1873.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The story OF Mr. McD0nnels experiences in his
Storage passage across the Atlantic must have
touched the hearts OF thousands OF your readers as
an "ower-true tale,n and felt happy to learn
your determination to sift the matter thoroughly,
and, il found to be true to use your powerful in
fiuence towards remedying the evils so ably laid
before the public. might, in corroboraton OF Mr.
Mcdonnell, speak OF my own personal experience,
just seven yeors ago, crossing in one of the same
line Of steamers, the Pennsylvania but will take
later date and another line Of steamers-the
Inman-to show that what your correspondent
complains OF Is neither accidental exceptional.
On the Goth day Of August last left Liverpool on
board the City OF Limerick for New York. The
first step taken by the steerage steward, who has
the appointing OF the berths to select the best
clad passengers-those who, from appearances,
were most 4ikey to 'bleed;" l. e., fee said steward
for change OF accomm0dation-and conduct them
your humble servant included) to o berth room
where there was accommodation, that Is, two tiers
OF hunks for 200 passengers without screen or par
tition throughout the entire length and breadth
thereof. This vast bedroom was not fully occupied
on this occasion. for which was truly thankful.
But IL had the desired effect somewhat. Two out
OF the number changed their tickets for cabin,
and several others, after "cOmng down. to the
steward, got changed to moro desirable location.
When we reached Queenstown about two hun.
dred passengers came on board, when still
more berths were found by the elastic steward for
were hudded into my apartments. Each tier Of
hunks contained accommodation for twenty per-
sons-ten deep, laying head to head, two layers
Deep with passageway three feet wide between
the tiers. When state that on the same level and
on the same tier with myself there LAID married
be admitted that II there was room plenty-which
shipping company, who had not been able to Sc.
cure PASSENGERS to M every one OF the twenty
attempt to meet the ordinary requirements OF de-
cency or personal comfort.
There was no table at which the passengers
could eat their meals, and no sitting accOmmOda-
ton for the passengers In that part OF the ship.
Men, weak women and little children had to eat
what was provided for them standing or jump into
SO far as the food of the steerage passengers is
concerned, the statement that they are served
with meat equa. In quality with the cabin passen-
gers READS preposterOus. Taking lesson from
that best Of all human teachers-experience-I
made an arrangement with one Of the petty off,
GERS to feed from what was served at his table,
and, therefore, did not rely upon the boosted
think II one of your attaches could be induced
to forego his personal comforts, as did your great
and wOrld-renowned Stanley, for brief space OF
time, and. unheralded take one trip on any one of
the many ocean steamers, he would produce EVIL
dences OF the mfseres endured by poor people
coming to these shores many times more out
rageous than those so ably stated by your corre-
sp0ndent. Mcdonnell.
earnestly trust that you will not let the mat
ter DROP but that you will investigate 1t until the
truth OF his statement is clearly shown, and agi-
tate for an alteration Of our international law
which allows such things. Yours. &C. L. N.
A Letter from the s.Amateur Emigrant'-
Some Timely Suggestions.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
SIR have read with interest the correspond
ence which you have published on the above sub
ject It is subject which, as you know, l have
before investigated, and which, as the correspond
ent Of an English journal devoted expressly to
emigration and the interests Of the emigrant,
thank you for taking up. The letters Of 'Observer
have been very valuable, but on one point 1 must
join issue with him. My conclusions are derived
from a careful study and from practical experience
and investigation. voyage across the Atlantic
in the steerage cannot in the nature Of things
ever be luxurious, but much be done
better the present condition of the steerage and
SO indirectly increase emigration to these shores
"Observer" fears that any change in the system
by which the steerage is at present governed will
increase the price OF passage and discourage emf
grafton. Such stories of suiferiHgs and discomforts
we have lately heard will discourage emigration,
ana the companies 10 WHICH Cney TeIeT VIII SuHer
lar more pecuniarily than If they expended few
hundred pounds per annum in making the steerage
passage more comfortable: and with all due defer
ence to "Observer'' they can thoroughly afford to
do So without In the least increasing the price Of
passage. The steerage passenger Is the most val
liable article Of traffic brought across the Atlantic.
With the present low freights the returns Of many
of the steamship companies for last year would ex
hibit deficit but for the poor despised emigrant
The numoer OF saloon passengers that steamship
carry is limited, the space that they occupy 10
very great, very many hands are required to admin
lister TO their wants, the cOmmssarat Is luxurious
and expensive, the saloons and state rooms have
been fitted up at heavy cost. Taking all these
things into consideration 1t Is no wonder that we
ind the "White Starr line is about to raise the
price OF q saloon passage from $50 to 500. But
the steerage passenger Many hundreds can be
brought over at once. At the most, half dozen
stewards Will attend ~ to thousand passengers
their cuisine, II wholesome, Is not luxurious, and,
the expense ranges from 81 so to SO per head for
the voyage. Their berths and fittings are not
any one who has seen the frantic competition at
Glasgow, Liverpool and Queenstown for the body
OF the intending emigrant will readily understand
Even on this side we find low boarding houses
glaring in paint, "Branch Office or such and such
= line and other disreputable agencies. And so
contend that the steamship companies can easily
afford to add to the comforts OF the emigrants. l
shall be glad to hear of the one that first Institutes
reforms. 1t shall have the good word OF yours
faithfully, J. 8. STANLEY-JAMES,
Correspondent Of the "Free West Anglo-American
ASHLAND HOUSE, Feb. 1, 1873.
YORKvILLE POLICE COURT.