The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-30

Alleged Charges OF Brutality Against tho
Captain Of the ArSOnaut, from Bre-
men-Seventy-e ight Da W On the Ocean
Passengers Compelled to Work and
Live Five Weeks without Water-Ani-
davft Of Mariana Tubolsl<a and Testi-
mOny Of Julius BrOrbreck.
An investigation was held yesterday in the after
noon by the commissioners of Emigration into the
case of the captain OF the Argonaut, against whom
charges OF i-treatment approaching to brutality
have been preferred by several Of the recently
rived passengers, who are almost all Poles
by birth, and many OF whom were
brought over from wares Island yesterday
to give testimony. About thirty OF the bewildered
and haggard- looking foreigners filed the seats
around the desks in the outer office OF the Commits
sioners, and seemed totally unconscious Of their
situation shivering with cold and apparently in q
most pitIabe condition.
The Argonaut, the sailing vessel in which all
crossed the ocean, sailed from Bremen on the stli
OF November and did not reach New York narbor
until Monday morning last, the 27th instant, with
100 passengers on board. No sooner had
the immigrants disembarkcd than they be-
gan to complain OF the conduct OF the
captain towards them and the -treatment which
they claim to have received at his hands during
the voyage The commissioners took the case into
consideration yesterday in order to afford them an
opportunity OF sueing the ship for damages Mr..
Hart presided, assisted by Commissioner Wallacll
and Mr.. Banks, counsel for the witnesses. Mr..
I,udd was present on behalf OF the captain VI the
ship
julius Brorbreck, the first witness called, testl-
fed as foows:-l was a passenger in the second
cabin OF the ArgOnant there were 100 passengers
on board; the vessel sailed from Bremen on the
sth OF November, 1872, and arrived In New York on
the 27th OF January, 1878; l was sick some
time during the voyage; I considered was
not well treated: there was very small place
it almost every day; was sick OF lever and
indigestion brought about by bad food, which con-
sisted of salt meat, about two inches square to
coffee In the morning without sugar or milk, and
tea in the evening; after five weeks there was no
drinking water to be had, and nothing was sub
stituted during the remainder Of the voyage In Its
place; we had to work for the captain; some re-
ceived better ratons on that account; the captain
knew him. he lived In Bingham, Baden; ne could
not give the whole particulars.
Mariana Tubolska. another OF the il-freated
passengers, rather handsome looking woman.
with child In her arms, Pole by BIRTH and totally
ignorant OF the English language was next ex-
amined She said she was native Oh Poland,
twenty years old was married and mother OF a
i sremee o"' Win yfS'' her usbaud Peter Tuboska
about eleven weeks ago, on board OF the
sailing vessel ArgonanSt s1at d passage age Ticket
residing in AIoon, Mich, and that he had paid
deponents passage. Her husband, after six weeks
OF the voyage was compelled to work by one OF the
mates on board the ship, on the deck. at the sails
and at the pumps. One day, January ., while
working at the pumps IN the afternoon, he sud-
DENY disappeared, aud she never saw him since
DepOnent soon as she missed him, sent
one OF the passengers to search for him, who,
upon returning TO her the next day, In
formed her that he had fallen overheard. The
captain afterwards asked her II she knew what
became OF her husband, and, although replying in
the negative, the captain gave her no Information
about him and did not allude to his death.
This afternoon the following witnesses viii be
brought up Tor examination, namelv-Cnrls TOPPER
Llsraul, Win. Frish, Peter Wesnewski, Micsc
Chhenski and others, from whom some more def
mite information II Is expected, Will be elected.
The investigation VIII be continued until the whole
case Is thoroughly understood.