The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-13
LIFE IN THE STEERAGE.

THE OFFICERS OF THE STEAMSHIP FRANCE
DENY THE CHARGES MADE BY PASSENGERS.
The Commissioners Of Emigration listened yes
terday to the charges made against the officers Of
the steamship France. Of tho National Steamship
Company. by steerage passengers who came across
on the last trip OF that vessel from Liverpool Com
missoners Forrest and Starr. OF the Castle Garden
Committee conducted the examination. Chief
Steward Thomas Webster admitted that Barker. one
OF the compliments. had objected to the salt meat
furnished him. but after investigation he (webstor)
was convinced that there cause for COM
plant. He contended that the beef was Of the
finest brand East India Mess and said that 1t
spccted by the English government inspectors be-
fore it was put board the vessel Ho denied that
the fish served salt that it could be e3en.
ana said that the chief cook always kept it soaking
over night. he positively that fresh meat
was furnished to the steerage six times during the
voyage. although the complanants had testified to
receiving only three times. He said that the wait
employed on tho ship usually slept in the after
part of the saloon but admitted that during tho last
trip seven eight OF them bunked in the storage
hospital, which, he claimed, WAS separated from
the steerage quarters by bulkhead- Commissioner
Starr asked the witness II he did not know that this
was against the law, and the latter replied that the
weather rough the employees were forced to
were wet during the whole voyage. and said that.
when informed OF the trouble. he requested the ships
carpenter to stop the leak. which done. He adj
mtted that Barker had given the steerage steward.
Walker shilling. but denied that it to secure
q berth. He also denied that he himself had re-
ceved any money from Barker. aud claimed
that he had given milk several times for
nothing, and had furnished Mrs. Barker with
beef for fifteen successive days, besides Offering
her blankets, which she refused Contrary to the
evidence already taken. Steward Webster said that
the rooms in The storage were scrubbed daily and
the general Storage week. while 1t was swept
each day and fresh sawdust put the floor.
He had overheard Barker say shortly after leaving
Liverpool that he knew all about emigration laws
and would make 1t hot for of tho petty officers
of the ship after their arrival at Now York.
"HARD 10 GET ALONG WITH.
David Walker. the steerage steward who has held
his position for seven years, contended that he
never allowed the employees of the vessel to mix
with the storage passengers and knew that no such
thing occurred on the last trip. He had hoard no
complaints from any person except Barker who was
hard to get along with. Captain John Robinson tes-
titled that at ten o'clock every mornine. accompa-
MED by the chief steward and the Doctor. he
visited the steerage and during the voyage
had received but complaint from the
steerage passengers. 1t was in relation to fresh
meat. which was Immediately furnished. Tho
voyage was very rough lasting eighteen days. The
witness Indignantly denied that he had compared
tho steerage passengers t. . lot of pigs.
Tho testimony of Robert Dunlap, second stecrnec
steward. was to the effect that he served tho meals
to the steerage passengers. and that favcritism
first class food. The Castle Garden Committee will
report these denals to tho full Board of Commits
sioners when they hand in tho testimony Of the
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