The New York herald., 1879-11-08
STEERAGE ABUSES.

SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST THE NATIONAL STEAM
SHIP OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES BY THE COM
MIssIoNERs OF EMIGRATION
Several of the steerage passengers who arrived in
the steamship France from London. Tuesday last.
have made serious charges against the officers of
that vessel. Secretary Jackson, Of the Commission
Of Emigration. notified the agents of tho National
Steamship Company OF the complaints and also that
his Board intended to investigate them thoroughly.
At one O'Clock yesterday Commissioners Lynch,
Starr and kaufman sat u committee to take the
testimony Of both sides. and the following facts
were elicited:-
George Barker testified that he Q native of
England but had resided in the United States seven
years ago his wife and four children with
him steerage passengers the steamship France.
and during the voyage they were illtreated; the
fresh meat good but was only issued to the
steerage passengers three times during the voyage;
corned beef dealt out literally but 1t Of such
inferior quality and salt that Of the pas
sengers could eat IT. he complained to the steward
of this corned beef but the matter remedied
he had crossed on the ships of the National Steam
snip Company three times. but never received such
food the present voyage; the tea and coffee
were fair. but not sufficiently sweetened, and the
bread. and butter good; during the voyage
the fourth officer. Mr.. Turner. abusive and in
sultng to the stcerage passengers. threatening to
this officer informed the immigrants that the captain
thought no more OF the seerage passengers than OF
lot of pigs. and said that he had heard the captain
say Barker's wife, who ILL., could not eat the
food furnished and he had to give the ships steward
and baker money for better provisions; he had also
to pay the steerage steward one shilling before ho
would give him a berth, and the he received was
on the port side Of the vessel and water was
continually dripping into his bod; when he
planned to the steward the latter put up
over II. but this did not mend matters; he claimed
that the water ala not come IN on account OF rough
wen her. lne IN he ~
try; the dampness had caused sickness in his fam
lily and his wiie was now suffering; ho held con.
tract ticket with the company setting forth the kind
of food that should be issued to himself and family
but the second day OF the voyage it was taken
away from him against his will by tho purser.
that he unable to say whether the food called
for was furnished; he demanded the return of tho
that several the cabin boys and the second baker
were accustomed to sleep in tho steerage. which is
Alfred y. Tucker and Robert Jereys. also steerage
passengers by the France. were examined and
that the fourth officer intoxicated several times.
and that on one occasion ho was suspended from
duty by the captain.
communication from John Robinson. captain OF
the France, then read. in which he stated that
the above charges were more or less unfounded. He
said that he could not answer for the victuang,
that was in the stewards department. He admitted
that the fourth officer had been intoxicated, and
that in consequence he had to place him under ar
rest for twenty-four hours. and that he only then
permitted him to resume duty on the understanding
that ho left the compsnys service Immediately on
the ships arrival at this port. The Captain denied
that he had compared the steerage passengers to
pigs. and gave for the leakage into the
steerage quarters the bad weather his vessel expert
enoed.
Thomas Webster tho chief steward Of the France,
stated that from October 10 to November the steer
age passengers had been served with plentiful sup
ply of fresh beef. properly cooked and served up
every third day. Breakfast consisted of good Irish
stew. and very often oatmeal porridge, with plenty
of fresh bread. He said that he could prove that
the corned beef was of the finest quality packed.
tho brand being East India mess He claimed that
he gave milk, also tho pastry left from the
loon table, to the women and children In tho steer
age. Desides he gave Barkers wife pint Of beef
each day for hfeen days Of the passage. He also