Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-05-09
HORRORS OF THE STEER AGE.


EmiSrant Quarters ON an ocean Steamsn'p'
A Terrible Picture.
Miss Charlotte G.. O'Brien, daughter Of
Smith O'Brien, of "Young Ireland :" fame
sends to the Pail MaH Gazette a letter en-.
titled "Horrors Of an Emigrant Ship, -
which creates q profound sensation and
will be the subject Of q question in the
House Of Commons by Mr.. O'DOnnell.
Miss O'Brien visited Queenstown in order
to examine the mode Of life Of emigrants
on a steamer, which vessel, however, she
does not name. The following are the
main points:
Z" 1t is unnecessary to say that wherever
the sacred foot of wealth trod ON this ship
all was gold and silver. shining brass,
cleanliness, comfort and decency. We had
come on board, however, to see the emil
grants, and We were determined to see
their quarters first. When we saw the
quarters of the single men descriptions Of
slave ships flashed across me. Below this
place our guide showed US deep hole,
saying: 81 could not take you down there
it is much worse than what you see." But
my business was with the wOmen's quar-
terS, and We went there. Between two
decks better lighted than the mems
quarters was large space open from one
side of the ship to the other. From either
side to q long central walk to the outer
walks of the ship were slung two enOr-
| nous hammOcks-One suspended about
three feet from the floor. What was gOiQs
| on in two other hammOcks above these
could not see, but presume they were
the same as those below. l suppose eaci
| of these hammOcks carry about one hun
| dred persons. They were made Of sal
cloth, and being suspended all around
from hooks were perfectly flat. Marrow
strips of sail cloth divide this great bee
into berths. These strips of cloth, whel
the mattresses were out, formed divisions
about eight inches high. When the mat
resses are in it must be almost Of
a level. Now in these beds lii
hundreds of men and women. An!
man who comes with woman
who is or calls herself his wife sleeps, as .
matter Of right, in the midst OF hundred
OF young women who are compelled to liv'
in his presence day and night. II they re
move their clothes they must do so under
his eyes. If they lie down to rest it mus
be beside him. 1t is a shame even t.
speak of these things, but to destroy sucI
an evil it is necessary to look ut these
abodes of misery. In daylight and wher
open for inspection they are empty, swep
and garnished. But think of the scene il
the darkness of the night, the ship pitch
ing in mid ocean, when glimmering laml
OR two makes visible to you this mass o.
moaning humanity. Look at that youns
mother with two or three helpless babie:
in the agonies of sea sickness. unable tt
move but over the prostratc bodies Of he
fellow sufferers. Look ut this innOcen
girl child lying among dissolute men ant
abandoned women, half stupeticd will
suffOcatiOn and sea sickness, amid curse
and groans of hundreds. If she arises ant
fees to save her soul, whittier shall she go
Again she must tread on the writhin!
bodies of men and women. But the pic
ture is too horrible to be looked at, tn
sounds too dreadful to listen to. This i
no brutal or impure dream it is truth. l
is living horror, menacing the lives
honor and souls of hundreds and thou
sands of our fellow countrywOmen, til
ship on which l saw these things bein,
supposed to carry in this manner 100
steerage passengers. She carried last yea
ON one voyage 1,775 emigrants. wa
grieved to see the American flag flOatin:
over whited sepulchre like that beauti
full boat, haunted by the memories of sin
full of ravening wickedness and all mar
NCr of uNcleauNeSS.' ~