The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-05-09
MoRnons or a EnIaRANT snIP.
Men and women HsEded TOE0Iher Lilac
CattIe-A Vivid Picture OrA RsPuIAiVe
NhlhaL.

Men aud women HeFded TOEsIher LIRC
CattIe-A Vivid Picture Of u RePHIAiVS
object
LONDON, May 7.-Miss Charlotte G.
0'Brisn, daughter OF Smith 0'Brien, OIL
"YounE Ireland" fame, sends to the Pa
Nal Ga.ells q letter entitled "The Horrors
OF an Emigrant Ship" which creates a
profound sensation, and will be the sub.
ject OF q question In the Commons to, day
by 0'Donnell. Miss 0'Brien visited
Queenstown in order to examine the
mode Of life Of Immigrants on q steamer,
which yessel, however, she does not name.
The following are the main points:
ut Is unnecessary to say that wherever
the sacred foot oi wealth trod on this ship
Fall was gold and silver, shining brass,
cleanliness. comfort and deCsnCy, We
had come on board, however, 10
see the emigTauts, 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 Q deep hole saying. Il
could not take you down there; 1t 10 much
worse than you see,' But my business was
with the the women's quarters, and we
went there. Between the decks, bets
ter lighted than the mems quarters, was
0 large space open from one side to the
other. From either side Of the long CEN
trail walk TO the outer walls Of the ship
were slung two enormous bsmmoCkE, one
suspended about three feet from the floor.
WHAT was going on In the Two other ham.
moCks above these could not see, but
presume they were the same as these be.
low. ! suppose each Of these h&mmoCks
carries about one hundred persons. They
were made OF sail Clcth, and being sus.
pended all around from hooks were
perfectly Hat. Narrow strips Of sail.Cloth
divide this great bed into berths. These
strips OF cloth, when the mattresses were
out, formed divisions about eight inches
high. When the mattresses are In 1t must
almost boon level. Now, In these beds
lie hundreds OF men and women. ANY
man whe comes with woman who is, or
calls herself his vile, sleeps % @ matter OF
right, In the midst OF hundreds Of young
women who are compelled to live In his |
presencs day and night, II they remove
their clothes they must do so under his
eyes. II they lie down to rest II must bs
beside him. II lsa shame, even to speak |
oI these. things, but to destroy such an |
evil II Is necessary to look at these abodss |
Of misery, In daylight, and when open
for inspection, they are empty, swept and
garniShed. But think oil the scene in the
darkness ot night, The ship pitch
Ing In mid ocean, when O glimmering
lamp or two makes Visible to you this
macs OF moaning humanity. Look at that
young mother with two or three helpless
babies In the Rgonies Of sea sickness, un.
able to move but over the PROSTATE bodies |
OF her fellow sufferers. Look al this limo. |
cont girl child lying among dissolute men |
and abandoned women, half stupehed
with suIoCatlOn and sea sickness, amid |
curses and groans Of hundreds. II she
arises and hses to save her soul, whittier
shall she 20? Again sho must tread on |
the .wTlthing bodies of men and women.
But the picture Is too horrible to be looked |
at. The sounds are too dreadful 10 listen
10. This is no brutal or impure dream. 1t
Ia truth. II Ia living horror, menaCing |
the lives, honor and souls OF hundreds |
and thousands OF our fsilow.COuntry wo.
mon; the ship on which | saw these things |
being supposed 10 carry Ia this manner
1000 steerage passengers. She carried
laOt year, on one voyage, ,776 emigrants."