The Hawaiian gazette., 1881-06-29

THERE is frequent complaint about coolie ships,
but we think the following account of an emf
grant ship from Ireland, if true. shows fearful
condition Of things among European enigrants.
The writer is a Miss Charlotte O'Brien. and the
letter appeared IN the Pail Nall Gazette. Z" Miss
0'Brien visited Queenstown in order 10 examine
the mode Of life of emigrants on the steamer,
which vessel, however, she does not name. The
following are the main points IL Is unnecessary
10 say that wherever the ssc7ed foot of wealth
trod this ship all was gold and silver, shining
brass. cleanliness comfort ana decency. We had
come on board. however. to see eInigrants, ana we
were determined to see their quarters first When
we saw the quarters Of the single men. descrip-
tons OF the slave ship flashed across me. Below
this place our guide showed Us deep hole. say
ing: Il could not take You down there il Is
much worse than you see But my business was
with womens quarters. and went there. Between
two decks better lighted than the mems quarters.
Was a large space open from side of the ship
10 the other Prom either side of the long central
walk 10 the outer walls of the ship were slung
three enormous hammOeks above these / could
not see presume they were the same as those
below. suppose each of these hammocks carry
about 100 people They were made Of sail CLOTH
and being suspended al around from hooks were
perfectly fat Narrow strips of sail cloth divide
this great bed into berths and these strips of CLOTH
when the mattresses were out, formed divisions
about eight inches high when the mattresses are
in. il must be almost level. Now, IN these beds
lie hundreds Of men and women. ANY man who
comes with woman who Is or who calls herself. his
wife. sleeps a matter of right, in the midst of
hundreds Of Young women who are compelled to
live II his presence day and night. If they remove
their clothes they must do under his eyes, If they
lie down 10 rest, II must be beside him. II is
shame even TO speak of these things, but TO
destroy such evil II Is necessary TO look at
these abodes Of misery. In daylight, and when
open for inspection. they are empty and swept and
Sarnished but think OF the scene In the darkness
of niSht-the ship pitching IN niid-ocean. when
eiimmerlng lamp or two makes visible to You this
mass Of moaning humanity. Look al that Young
mother. with two OF three helpless babes. IN the
agonies Of sea sickness, unable to move but over
the PROSTATE bodies of her fellow sufferers. Look
at TINS innocent girl child. living among dissoluie
men and abandoned women. and half stupefied /
with sudoc2tioa and sea-sicknesses, amid the i
curses and groans of hundreds. If she arises and /
fees TO save her soul, whittier shall she 20 Again.
she must tread on the writing bodies Of men and 4
women But the picture Is too horrible TO be i
looked ST. the sound Is too dreadful 10 listen to- 4
This Is no brutal or impure dresm-it Is truth it 4
is living horror. menacing the lives, honor and I
souls Of ku ndre0s Of thousands of our fellow /
The ship on which saw these 4
things Is supposed to carry loo steerage paSsen-
gers. She carried last year one voyage LIS
emigranfs-'