The Republican journal., 1881-05-19
Horrors OF the Steerage.
Esq RTrTloN OF THE EMIGRANT QUARTERS on A,
OCEAN STEAMER
[ By Cable to n. Y. Telegram |

By Cable to n. Y Telegram
LONDON, May :. Miss Charlotte q. O'Brien.
daughter Of Smith O'Bren, of Young Ireland"
fame, sends to the Pail Mall Gazette a letter en-
titled Horrors of Emgrant Ship, which
creates profound sensation and will be the sub
lcct OF a question in the House of Commons on
Monday by Mr.. ODonnel Miss o Brien visited
| queenstown III order to examine the mode of life
OF emlgrantS on steamer, which vessel, however.
she does not name The following are the main
points
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
deceIcy We had come on board. however to
see the emlgrants 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, II could not take you down
there, 1t is much worse than what you see But
my business was with the WOmenS quarters and
we went there. Between two decks better lighted
than the quarters larger space open
from one side of the ship to the other.
From either side of long central walk to the
outer walks Of the ship were slung two enormous
| hammocks--one suspended about three feet from
| the floor, What was going on IN two other ham
mocks above these could not see, but | presume
they We're the same those below. suppose
each OF these hammocks carry about one hundred
persons They were made Of sallcOth and beng
suspended all around from hooks were perfectly
HAT. Narrow strips OF Sallcloth 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 it must
be almost on a level.
Now in these beds lie hundreds of men and
women. Any man who comes with woman who
is or calls herself his wife sleeps, matter of
right, in the midst Of hundreds of young women
wi are compelled to live IN his presence day and
night If they remove their clothes they must do
so under his eyes. if they lie down to rest it
must be beside him. 1t is shame to speak Of
these things but to destroy such evil is neces-
sary to look at these abodes Of misery. In day
light and when open for inspection they are empty.
swept and garnished.
But think of the scene in the darkness OF the
night. the ship pitching in midocean. when a
glimmerng lamp or two makes visible to you this
mass of moaning humanity. Look at that young
mother with two or three helpless babies in the
agones of seaslckness, unable to move but over
the PROSTATE bodies of her fellow sufferers Look
at this innocent girl child lying among dissoute
men and abandoned women, half stupehed with
sutfocation and seascknesS amid curses and groans
OF hundreds. If she arises and tlees to save her
soul whittier shall she go Again she must tread
on the writhng bodies OF men and women
But the picture is too horrible to be looked at,
the sounds too dreadful to listen to. This is no
brutal or impure dream; it is truth 1t is living
horror, menacng the lives honor and souls OF
our fellow country women, the ship on which |
saw these things being supposed to carry in this
manner | 900 steerage passengers. She carried
last year on one voyage go emlgrantS. was
greved to see the American flag floating over a
whited sepulchre like that beautiful boat haunted
by the memories Of sin, full Of raycning wicked
ness and all manner OF uncleannesS
COMMENTS OF THE y. Y. HERALD.
In the past seven days there landed at this port
1851 immig grants-which is good average. These
newcomers were from nearly all the countries of
Europe, from Germany, from Ireland, and from
the Scandinavian peninsula mostly. 1t is rather a
notable circumstance that just upon the close OF
such period of extensive arrivals, the world is
favored with account OF the horrors of a voyage
in emigrant ship, done by the pen Of Miss
Charlotte q. q OBrien daughter Of Smith Q Brien.
This lady has discovered that voyage across the
Atlantic on an Migrant ship is not altogether a
picnic 1t is rather late in the day for the making
of such discovery, perhaps. Some forty years
ago this story would have been new and the hor-
rors of the description would, in fact, have been
really sensational But, in the progress of time
the wretchednesS Of the Steerage has been amelio-
rated: and though the condition is not now all
that could be desired, II is perhaps nearly good
as the passenger pays for. But there is party in
Ireland that endeavors to make opinion and to ex-
cite sentiment against the departure of the Irish
people Tor America. If the people emigrate, that
pressure of population which makes the struggle
for life difficult is lessened there IS less discomfort
and less chance for brawling demagogues to thrive
by agitation. This party, therefore, labors to stop
emigration, and Miss 0Briens story of the steer
age is written III the interest Of that party.