The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-25

convey them from the great ocean
steamer. 1t has been urged by some
| that such immigrants as have through
| tickets TO the west need not be brought to
| the Garden, but should be transferred di-
rect from the steamers to the railroads.
But Captain Moore says that this is en-
tire1y impracticable. The emigrants must
all be brought to one common Distributing
point. The other system would create
confusion and additional expense. When
| a steamer reaches its wharf before 4 p. m.
an attempt is made to transport it's passen-
gers to the Garden. The rule is that when
| the custom house officers examine the
baggage before shutdown the passeng gers
shall be carried to the Garden. They are
all eager to leave the vessel. Though there
is a clause in the passage contracts Of
some Of tie German steamship lines which
allows the immigrants the privilege of re-
naming twenry-four hours on board the
vessel at the ships expense. Captain
Moore never heard of a case in which an
immigrant took advantage of this privilege.
If the Immigrants were to be landed at the
steamship wharves it would be impossible
to keep them from getting into the streets.
notwithstanding that a large number of
steamers often arrive on the same day, yet
during the past three years there have
been only eight times when the immigrants
were landed after dark. The Captain says
that he has never had any great difficulty
in managing the immigrants while under
his charge. They generally obey directions
and are landed without difficulty. In 1878
Captain Moore landed nearly 5000 in one
day. On days when large numbers are
landed it requires much skill to keep the
wharf clear. Once landed, Captain Moore's
responsibility ends. The immigrants pass
into the rotunda, their names are register
ed and they remain till they are transport
ed to their destinations
The reporter asked Captain Moore if he
knew of any cases of persons of good social
standing landing under assumed names at
Castle Garden He said he had heard of
such cases, but he never knew Of
any that were well authenticated. There
were no doubt, such cases and also others
of criminals landing in this way. though
the latter, if discovered could be returned
to the country whence they came. Several
years ago an English journalist, reduced
by some misfortune, worked his way across
and landed at Castle Garden. He was
without means and without introduction
on the wharf, wondering what he /
should do to earn his next meal, he saw a
drunken immigrant fall into the water
He jumped in after him and nearly sue
ceeded in drowning himself, but Capt. |
Moore's employees pulled both of them out. |
Somebody gave the journalist so cents for
bis bravery, and he is proud of it to this |
lay as the first money earned in America. |
Captain Moore says it is quite common for
persons to fall overheard at this wharf I
hough there is rarely case of drowning.
At this time two enthusiastic friends-one
IN the barge and the other on land-began
haking hands before the barge was securely
astened TO the dock. and they and three
ithers were thrown into the river. Five
theirs jumped in and saved them. One of
APT. Moore's assistants has several medals
for bravery in saving life.