The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1886-11-20

was taken to Bartholomew Hospital, the
officials of that institution highly COM
plimented Captain Morgan upon the
workmanlike manner in which he had
performed the operation. The fact,
however remains, that but for the
purely fortuitous circumstance Of the
commander of the vessel having been
able to deal with the case, the result of
there being no surgeon on board must
have been that the injured man would
either have died, or been a cripple for
| life
If the cabin passengers had good
cause to complain that neither their
safety nor their comfort was sufficiently
studied, the condition of the steerage
passengers was infinitely worse. Men,
women and children were huddled Ike
sheep in the quarters assigned them, no
separation of the sexes being attempted.
The berths, which ran on either side of
the vessel, were not inclosed, and were
without curtains.
The steerage passengers were re-
quired to both supply and cook their
own provisions. There was commonly
a fierce struggle for place at the gal
ley fire, in which the sick and feeble
necessarily went to the wall; and some
times several days would pass without
any warm food being obtained by those
who were most in need of it. Again,
when there was a storm, or even when
the ship experienced heavy weather, the
matches were closed, rendering the at
mosphere of the steerage almost sitting.
In fact. the condition and treatment of
this class of passengers was simply
abominable, and such as to reflect deep
discredit upon the Government for
allowing so many years to elapse ere
any attempt was made to deal with the
evil
Now, all is changed. The steamers
which at the present day cross the At
lantic are vessels ranging from four to
seven thousand tons burden; and the
arrangements on board of them are eX-
cellent in all respects. Besides the life
boats-which are numerous, large,
and built on the most approved
models there are RATS which, in
case of necessity, can be got ready and
launched in a few minutes. In the
event, too, of fire breaking out in any
part of the ship, the appliances for ex-
tinguishing it are of the most thorough
character. In fact, the provision made
for the safety of the passengers would
be all that could be desired if every
ship carried sufficient number of boats
to accommodate, IN case of disaster,
every passenger, even when her compse-
ment was full Note the late disaster
to the Oregon.
The comfort of the travelling public
is now carefully studded. The cabins
for the first-class passengers are placed
amidships, where the motion of the
vessel is least felt, instead of, as for
merly, at the stern. The staterooms are
commodious, handsomely furnished,
thoroughly ventilated, and heated by
steam. The saloon, which is spacious
and well-ighted, contains a piano, a
small library, bagatelle tables, chess,
ETC., for the use of the passengers.
There are also smoking and
reading rooms and bathrooms,
supplied with hot as we'll
as cold water The table is so luxuri-
antly spread that there is scarcely a
delicacy which can be obtained in the
best hotels in London, found lacking on
board these steamers. The supply of
fresh water furnished by condensers-
is practically unlimited; whilst that
which is required for drinking purposes
is in summer cooled with ice, of which
a large stock is provided. A surgeon
is invariably carried, the law rendering
it obligatory to do so; and his services
are at the disposal of any of the passen-
gers who needs them without the pay
ment of any fee.
Nor have the steerage passengers
failed to participate in the altered con-
dition of things Instead of their being
crowded together in the badly ventilated
and unhealthy quarters assigned to
them, as was formerly the case, it is
now compulsory for fixed cubic space
to be allotted to each individual. Not
only, too, are the berths inclosed,
but the single women occupy a
separate compartment, in the charge
of matron. But one of the greatest
improvements which has taken place in
the condition of occupants of the steer
age has been effected by the act, passed
a few years ago, requiring cooked pro-
visions being found by the owners of
the ship; and althoug the passage
money is necessarily higher than it was
under the old system, this drawback is
more than compensated by the comfort
which results from the present arrange
ment.
In conclusion, may say that, in
dulging in retrospect upon my expe-
riences Tor the last forty years-during
which l have crossed the Atlantic ten
times-I have been forcibly struck by
the contrast the peril, tedium and in
conveniences then attendant upon an
Atlantic voyage afford to the safety,
rapidity and comfort with which it is
now accomplished. Chambers Jour-
910I