Wichita eagle., 1888-02-23
STEERAGE EXPERIENCE.
HARDSHlPS OF THE SEEKERS FOX
HOMES IN A NEW LAND.

of His Life Aboard Ship-Disregard OF
Health and Decency-Incidents OF the
Passage.
A gentleman from the northern part OF
Missouri, who was in Omaha two DAYS o!
last week, is q living exemphhcatloh OF
the advantages which the land OF the free
and the home of the brave possesses Tor
men of all nationalities. A few years ago
this gentleman landed in this country, one
of a number of tired and wretched lmml
grants. Today he is an associate justice
of the county court Of a prosperous Mis-
souri, county. in which he has made con-
siderable money as well as many friends.
'sThe scene on the pier previous to the
departure of a vessel is an exciting one,
said he. 'It is crowded with emigrants
all in a confused and excited state, le-
minding one of frightened flock of sheep.
The majority are perhaps English, irish
and German, though nearly all nations
are represented. Each emigrant has
contract ticket which, in consideration OF
the current rate of fare, stipulates for his
Transportation to New York, together
with full supply of wholesome pro-
visions, cooked and served by Its stewards.
The passenger is required to provide MINI
self with bedding and cooking utenslls.
IN nv time the weekly allowance OF 1000
for adults was prescribed by the govern
ment and printed on the contract ucket.
AS l remember it, it was q quarts OF
water, 3 1-2 pounds of bread, pound OF
| wheaton flour, 12 pounds OF oat meal,
rice and peas, pounds Of potatoes, IA
| pounds of beef, l pound OF pork, ounces
| of tea, pound of sugar, and salt, pepper,
ba Ell "a
ards berth the emigrants, and they are
| then marshaled on deck under the scru-
! tiny of q government inspector who ex-
amines them for infectious diseases.
| "What is the general treatment these
people receive while at sea!' asked the
| reporter.
.Weu, "replied the Missourian, "neither
| officers nor men seem to consider them
| worthy of respect. Occasionally you will
| find some ships officers who viii treat
| them in a humane, tolerating manner,
| but as a rule they are treated more like q
| drove of cattle. No difference is made
| between the better or. worse class, but all
| are treated alike. There is no classifica-
| ton; the single women and men are sep
arated, but Poles, Germans, English,
| French, Italians and people of all coun-
| tries are thrown together. A cleanly,
| thrifty woman is berLhed next to a filthy
! one, and the same with neat appearing,
! Woodworking men, who are compelled TO
mingle with the dirtiest of yagabonds
''The steerage is usually cold, dark and
foul smelling. 1t extends nearly the en-
| tire length of the vessel under the saloon
=, deck and is cut up into gloomy apart
| ments. In each one of these are four
| tiers of berths or hunks, two on each
side. The lower tier is two feet from the
deck and the upper tier is three feet from
| the roof The steerage is about ten feet
| in height; in each tier are probably six
berths of eighteen inches wide and six
feet long and made Of boards. These
berths generally emit an unpleasant smell
of chlorate of lime or earbolic acid.
| ''Officious stewards are moving about
Inducing in a coarse joke here and a
growl at some unfortunate there. After
the supper, and but few partake Of the
first one at sea, the tables are raised to
| the roof and the steerage center space is
clear. Some lamps are then lighted, but
| promptly extinguished at 8 O'Clock. Three
/ meals are served every day, and in quail
ity and quantity they are substantial.
| For breakfast at 8 o'clock emigrants sit
| down to do justice to oatmeal porridge
and molasses, hot bread, coffee and salt
fish. For dinner st 10 perhaps soup or
broth, boiled meats, potatoes and bread.
For supper at 6, tea and bread and but
ter. with molasses. However substantial
the food may be- the manner in which it
is served is uncleanly Beef and soup
are placed on the table in rusty looking
tins and then scramble takes place,
dirty fingers often being used instead OF
| rlpacopt sumrupr div the
emigrants have quite a merry time on
| deck. Some of the Italians bring Out
their harps and violi1,s, and a concert
takes place Aside from this these people
amuse themselves at cards, checkers and
other games. and after a time they be-
come partially accustomed to their filthy
prison; the majority make the best of II
| and enjoy themselves to degree. "
How is the emigrant cared for during
a stormsn queried the reporter.
That's Just where he reaches the
height Of his misery" answered the ex
emigrant Il shall never forget the suf
ferings we ali endured during a severe
storm on my passage. When the storm
came UP the matches were battened down
the ports screwed in their places and the
companionways closed During all thu
time the sea is On deck perhaps | Geo PEG
pie were confined to the steerage, on this
occasion, for nearly three days. The at
mosphere became close and in twenty
| four hours was loaded with impurities
meals were irregularly served and tht
food barely cooked shall never forge
the exhibition Of terror on the part O
some of the enigrants, and their terror
became contagious as their shrieks grew
louder and their prayers more frequent
After the storm had subsidized, and In,
| steer2ge was open. the sailors would no
90 in to clean up for six hours. and theI
they had to be supplied with an extra al
lowancc of Grog Iremember on this trlI
an incident which a sailor told me was no
an unusual one. One Of the Italians IL
the Steerage had not washed himself sine,
he had been on board, and after the storm
he refused to leave his bunk, but chung Il
it in all its filth, and with his characters
tic incidence On the captains order b,
was brought on board and thorough.
cleansed with q hose. after which he re
turned, apparently feeling no better fo
his clean up. but am certain the balanc'
of us rested easier.
when the steamer arrives at Quaran
tine q tovboat conveys the doctor oil
board and lie inspects the Immigrants.
there are no cases of infectious disease tn
steamer proceeds TO the city, and shortl,
another steamboat appears with the board
ing officer of the emigration commission
ers This official asceTtains the humble
of passengers on board and listens to com
plants
soon the trees of the Battery parl
come in sight, the steamers pulse ceases
several hsrges are towed alongside, ant
the immigrants with their baggage ar
.,.nrSfnrr,d "a these The .ar,a excita