The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-02
DAY AT CASTLE GARDEN.
How the Immigrant Is Received and
Sent on His Way.
From the Nelo York Sta.

From the NeiO York Star
Have you ever been to Castle Garden to
| see how immigrants are received and
| cared for? Well, it is a place that is worth
visiting The immigrant in this country
has no need OF friends nor of any great
| amount of money, so far as keeping out of
| trouble is concerned-at all events, until
after he has passed through Castle Garden
for he need not get into it unless he so
choose; and he can get along very well
without knowing anything of the language
of the country. He cannot leave Castle
Garden with any chance acquaintance
made on board ship nor in the Garden
unless the character of such acquaintance
is proved to be irreproachable
An instance occurred not long ago. A
young and pretty woman came to join
friends in a western town. Ga the voyage
over she made the acquaintance of a man
who her asked to marry him; aud as there
was no friend to meet her on the arrival OF
the steamer, she was detained by the Castle
Garden authorities until information could
be obtained to prove that the man was
what he should be and that he intended to
fulfill his word.
how do these immigrants reach Castle Gar
den! They are brought down on steam
boats and barges. Let US take walk
through Castle Garden, for there is a good
deal to see and to learn. Enter
ing one of the doorways in the wooden
fence that surrounds the Enclosure, you
will be asked your errand. for no one en-
ters here without being willing to give al
account of himself f. There are several
small buildings within the inclosure besides
the castle, which was originally a fort, and
whose thick stone walls still stand la one
of these buildings is the information bu-
reau, where the friends of expected imm-
grants apply for news of the arrival Of the
steamers, and where cards are filled out
with the names of the immigrants, their
destination, and the steamer on which they
are expected to arrive These cards are
afterward read out by one of the Castle
Garden officials to the waiting immigrants
who expect friends to meet them, and they
then come forward
Close to the entrance is a police station
where several officers are always on hand
Not far away is the labor bureau, where
those immigrants desiring situations may
apply as soon as they arrive. Outside of
the door is hung q slate on which is written
in English and German the sort of help that
is desired by employers who have applied
here. A small room in the end. of this
building is set apart for the hotel and
boarding house keepers, who are duly Ii
censed and allowed to enter here for the
purpose of seeking patrons. Their houses
are frequently inspected by officers of the
immigration commission. and they are re-
quired to provide suitable beard and lodg
ing at reasonable prices, aud they are
responsible for the safety of their boarders
as long as they keep them under their
roofs
In the same building with the informa-
ton bureau is the office of the Mission of
Our Lady of the Rosary, for the protection
of immigrant girls, that was established in
1888 by the late Rev. Father Riordan. This
mission maintains a home on State street,
where friendless girls and those who are
waiting for friends or money are cared for
until their friends are heard from. In
some instances the girl refuses to say any
thing about herself to any one except a
priest To him she will sometimes tell her
story The home receives girls of all nation
alities and creeds. Rev. Father Callaghan
is now in charge of the mission and is al
ways about the Garden. The Protestant
are represented by clergy
men of the Lutheran, Espiscopalian aad
Methodist churches, each of which main
tains home for girls and women.
A reception hospital is also maintained
here for the purpose of caring for the sick
until they can be transferred
to the hospital on Wards island. There
are three wards, one for women, one for
men and one for women and children. DR..
Vinton is in charge of this hospital, and is
on the wharf when the barges arrive to
examine all immigrants who appear TO
REQUIRE physicians care. In connection
with the hospital is the Wards island bu-
reau, where applications are received from
for admission to the institution
on that island.
And now we pass through the doorway
in the old stone wall of the fort, and we
are In the big circular building known as
Castle Garden. The first object that con-
fronts us is a telegraph office, which we
pass as we enter the rotunda A few inn
migrants who arrived early in the morning
are lingering here waiting for friends. A
lunch counter is provided for them, where
they may obtain food and drink, An ex-
change broker is present to change their
forgelgn money for American cash. The
various railroad companies have ticket
Offices here, and in the center of the ro-
tunda counter is built around quadran-
gle, where are seated the interpreters, who
register the names of the immigrants, and
two inspectresses, who are here to look after
the women and children.
On the wharf is tn o Office of the custom
house inspectors, for the immigrant, as
well as his richer brother, is sometimes
given to smuggling. Upon each steamboat