Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-20
HEBREW IMMIGRANTS, STORIES


Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Nettle.
ton on July 10 sent the following letter to Gen,
O'Beirne Of New York, assistant superintendent,
Of immigration, in regard to Hebrew immiera.
ton:
This department is in receipt of letter
from the Department of State, dated 18th
instant, transmitting copy Of a dispatch from
| the American minister at London, who calls
attention TO a cutting from the Times issued
on Goth ultimo. This seems to be an author
lied publication Of a dispatch from the British
| ambassador at Berlin, from which it appears
that strenuous efforts are being made by a
British official, who is said to be q prominent
member of jewish social organization, to
divert from England the destitute expatriated
| Russian Hebrews, who are coming into Ger
many at the rate of 700 per day, by warning
| them that the labor market of England is over.
stocked and suggests that they be sent to
America or Palestine.
In case it should be decided to bring this
matter to the attention of foreign governments
1t would be essential that the department be
/ well informed Of all particulars where it is
found that any such immigrants are arriving
at our ports. You are, therefore, requested to
| closely question any such Russian Hebrews
who may arrive as immigrants at your ports
| and II you find any who have been diverted
| from their original destination to this country
| by foreign officias, you will take and record
such testimony with the names aud official
| rank Of persons who are active in the matter
| and promptly report the facts to the depart
| ment."
Gen OBeirne has consequently taken the
testimony of number OF Russian Hebrews
On saturday he obtained aflidavits of nine i'm
| migrants. These nine affidavits are similar in
their nature to the twenty eight taken on the
previous Saturday.
The affidavit of Mendel Rogalsky, who same
to the state OF Georgia from Glasgow, shows,
perhaps, AZ well as any, the efforts made by the
relief committee on the other side to look out
for their Hebrew brethren and to get them to this
country. Rogalsky is twenty years old, IL ma
tive OF Dlnneborg, whore his mother still lives.
His affidavit states that he is a carpenter. He
worked at Riga, where for nine years he served
as an apprentice in learning his trade. lie lost
his position through what he calls official in-
reference" When he WAS discharged he man
aged to scrape together 60 roubes, about S2y,
beside supporting his mother. lie ordered
to leave Riga at once, but managed to stay
there about three months. In that time he re-
NAMED concealed in the houses of his friends,
all OF whom, he says. rendered themselves
liable to Punishment to Siberia for befriending
him.
HUNTED LIKE RAT.
The authorities Of Riga heard that Rogalsky
was secreted at the house of one of his friends,
and made vigorous search for him. 1t hap
pened that the house adjoining the one in
which RoSalsky was concealed also occu-
pied by friend of his. The two houses were
connected by concealed passageway between
the cellars.
Then the hunt for Rogalsky grew too hot He
went into the cellar and through the secret
passage into the next house. That house was
not searched and Rogalsky escaped. Shortly
after that he got out of Riga and made his way
back to Dinneborg, where he lived with his
mother. He succeeded in obtaining employ
ment at Dinneborg. but lost it again through
official interference" He was also ordered to
leave Dinneborg at once.
HIS mother got together enough money to
make slxty-four roubles about S31, with what
he had left of his savings while he was in Riga
He then determined to come to America. With
that object in view he started for the sea coast
lie got as far as Wynuti, on the German from
tier, where he found that he would have to pay
the government officials 100 roubles-or $4S-
to get an international passport.
That bride was out Of the question as he
never had 100 roubies at one time in his life.
He made up his mind to get across the frontier
without passport. He tried it and was cap
tured and thrown into prison. What little
money he had left was col,iiscated. After three
days Rogalsky sent with thirteen others in
achain gang to Neustadt. There he was stripped
OF his clothing and thrown into a CELL which.
he says. was hardly big enough for him to lie
down in.
ALMOST STARVED TO DEATH.
ic "ae Aepe III tHls pace Oh WlseraDie coarse
food, in insufficient Quantities, for about two
weeks. when he was released and told to clear
out Of Neustadt as fast as he could RogaIsky
says in his affidavit that he learned after his
release that the prison officials had been bribed
to let him go. lie got money at Neustadt from
the relief committee of some society," the name
of which he does not know to go to Mcneil
There another committee took care of him and
gave him money to go 10 Glasgow and passage
ticket to America.
Rogalsky is an intelligent-looking, able
bodied young fellow. who looks AZ if he ought
to be competent to take care of himself easily
anywhere If he had half chance.
The story Of Leiba Steens follows: He saws
that he is twenty-three years old. married and
has two children. Until three years ago he
lived in Resza. Russia, where he worked at his
trade, blacksmithing. Work failed him and he
went to Ostrow. From there he was driven
out by the authorities when the edict was made
expelllng Hebrews from Russia. He deter
mined to come to America, but had only money
enough to pay his fare to the seacoast. On the
way to the coast he arrested at the frontier
and thrown into prison. He was visited in the
prison on the third day of his confinement by
a representative of some society or committee,
the name OF which he does not know. This
official gave him some clothing and 1915. On
his arrival at the seacOast ticket to America
was given to him.
Some of the other afidavits are more explicit
even than Stems. One man stated that he had
been assisted all the way. Another stated lie
had been advised to go t. Philadelphia instead
of to New York, as it would be easier for him
to land at Philadelphia.
There are forty more of these people de-
tanned at the barge office whose affidavits have
not been taken. Gen. D Beirne will get their
testimony today. and it will all be forwarded to
Assistant Secretary Nettleton of the Treasury
for his decision.
Gen. O'Beirne has received a letter from
Philip Cohen editor of the American H,y,,s1r