Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-09-15
DlsoRAoEFUL SCENES.


Fire Island Mob Keeps the Passengers
OF tho Ill-Fatod Normannia From Land
Ing at the Haven Prepared For Them
QUARANTINE, s. l., Sept 1S.-Yester-
day will probably be looked on in fu-
ture years as one OF the most horrible
reproaches ON American civilization
that has ever occurred in American his
tory. Federal government on one side,
state government on the other-both
anxious TO be the rescuing party-and
in front local authorities and private
people forcing back the victims from
their haven of refuge
To go back 10 the beginning Of the
story the Normannia cabin passengers,
who had been for eight days confined
to cholera stricken ship were greeted
on Saturday with the promised and
long hoped for relief in the shape OF
the Sfonington, TO which vessel they
were transferred Sunday evening. For
the first night for days they slept in
peace and satisfaction. Sunday they
were TO 20 TO Fire island, which,
through Gov. Flowers generosity, had
bsen secured with all its houses and
the Surf hotel for the accommodation Of
the first and second cabin passeng
Of the ill-fated Normannia. On Satur-
day night they slept on the stonington,
but in the morning IT was discovered
that she had no means for cooking, was
too deep draught TO cross the bar and,
according to statements made, she was
too old and worthy TO venture so
far in the open ocean.
The iron steamboat Cepheus was then
hired and the first and second class
cabin passengers started for their prom
ised land The weather was rough and
many were seasick, but they cared lit
tie for that, happy in their escape from
the prison ship Normannia After q
voyage of about thirty-six miles the
captain weakened and said he was afraid
to take the Cepheus over the bar without
u pilot In consequence of this the iron
steamboat started back to the horseshoe
bend and the first-class passengers were
once more put on board the riclIety old
Stonington liner. The second cabin
passengers were kept on board the
Cepheus without bed or even pillow
on which to lay their heads They were
strewn about the settees and carpeted
decks Of the steamer.
A storm had been brewing, however,
around Babylon and Iaip since the first
rumor Of Fire island being turned into
quarantine station had been heard.
The Babyloninns and their near neigh
bors cared not for the sutferings Of their
fellow countrymen and women. They
did not care II they died Of cholera,
starved or were drowned All they
thought of in their craven hearts was
the totally improbable proposition Of
their being attacked by the pestilence,
owing 10 the proximity OF a number of
ladies, gentlemen and children who
never had cholera in their midst, who
have lived for fortnight on board a
plague stricken ship without being
touched and who were returning tc
their own homes.
The craven h.arted creatures, tremb-
ling from their own imaginary fears
rather than from any real danger, not
only invoked the arm Of the law, by
means Of an anomalous legal stay en-
titled an injunction, but had assembled
as an armed mob hundred strong TO
drive these helpless women aud child /
rem back to the cholera ship and to at
all events possible death.
The governor begged and implored, /
DR.. Jenkins prayed these cowardly men
TO allow the passengers to land. Tele.
gram after telegram was flashed over
the wire assuring the men Of lslip and
those Of Babylon that they ran no risk /.
They were obdurate. They would not
give in and the passengers Of the Nor
MAMMA are now lying in the inlet by
Fire island
The passengers appointed commit
tee, with Senator Mcpherson AS chair
man, 10 confer with the mob OF vio-
lence. The latter refused to withdraw
the injunction and so for last night
least they can claim the victory, vic |
tory gained over AL helpless women /
and children and the equally unoffend /
ing husbands.
A newspaper man conveyed TO Gov. |
Flower the knowledge that Judge /
Barnard, OF Brooklyn, had issued an in
junction 10 prevent any Of the people
from the cholera ship from landing at /
Fire island The governor was much /
nettled and expressed surprise.