New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-13
NO REST OR PEACE FOR THEM.
PLIGHT CT THE NORMANNIA,s PASSENGERS.
TEE FIRST TRIP TO FIRE ISLAND AND THE
HORRORS OF THE RETURN TO THE LOWER

HORRORS OF THE RETURN TO THE LOWER
BAY-pIFFTCUITY IN GETTING FOOD.
There Is an old Eastern fable which tells OF
nickless ships crew burdened by Allah with terri
HE curse They were doomed 70 sail forever ana
ever, without rest through the long Gays ana the
years, till they might b. able TO lay their heads
on earth Yet battling winds ever drove them on
shore when they approached the land, and still the
curse would not allow their vessel to founder and
SO touch ground Almost like this has been the fate
Of the unhappy passengers OF the steamship Nor
mannia. They fed from the cholera In Europe to
find themselves fnce to face with 1t on the ocean,
Their ships raced toward America. where they hoped
10 find a refuge from It. And they found themselves
worse of than before In sight OF the shining
spires OF the city, they found themselves oucasts
and eXilcs.
Frightened the pcstllence brought by their ships
New. York had but one thought 10 keep them as far
away rs possible. From staten Island ana Long
Isnnd they met with what was almost hatred
They found themselves In floating prison, left alone
with the pest for company. Az day after day went
on and they found themselves stu prisoners they
became Wild TO escape from the ship They became
willing to f0regO all chances Of getting 10 Ncwfork,
Only land us somewhere, even II you keep us prls
Oncrs,n the cry.
ON sunday It seemed 10 them as II their cry had
been needed at last. They we're put aboard OF the
Ccphcus and were told that she would take them to
story Of the arrival OF Fire Island bar. the captains
inability 10 cross II In the gale and the danger and
misery OF the return 10 the Lower Quarantine was
told in yesterdays Tribune. The C0phcus. II was
reported late that night had arrived at Sandy Hook
after 10 O'Clock. That welcome message TO
the mon who had sent her out 81 SEA. They were
no happy three hotrs which Dr. JENKINS passed after
O'Clock Sunday night when he heard that tho
Ccplcu, had bcea sighted of the Fire Island bar that
her ghts had suddenly disappeared, and that II
was believed and hoped that she Ind put back 60 sea.
For the next three hours, with the great wind
moaning over the blun at Quarantine, and the sea
brcakinP heavily and booming dsmally all along
shore. there anxious watching and waiting and
stniuing OF eyes "a sc,Unrd In the hope OF seeing
the lights Of the boat which bore almost 500 people.
ON board OF that sidevheel excursion steamer,
waowing ard rolling md fighting In the long sweis
Of the ocean stng gering along blindly through he
stormy night, there women and children who
had been reared amid the most refined surroundings
and who had never untl they made the unfortunate
trip on the Normannia known what It was 10 suffer
phvation. There were milionaircs. United states
Senator and prosperous theatrical manager aboard.
There they all were. huddlcd together like sheep on
vcssol which offered chance for privacy, most
Of them terribly seadck. with every stick In the
boat wet and rcehlng with salt air and spray
being sent hlther and thithcr kc merchandise
When at Inst with thankful hearts, they found
themselves safe In the Lower Bay once more, they
found their troubles had not nearly been ended The
Ccrheus. In the darkness and wind and sea, ran
along shc Of the stoninsOn, and while the two vacant
vessel, rose and sank the waves, the first cabin
nosseprc,s vcr, removed To the stonington The
Ccphcns ran of short distance with the second cabin
passengers SIM on board anchored FOR the night
cw Of the unfortunate people on board Of her slept
There were no places 10 sleep Carpet had been
spread On the floor mako things ensicr. but II was
no, pleasant place FOR any one, and the passengers
looked wrctcIcd and utterly broken down IN the
morning. The complication was that tie stonins
ton had sleeping accommodations but, according to
Dr. jenkins. no facilities for coohlng food while the
Ccphcus had facilities for this purpose but no place
for sleeping the passengers on both vessels were
Ike Mahomets coffin, suspended between Heaven
nid earth.
The chapter Of accidents was not by any means
ended when the Cephcus anchored for the night
Her captain found that she did not have coal and
water enough board to make another trip to Fire
Island. he got up anchor and calmly steamed up
through the Narrows and brought his boat to the
Quarantine pier with the Normanna, with the Nor
mammals second cabin passengers aboard. Then
there was a lively scurrylng at Quarantine. Even
poor Dock Commissioner J. Sergeant Cram was
awakened By a telegram sent him at New York At
last the coal and water were put aboard the boat
e The loading WAS sos on by G the ne sec ap
tantalzed beyond endurance at their close approach
on And The talk wilch Or. jenkins had to listen
TO- the hitter, bitter reproach,S which shower~
or crew S I'd du and he was glad when he c"phcus got
under way agun. Br before she started the Captain
had to hunt up the policemen. A number OF them
an not why they should not strc'ch their legs
50 they calmly walked into the village mablns
mockcry Of quarantine. DR.. Jenkins was much ex
The Ccphclis went back 10 the Stonington took on
board the first cabin passengers, and after break
Fire Island again passing sandy Hooh at 1910 a. M
The Quarantine Commissioners. Allen and Muller
yesr dlSclulmpd
loon In the face Of thIf great sea aud gale Com
missioner Allen was asked wrre yon consulted
before the Ccpheis was chart"rrdP
mo- said the Commits sion'r.
should You not have been ~ r. ,, oons,,,,o,
answered mo Commls sioner. Mr.. Muller he
called ont the gentlemen wlsh r know Wnhgf
wa chartered. have ioIi them that I think So
Tell them what You think We certainly should
have been consulted answered Mr. Muller.
sonnlly think that II was wise thing 10 send the
| C.phcus ont 70 sea on Sunday nlghti the reporter
u wouldn't want TO answer that question: said
Mr.. Muller. The question was repeated 10 Mr.. Allen
IT, said yell think Dr. Jenkins has done every
hut do you think he did rightl' he was asked.
oven, everybody can make mistake said Mr.
il anything had happened to those people on the
Ccpbeus, who would be resp0pslble-you as Quaran-
tine Commissioners. DR.. Jenkins ~
DR.. Jenkins would be responsible" the Commits
| slouT replied quickly. ,...,.. .,.. ....
the Health Orccrs action In taking things ir his own
| hands much ~ Mr.. Allen shrugged his shoulders.
antne TO settle several questions 10 authority etc:
Mr.. Muller said that DR.. Jenkins had not even kept
| Lower Bay. The messages the Lower Quarantine had
been kept from them and they had been systematically
kept ignorant OF the true state Of affairs at Quarantine.
PASSENGERS FROM ABROAD