The Portland daily press., 1892-12-06
THE IMMIGRANTS.
They Took to Their Washing Like Ducks
to notwithstanding Scenes at the
VVharvas

.WnarVeS.
The Dominion liner Vancouver arrived yes
terday morning with her 70 immigrants, when
were deposited at the disinfecting station at
House Island and put through the bath tubs IN
the manner described in the PRESS OF yestef-
day morning. The washing went on all the
forenoon and portion of the afternoon without
any incident to mar the highly entertaining
process. 1.-THE immigrants took to the Washing
just like ducks to water" said one OF the o1ll-
cials last evening. They were very clean
looking party of men and women when they ar
rived at the city on the Emita during the after
noon yesterday. They appeared in excellent
humor and had entered into the spirit of the &C.
casion by going into the bath tubs laughingly
and with every appearance of being greatly
pleased with the novel entertainments which
the New World was furnishing them. When
they arrived at the dock the E4ita was tied up
to the Vancouver and the immigrants were
landed over the decks Of the latter vessel
AS each immigrant came ashore he was subjec-
ted to an inspectionlnot heretofore usual at this
port Immigrant Inspector Timothy Elliot, as
sisted by Customs Inspector 7. F. Bradley,
stood at the gang plank with an Interpreter;
and every immigrant was obliged to tell his
name, residence, whether he had ticket and
money to begin life with in this country,
whether he could read and write, and where he
was going.
1t was real entertainment to watch the pro-
cession as it marched up the gang plank and
stepped for the first time upon the soil of the
new world. Every one of them was picture
of hard times unless exception be made for the
red checked Scandinavian girl who waited
brim full of good nature for her turn, and a
family OF quite well-to-do Irish. But the clothes
of nearly all seemed insufficient. One poor fell
low rejoiced in thin cotton jocky cap and shod-
dy overcoat, which seemed to cover no under
garments only cotton shirt. few had toler-
ably thick overcoats cut in the quaint home
made style so distinctive of the immigrant.
There was an interesting scene at the inter-
rogation of the file at the end of the gang plank.
Here comes a middle aged, honest looking
Irishman, his face (which the Portland Board
of Health has just washed until it shines) all
wreathed in smiles. He has little package in
his hand, and as he steps upon the soil of the
New World he unfolds it carefully and begins to
distribute to those standing about little twigs
of green plant. which is a miniature resem-
blance to our clover, so far as the leaves go. 1t
1t shamrock, and seems 10 be the only endow-
ment which the Old World has been able to give
to her son in sending him to the New.
Next comes Finlander, wearing black
leather moccasons with curiously pointed toes
He has S18 with which to begin life in the New
World. Each one has to tell how much none y
he or she has with which to begin life in the
New World. The smallest sum possessed yes
terday by any one was So. One woman whose
husband was the Rothschild of the party, said
the family had $3.50, and that they were going
to start boarding house in this country if it
would pay.
There were several old people, Johan HarT
monia, aged SO, of Finland, being the Oldest
One baby was born on the voyage. but being
born in the intermediate cabin, did not have to
be washed by the Board OF Health.
In the band yesterday were people from
Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Eng
land and Ireland.
They took the evening train for the West,
most of them going to the western states where
they will work on farms.
By misunderstanding DR.. Banks and DIR.
Clark, of the Marine hospital service, and In
spector Elliot did not go to the island in the
morning with the local board of health