Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-13
tall, spare figure was seen standing in


''It is Senator Mcpherson, of New
Jersey" called out Mr.. Thompson, who
was still in the stern.
Senator Mcpherson stood silent for
some moments, looking at the mob he
could dimly see crowding to the edge of
the wharf and ordering the officers who
were rowing back to the water when the
boat drifted too near the landing.
"Citizens," said the Senator at last,
"the captain declines to come ashore.
Ii you will give me your injunction
papers, give you my word of honor
that l will give them to him, and he
will accept them as legally served"
"BriDg your captain ashore as you
promised" said Attorney Reid.
'sThat would accomplish no more
than my offer to you,'' continued the
senator. "You want him for some other
purpose than you have stated"
Attorney Reid replied that the cap
tain must come ashore.
81 do not understand you," said the
senator. "You appear to hesitate over
come legal quibble, and your hesitation
means unspeakable sufferings, probably
death, to women and children"
The crowd remained silent"
"If we can bring him ashore, will you
agree to let the suffering, innocent, help
less people land p
"They cannot land" yelled the mob.
The senator turned his face up to the
mob, and in an impressive voice said:
II appeal to you men in the name of
God not to be longer led into heartlese
cruelty by this attorney; but to give
your consent that these women and chill
dren be taken from the boat, where they
have nothing to eat, and no place to
sleep; where the common decencies of
life cannot be longer observed; where
their surroundings are foul from sea-
sickness. Before you answer, think
what will be done. Remember Your
own wives and children. Be manly.
Do not bring everlasting disgrace on
your names. Be men,"
1t did not seem as if human beings,
capable of understanding the language
in which they were being addressed,
could withstand the appeal. But the
crowd stood there, sulien and silent,
while the lawyer said "Theyi cannot
land. If we permit them we will give
away our case. They cannot land"
s'They cannot land !" echoed the mob.
Senator Mcpherson sank down in the
boat overcome. Mr.. Thomson cried out !:
"You poor people, you are being duped
by tricky lawyerl"
"We are no more tricky than you,"
ans wered Lawyer Reid.
Mr.. Thomson then said: "You will at
least allow DR.. Voight to send US food
and blankets?"
sNot unless the captain comes
ashore" answered the lawyer, and the
mob applauded.
When the boat rowed back to the
steamer, the newspaper men who had
listened to this. at once went to every
one of the health board who was present
and begged that this horrible crime be
not committed.
At s 80 o'clock a meeting of the board
was held in the hotel Office, where q
resolution was passed that if DR.. .Voight
would 90 with lawyer Reid to the stem
er, and see that the Injunction papers
were served, the board would allow food
and blankets to be taken aboard. DR..
Voight was made to promise that if this
was allowed no attempt would be made
to land passengers.
On one of the trips of the ships yawl
to the landing for bedding, Mr.. Thorn
son came in the boat and asked if the
reporters would take a petition from
the passengers to be telegraphed to
Governor Flower. The crowd on the
landing said nothing could be taken
from the ship. Mr.. Thomson stated
the sheets of note paper be had fumi
gated according to the requirements OF
the United States postoGice. A men,
Der Of the Islip board Of health was ap-
pealed to, but he refused to receive the
koE oQo
copy of it from dictation, and by the aid
of lanterns this was accomplished. The
dispatch is as follows:
To Governor Flower: In our extremity
we appeal to you for release from ex-
posure. We are nearly five hundred
persons, mostly American citizens, de-
tanned in order that infection may not
be passed to our people. Notwithstand-
ing the fact that there has not been a
case the widest imagination among us
can believe to be cholera since August
28th, now fifteen days, the force of cir
cumetances puts US under condi-
tlons of peculiar suffering, and
at this moment we are lying about
on the decks OF the steamer Cepheus, an
excursion boat, without any sleeping ac-
commodations. Delicate women, and
aged and infirm men are without mat
tresses or blankets, and many are ex-
posed to the sky. All are supperless,
and this comes after three days INSULT :
cient food, dread of fire, the misery of
sea sickness and dreadful uncertainty
as to our fate. Had cholera been among
us, it must have broken out, but only
tonight the quarantine physician on
board the Cepheus pledged his word to
the savage mob that is OBTAINING US
here that there have been no symptoms
of cholera amongst us during all the
time we have been under his observa-
tion. The breaking point is nearly
reached in our hardships; hunger and
fear are doing their work, and
the condition Of the weak and
infirm is reaching the limit of human
endurance. For Gods sake release US
and let US go to our homes. We will
put ourselves under any supervision
you may direct. Take account Of our
peculiar conditions. and act at once,
or the authorities of the Empire state
will be responsible for many deaths
from exhaustion.
(Signed) j. R. MCPHERSON,
E. L. GoDKIN,
A. M. PALMER,
r. M. THOMPSON,
j. s. RosENTHAL,
DR.. f. w. LANCE,