Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-13
A BLOT ON CIVILIZATION,
American Manhood Sunk to
Brute Level.
Inhuman Conduct Of Inhabi-
tants of Fire Island.
A Shipload of Human Beings Kept In
Dire Distress.
Tho Horrors of the Black Hole Re-en-
acted-Tears and Prayers Gould
Not Melt Fl carts OF Stone-In-
dcscribable Cruelties.

By the Associated Press.l
QUARANTINE, N. Y, Sept. 12.-This
day will probably be looked on in fu-
ture years as one of the most horrible
reproaches on American civilization
that ever occurred in American history.
The federal government on one side
the state government on the other, both
anxious to be a rescuing party, and in
front the local authorities and pri-
vate people forcing back the victims
from haven OF refuge.
On Sunday the unfortunate cabin pas.
sengers of the Normannia, who were
eight days contend on the cholera
stricken ship, were greeted with the in
formation that they were to go to Fire
island. The steamboat Cepheus was
hired, and the first and second-class
passengers started for the promised
land. The weather was rough and
many were seasick. After voyage of
about thirty-six miles, the captain
weakened and said he was afraid to take
the Cepheus over the bar without a
pilot. In consequence, the Cepheus
started back, and the first-class passen.
gers were once more put on board the
rickety old Stonington liner. The Sec
ond cabin passengers were kept on
board the Cepheus, without bed or
even pillow on which to lay their
head. They were strewn about the
settees and carpeted decks Of the
steamer.
Early on Monday morning the cap.
tain of the Cepheus discovered that he
required coal and water, and could not
get to Fire island without them. He
calmly steamed up to the quarantine
jetty, made fast alongside, and sent
word, shortly after a. M, to wake the
health officer up. DR.. Jenkins decided
to water and coal her at her own dock.
This was done, and about 10 O'Clock the
Cepheus once more started down the
bay to embark the first saloon passen-
gers and take them to Fire island. The
trip was rough one, but there was
more than the elements to be met.
A storm was brewing around Babylon
and Islip since the first rumor that Fire
island was to be turned into quaraf1-
tine station was heard. The Babylon
ians and their near neighbors cared not
for their suffering fellow-creatures I;
they did not care if they died of cholera,
starved, or were drowned; all they
thought of in their craven hearts was
the totally improbable proposition that
they were being attacked by the pesti-
lence, owing to the propinquity of
number of ladies', gentlemen
and children who never had chole-
ra in their midst, who had lived for q
fortnight on board plague-stricken
ship without being touched, and who
were returning to their own homes.
The craven-hearted creatures, trem-
bling from their own imaginary fears,
not from any real danger, not only in
voked the arm Of the law by means of
that anomalous legal stay entitled an
injunction, but assembled as an armed
mob, hundreds strong, to drive these
helpless women and children back to
the cholera ship, and to, at all events,
possible death.
Governor Flower begged and i'm
plored Df. Jenkins prayed the men to
allow tFS passengers to land. Telegram
after telegram flashed over the wires as
suring the men of Islip and those of
Babylon that they ran no risk. They
were obdurate; they would not give in,
and the passengers of the Normannia
are now, on Monday night, lying in an
inlet by Fire island.
The passengers appointed q commit
tee, with Senator Mcpherson as chair
man, to confer with the mob. The lat
ter refused to Withdraw their Injunction.
and 30, for tonight at least, they can
claim victory-a victory gained over
their equally unoffending husbands.