The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-11
in THE STEERAGE.
Hard Times on a Pacific
Mail Ship.
THE PAYcAR WILL Go OUT.
Southern Pacific Officials Deny
the Report of an AL.
legged Loan.

j. P. Townsend, his wife and daughter
were passengers on the Pacific Mail
steamer Coiima from New York TO this
port on her last trip and they tell story
OF treatment endured aboard the ship that
Will not have tendency to increase the
passenger-list of that steamer in particu-
lar on future trips.
MI. Townsend is more than ordinarily
intelligent man who has followed the
business Of steward on various lines Of
steamers for years. He had concluded to
leave the East partially on account of his
health and also for business reasons and
seek this section of country. Together
with his wife aud daughter he took steer
age passage on the Colima. travelling in
that manner for economical reasons. but
their experience was such that. as the
gentleman puts It. no possible c0nsidera-
ton could induce him to subject his family
to such hardships again. In speaking OF
the matter he said:
II was steward for years on the NAL
l0ry line. on the Clark & Seamen line
between New York and New Orleans. and
Oil the Quebec and Gulf Port line, and l
will say that II steerage passengers were
treated back in that country as they were
on the trip l just took. public sentiment
would justify mob in dealing sumniarlly
with the parties res ponsible,
when several days out from New York
my wife noticed an empty cabin on the
main deck and went to the steward TO see
Ii we could not pay additional money and
secure 1t. The steward referred her TO
the captain. who In turn sent her to the
purser. That individual wanted only $3.50
for the cabin. Mind you, this was in addl-
tion to our regular fare, which had already
been paid.
1.-The company provided no blankets or
mattresses for the hunks in the storage.
and request made to the steward only
met with point blank refusal and :he
statement that If he gave one person
blankets and other conveniences of civili-
cation he would have 10 give them to all.
The bare. hard boards of the hunks were
not a'pleasant or inviting place for one to
seek rest, and as l became quite sick on
forts l endured.
I'VE were not allowed any fresh water
for washing PURPOSES and when day or
two out OF New York our ice supply was
stopped. the only way in which these
things could be procured was TO bribe the
employees on the boat. Not single con-
venience was to be hal unless paid for.
LAS to the food, rice with lew GU.
rants in it and a plentiful supply OF sand
was the principal article furnished. The
bread was the only palatable thing l
nuticed. No milk or butter was obtainable
unless you paid good round price for IT..
We paid 80 cents for small cans OF con-
densed milk. which we were compelled 10
get for our little child. The meat given was
Of foi ono I,fxy hu tho hOrrihla manner in
which 1t was cooked rendered 1t unfit to
eat There was no tea for the women
that could possibly be drunk. l was so
sick and my wife and child were also sui
fering so much that went 70 the steward
finally and offered him $50 II he would
give US better food. The fellow promptly
demander 345 or $15 apiece.
"a weiser who noticed my child one day
brought him piece OF pi@ from the cabin
| table, and the steward, happening to see
| the man. took Tho pie away from nIm aho
| harshly ropr0vO0 him Tor tho ACT.
! Mrs. Townsend GAyo revotunS accouh
OF the manner IN which hall. Dreed women !,
who were PASSENGERS 10 me s'e 70 Wo%i
wash IN the dog Daseet, "a leceptaoie
similar in use to dishpan?. after which
the dishes that had been useu at meal time
would undergo their necessary clean SING
process in the same article.
Many other particulars were given Of
| voyage tnab mas 1911 no pleasaut Wcho
ries with the unfortunate passengers wh'
came by the peculiarly managed steamer
! The Rosaiie had red-ietter Gay yesteI
| DAY IN tue nunDcI % Oaeoehkels catIlou
her capacity being Iu'ly tested upon nearly
every trip to accommodate the oro"oS:
w. ID. SanOorn, geberai agent ana l.. ~
Mckay. general passenger agent ior tnt
burlington line on Inc racine coast, wei
East 10 Salt Lake last night. inc LII
will combine pleasure WIN business q
day or two az tue Deacn conl pIio.nS 'I -,
pleasure feature. whle the business III
which MT McAay az ieasl - s" M ~ n 49, 40,
teresed Is proJect ny Which iuu, "upo 81
10 get contrac. lvl .no ss;,h '.'ho 90
the many conSo.;s w ~. ,n. Eas, "Ao 90
constantly COMING ~ Ito" .nn,nwos q. Ia ..
| Inc coutnein "e'eo ot,,,'~ ,h. $3.50 ="
seem mofaiy ; Su.o y. Sr,;,b so;n V uas
| uue tntiI, 40 a 80 80 20
| terQ0y 0IteTuOUU tHht ITO uuu suo uCCCSSoi.t