The morning call., 1894-09-07
CHINESE SLAVES.
A Number Die on the
Way to Port.
SCENES BETWEEN DECKS.
LOathsome Quarters Where a
Body Was Secreted.
A MUTE PLEA FOR WHITE LABOR
Contract Coolies Are Too Dirty to
Do the Work in the
Canneries.

CanneTy Chinese have peculiar way OF
dying off in alarming numbers after sea-
sons work in the north. No medical ex-
peIts have ever explained why it is that
the tough Celestial after standing months
of cold weather, expo sure and hardships
gives up the ghost just as soon as lie SETS
foot on the deck of a bOmeward- bound
vessel. The explanation is yet TO come.
The return of the canneTy fleet again
calls to mind the fact that Chinese la Dor
still finds lucrative employment with local
corporations. 1t also reminds the public
that several more Chinese have died at sea
under circumstances strange and interest
ing.
The defth roll of the Levi G. Burgess
that arrived Wednesday numbers TWO
souls. The snip America, hence from
Prince Edwa I'd Sound. on the .4th. had
two dead heathPns between decks, and the
ship George Skolfield that arrived from
the same place last Wednesday night con-
signed three MOngOls TO the depths on the
voyage down, while one died while the
vessel was crossing the car. His body was
secreted by his comrades and not discOy-
cred until yesterday morning.
Last year fully twenty Chinese died
after giving up work in the canneTies.
This mortality will probably be exceeded
this season.
The Skolfield docked at Third-street
wharf Yesterday afternoon. The remains
of the heather who had died before reach
ing port were stretched out in a bunk in
the forward part of the ship between
decks. A piece of mating covered his
remains, which had already commenced
to deeomDOse, emitting strong odor.
In view of the fact that hundreds of
starving white men bad offered to 60 10
far fhon ghn
Chinese offered their services for, an in
vestigation of the Skolfield's quarters and
her crowd Of yellow slaves was made by
reporter.
The place occupied by the Chinese was
filthy IN the extreme. In space scarcely
- feet wide and so feet long, piled high
with baggage of all descriptions, l20
human beings found shelter on the trip
down.
A candle Illuminated the quarters Teebly
and revealed tn the right OF u COMPANION
ladder the st # body of the dead man COW
cred over with square of mating. Yer
min infested every bunk. and the air was
so foul that it was almost sutfocatng to
those not accustomed to it.
This fellow here" explained member
of the SkOlfeld's crew, pointing to the
body. like the other three who were bur
led at sea, was one OF the gang that Oper-
ated the filling machines. This coinci-
QOuNC hCOnc u llNbO oLt obSO
About five men usually work each
ma chine. They have to handle all the
salmon, feed the chut' and rim the cans.
''Not piece of salmon is packed but
that it is fingered by these filters.
Regarding the deaths? Yes, it is, in
deed, very strange how the workers die
off. They have a way # blaming it to the
water that IS furnished them to drink. A
cramp usually se1Zes them when they first
are taken Ill, and in less than an hour they
are dead.
Poor food and excessive opium smoking
are blamed for the effects of the queer dis
ease, for disease it must be. The Chinese
live on rice aud dried fish, work hard all
day and sit up all night gambling Their
systems are thoroughly run down, and the
least exertion proves fatal.
On board the ship America a loathsome
sight was presented by the dirty. sickly
lot of Gamers vino wore queues.
One Chinese died On the voyage to the
city, according to the report of the Chinese
boss" but when the heathens were
counted one was found to be missing ip
addition.
A thorough search was made below the
day before yesterday, resulting in the
finding of another dead man hidden away
beneath bunk IN the darkest part of the
sleeping quarters. Help was secured and
the body sacked and prepared for reno val
On the Sko6eld the Chinese wanted the
sailors to pickle tue three men that had
literally dropped dead at different times
during the voyage, but no man cared to
undertake the job. After due ceremony
the bodies were thrown overheard.
more miserable lot of wretches can
not be imagined than those who came
ashore in boats when the various vessels
of the canning feet dropped anchor in the
stream
Scores had almost lost the power of their
lower limbs and sank helpessly TO tue
ground every time they took step. Rags
aDd vermin covered all.
The sent menta ity wasted on the poor
bsrbar an nf South Africa and the savage
of The South Seas who is shanghaied from
bis home by a SLAYER might well be be-
slowed upon the salmon ships that leave
and enter our harb0r every year. No craft
ever carried more loathsome lot of labor
ers than do those that transport the con-
tract coolie to the north.
The strength of Buddhism is estimated
al 100000 600 followers, though Max Null
lar nrnHi fhar mi Lac eho1