Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-20
RUSH OF POOR TO EUROPE
That $40 Steerage Rate Makes It Cheaper
Than to Pay Board Here.
Steamers Can't Take Everybody, and
There Are Trouble and Tears and
Ticket Holders Left Lamenting.

There was trouble and turmoil on the
docks OF the ocean steamship lines Wed
nesday, says the New York World. So
many steerage passengers had taken ad-
vantage Of the rate war to get back to
Europe that the ships could not accommo-
date all those to whom passage had been
sold. Hundreds could not be taken aboard,
even with the crowding Of the steerage
quarters to the utmost.
Only once before, in 1873, has there been
an opportunity to get a steerage passage
from New York to Europe for $40. That is
the rate now, and il is likely to be further
reduced unless an agreement in soon reach
ed by the rival lines.
On the White Star dock the trouble really
began on Tuesday night People arrived on
the pier in droves to secure passage on the
Germanic which sailed early Wednesday
morning. Her steerage will, by crowding,
accommodate $50 passengers. Seven hun
dred and fifty secured passage. Everybody
with a ticket insisted on going. Finally -
OF the superf1uous 100 were crowded In with
the $50. and the rest were transferred to
the Hamburg-American liner Columbia,
which was to sail next morning.
There was much more serious trouble on
the American line per. The Paris, which
sailed at IL O'CLOCK wednesday morning.
has steerage accommodations for 500. Be
ing fast ship. and one on which the steer
age accommodations are said to be very
good, prospective voyagers had taken pas
sage on her with the same haste that q
small boy Will rush for a front bench at a
circus. Many of these were prosperous
looking people. One, a young lrishman,
said: II am out of work and have got to
waite two months for a job. 1t is cheaper
for me to go home and see the old folks
than 1t Is to pay board here
Agent Lederer and his corps of assistants.
fenced in by wire netting, were surround
0d hly 0hT,r xfv,e and LAT
crowd. All insisted that they would cross
on the Paris or must have their money re-
turned. All languages were to be heard in
the general howl. In few cases money
was refunded. but the majority did not
want their money back when 1t came to a
direct choice.
When the Paris sailed at IL o'clock she
left over $50 sad and weary people on the
dock, all holding tickets calling for passage
on her. They were transferred to the Co
lumbia, too.
By the time that the Paris had left the
steerage passengers for the Noordland of
the Red Star lne which docks at the same
pier. began to arrive. They knew of the ex-
periences Of the ticket holders on the other
ships. and at once began to shout for
berths. The ship was not to sail until 4
pm Passage on her was offered TO some
of those who had been left by the Paris,
but they wanted to go to Southampton and
not to Antwerp. One little English woman
with three children was crying because her
DdgSaSe nau gone OH on the fariS, ana she
had not even a change for herself or them
until the Columbia, to which she had been
transferred. should arrive at Southampton
TT Is all well enough to transfer us to
the Columbia" said John McAllister. a six
foot Scot, but 1 came G0 miles from Ohio
to sail on the Paris. / paid SIS each for
these four tickets. and today l could buy
them here for SO. Who Is going to pay me
for the meals. l have to buy for four peo-
pie while 1 am detained? 1t is a shame"
Although the Noordlands steerage ac-
commodities only $780, she was not over
crowded when she sailed. At the White
Star lire office 1t was learned that the
company had been obliged to stop booking
steerage passengers for the Teutonic which
does not sail until next Wednesday. Over
800 third-class passages have been sold for
the ship. Agent Certes of that line said
ne was very sorry, as were all the agents
for the over crowding. and that they were
doing the best they could under the cir
cumstances.