The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-16
OFF FOR BRAZIL.
The Canadians Disregard Solemn
Warnings.
Some Pitiful Scenes a. the Places Of
Embarkation.

Montreal. Sept 16.-Scenes of the
greatest excitement took place at the
sailing of the steamer Moravia, yester-
day. The boat left for Santos, Brazil.
with q large number OF Canadian immi-
grants. some OF whom were virtually
kidnapped. under false pretenses. At
first 1000 were 20 have sailed, but the
publication OF documents from the En-
gllsh consul general in Brazil. to the
effect that the country where they were
going is'entirely unfit for any English
man to live in. and thct II not stricken
down by fever. they could hardly earn
enough to feed themselves. somewhat
changed the complexion OF affairs. The
civic and Dominion authorities tried TO
devise some means OF preventing the
misguided people from going, but 1t ap-
pears they were utterly powerless.
Fully 10000 people watched tho boat
leave, and some Of the parting scenes
were heartrending in the extreme. In
some cases, wives refused to 60 after
they had entered the ships, and were
locked In the cabins by their husbands.
and In several instances the people went
on shore again with their belongings
at the very last moment.
These people. wives. fathers and chill
dren, have been drummed up, in and
about this city, by Brazilian immigra-
tion agents, woose statements Of the
country have been shown 10 be exagger-
ated. So quickly and quietly has the
scheme been worked, that there was no
chance to warn the emigrants, though
the matter was taken up by both the
civic authorities, the federal parliament.
as well as the priests, at the last mo-
ment The newspapers. however, sound
ed a warning note Monday night and
yesterday. reducing the number or In
tending emigrants to 300, who are con-
tracted to work In San Paulo sugar
plantations.
The relatives Of those on board pleaded
and harrangued the foolish passengers
to remain in Canada, and cheer after
cheer went up as various waverers de-
scended to the gangplank. Mayor Smith
made a speech to those on shipboard.
telling them they were being deceived.
When the moment for casting off came,
the excitement was at fever heat, and
the dockmen were hardly allowed To cast
off the lines At this time several excit-
ing jumps were taken, to and from the
ship, by wayerers on board and on shore.
One girl jumped from the ship into her
mothers arms. At 1880. the die was
cast, and the Moravia was borne down
the st. Lawrence, with her living freight,
the first of the kind ever to go from the
Dominion.
In the house OF commons. at Ottawa,
yesterday. Mr.. Bergeron (Opposition)
pointed out that many people were to
sail from Montreal for Brazil. and he
asked what the Dominion government
had done in the matter. Premier Lau-
rier stated that the government could
not prevent people leaving Canada, IL
they were determined to do SO. but at tho
same time they advised their immigra-
ton agent in Montreal to look into the
matter. and to endeavor to persuade the
people against going to Brazil. The
government has also communicated
with the church authorities. telling them
TO advise their fiocks against being de-
luded into leaving the country.