New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-02
SUFFOCATED IN THE HOLD.
SIX LIVES LOST ON A GERMAN STEAMER.
THE FATHERS OF TWO OF THE VICTIMS TO BRING
SUIT AGAINST THE STEAMSHIP COMPANY
IT is ALLEGED THAT THEY WE'RE
KEPT IN THE FOUL PRISON
SEVERAL, HOURS

SEVERAL HOURS.
story Of the death Of six emigrants by suffo-
cation in the hold Of a German steamship while
they were hiding from Russian officials has come
10 light through the efforts of two fathers in this
city who II Ia understood. are seeking TO obtain
reparaton from the owner OF the steamship for
the deaths of their sons The case has been put
into the hands OF Stiefel & Lauer. Of No. ~
Nassau ST. this city. who have written to the
United States Consul. Heinrich Beneke, at Flens-
burg Germany, requesting him to give the mat
ter his attention.
Morris Lerner. a tailor at No. 10 Manhattan
st. and Levi Milrod. Of Sherff-st.. are the men
who are the complainants in the suit TO be insti-
tuted against the owner Of the steamship Her
man Each had a on board the Herman
who it Is alleged died from smothering in the
hold of the ship The action Is based upon the
affidavts Of two men who we're on the Herman
AZ the time One Is Chain Silverman. who lives
now al No. ~ Norfolk st. He was one OF those
who confined in the hold OF the ship ana ne
tells of their horrible experience. He says that
a party Of thirty @migrants were met by an
agent of the boat at o'clock on the morning or
January last They were led to the ship and
conducted down three flights of stairs. trap
door was then opened and they were told that
in order to escape the inspection OF the Russian
officials they must go down into the hoid anu
keep quiet The men made objection. but were
told that It would be only few minutes before
tbev would be released Some Of the men. rely
ing upon this statement. were let down into the
hold through the trap door until fifteen had been
thus disposed Of Then the place was too FIJI 10
hold any more and the remainder of the t'irty
were taken care OF in some other way The trap
door was shut down and fastened
"a bo, hoy stO N water
to their hips and so crowded that they
could NOT move one way or the other. II was
pitch dark and there was no ventilation. ne de-
clares After a few minutes Sverman says.
tho, felt that they were smothering to death and
bega, To mound on the door and to yell with all
.beir might for help. but no one came to releVe
their agony Silverman alleges that he tried 10
light match but it would not purh' ohe
bv one he saw his comrades give out ana gro"
ouiet. as If dead and finally. he says ne iost
consciousness and kno~ nothing more unth ne
was revived on the deck Of the steamer
cuverman said that instead Of being kept in the
hold twenty minutes there was some uelay' anu
:, r,os. several hours before the trapdoor was
o,orad nv n sailor who called down 10 them TO
CANA m The sailor heard no reply. and tried TO
oo down where the men were, but was driven
hack by the foulness Of the air Fresh air was
,r,ned in and ropes were let down. and the men
ro DRAGGED I'D on the deck. 1t was found that
s,v of then, were already dead The remainder
were revived only after hours OF hard work
civeruan declares that it was wonder that
oil the men we're not dead they had been con-
orod for several hours in place devoid Of light
d ventilation and nlled with fou-smelling
r,a,er IN which they had to stand. Silverman
added that the men were supplied 18th the neces-
sary papers for leaving Russia by the agent OF
the steamship, the same being incluaed Ill TIC
price paid for their passage
The affidavit of Michael Trachtenberg. OF NO D
Chrystic-sr., corroborates the statements Haue
bv Silyerman Trachtenberg was an unconhheu
Messenger on board the Herman. He says tha'
the men in the hold heard to pound ana
shout soon after being confined but the oficers OF
the shin fearing the Russian officials, allowed
them 70 remain there He saw the imprlsohod
men brought up from below. and says thar all
Nerr unconscious and had to be lifted out by
sailors The bodies OF the six men were thrown
o,erboa rd in sacks weighted down with lead, and
the remainder we're told that if they made any
complaint when they reached England they
would be carried back 10 Russia The herman
sailed from, Libau Russia, on January last
bound for Hull. England
When Silverman and Trachtenberg reachea
this city they searched out l'erher ana MiLrou
and told them OF their sons deaths The tickets
for their passage 10 this country had peeh pdiu
for by the fathers and Forwarded to Russia.
According 10 The Marine Register the
steamship Herman is one or large nul'o1 r.
owned by H. Schuldt. OF Flenshurg. GERMANY !.
is understood that suit will not only be prousht
AGAINST the owner of the vessel. but that steps
will also he taken to have the orHcers Vi '"e
steamer punished.