New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-17
IN BLOCKS OF THIRTY.
LANDING IMMIGRANTS FOR EXAMINA
TON AT THE BARGE OFFICE.
PICTURESQUE COSTUMES AND EQUIPMENTS o.
THE NEWCOMERS AND POLISH
wOMEN's QUEER DRESS


One Of the most curious sights which the city
has TO offer is the scene which takes place al
most daily at the Barge Office dock when the
boatloads Of immigrants from all parts of the
world make their entry into tEis country. 1t is
not strictly speaking. the frs, time that they
have set foot upon American soil for thCy have
been landed an hour or so previously DIT the
pier OF the steamship on which they came over
and, after picking out their several pieces Of
baggage there. have been re-embarked with ali
their worldly goods. upon the Barge Office boat
which is waiting TO receive them. But their ar.
rival at the Battery marks their formal en-.
trance into the United States. and it is not untS
after they have successfully passed the care
full inquiries of the Registry Office that they
can be sure that the new land they have choset
is willing to adopt them
AS the Barge Office boat draws up to her
dock. there is usually great animation to be OBJ
served on he: deck. The passengers are stand.
ing about in little groups. either talking ear
nestly. with the abundance Of gestures charac-
tcristic Of foreigners else gazing silently
toward the new city. as If fascinated by its
appearance. Every man. woman and child
manfests 4 desire to go ashore Immediately
and if ii were not for the wholesome respect
which they entertain for the b'ue uniforms OF
tn, officials there would probably be something
like a stampede upon the gangplank. To facili-
tate the work Of the registry clerks. the immi-
grants divided off while the boat into
groups Of thirty. and intervals are allowed be-
tween the landing Of the different groups. so
that there may be no crowdng The only way
in which the grouos can be preserved intact is
by fencing them apart with ropes. and the APP
pcarancc Of the deck thus divided into pens is
amusing
on the forward md Of the boat are huge picS
Of the larger pieces Of baggage too heavy and
unwcldy for the Immigrants % carry in their
arms Judging from III" poverty expressed in
the costumes of the people. would not
pect them to bring many possessions with
them. but the fact remains that there arc
bundles. baskets. boxes and budgets Of all de-
scriptions. in addition to the trunks and chests
which must be moved 10y the cxpressman.
The most picturesque arrivals are the Italian
and Polish women. with their splenden Mt shawl'
ard IN" gayly decorated handkcrchefs which
cover their heads in lieu Of hats. Their gowns
are always short enough to satisfy the most
advanced dress rcformcr and the most popular
style Of foot-covcring seems To bc high knee
boots OF stou, leather. precisely like those worn
by the me1 The women march ashore with The
heavy. dumping tread which the boots compel
frequently carrying huge bundles upon their
heads and smaller ones in their arms. Some
times. however. ii is baby which takes The
place of the second bundle, and there may be
two or three tpGdlcrs of varying sin clinging
To their mothers skirts.
The father oi the family is not idle either.
his arms are iull II what are presumably more
family treasures III boxes ard bags The wrap
pings IL thu hunnl"s are remarkable for their
diversity. Besides IN" brown sacking. there are
brilliant pink calicp.s and multicolored paids
corresponding in kind to the clothes II the own
"fs. Not oven the children exempt from
.urdru- bearing Nearly every on that can
ak has something a. look after. and many Of
.Irin AZ" seen t. be hussinE fast nttlc wicker
wooden chairs. evidently th,ir own private
property. Sometimes 4 band Of Holland RS ara
conspicuous among their poorer r"ighhors by
reason u thcii Gathering wooden shoes and gen
cral air of better health ana prosperity.