The Washington times., 1902-07-12
Sad Case of Martinique
Refugee Referred to
Secretary Shaw.
WOMAN'S FAMILY WIPED OUT
immigration Commissioner, Gustav
Schwab, and French Consul Interest
ed in Her Behalf - Appeal Not to
Send Her Back.

After sending hundreds of thousands
of dollars to relieve the sufferings of
the survivors of the disaster at Mar
Unique the United States may be put
in the position of refusing sanctuary 10
one OF the survivors of that calamity
unless the efforts of immigration Com
missioner Williams, Gustav Schwab and
the French consul in New York have
weight with the Secretary of the Treas
ury.
The case in point is that of Mrs.
Benise Batiste, a young French woman,
who arrived in New York last Saturday
on the steamer Korona of the Quebec
line. When the eruption OF Mont Pelee
wiped St. Pierre out of existence and
destroyed the lives of more than 30 900
of its inhabitants, Mrs. Batiste was IN
Fort dc France. and so escaped. Every
member of her family and all of her rel
atiyes, however, lost their lives in the
overwhelming disaster.
Woman's Sad Story.
Mrs. Batiste's story is a sad one. In
addition tothe fact that she has been
thrown upon the world without any
friends or resources, she is about to be-
come mother. She is a refined and
cultured woman, and says that she would
not seek the charity of the authorities
here were it not for her condition.
When she arrived on the steamer Mrs.
Batiste was taken to Ellis Island. and
after an examination into her case the
board of special inquiry ordered thai
she be deported as she was liable to be-
come public charge. Some of the at
tendants became interested in the case
and brought it to the attention CT Com
missioner Williams.
As soon as he learned of the facts i,
the case, Mr.. Williams at once went to
see the French consul and Mr.. Schyab
Nj. Schwab told Mr.. Williams that n
Mrs. Batiste were permitted to land he
would guarantee that her immediate
wants would be attended to- In addition
to this the consul assured Mr. Williams
that he would see that Mrs. Batiste did
not become a public charge
Secretary Appealed To.
After receiving the assurance that
Mrs Batiste would be we'll cared for II
she stayed in this country, Commission
er Williams had talk with her. and
said as the order for her deportation
had been signed it would be necessary to
make an appeal to the Secretary of the
Treasury
Four letters have been received by
the Secretary, one from Mrs Batiste.
one from Commissioner Williams. one
from Mr.. Schwab, and the other from
the French consul. The letters ask that
the case be opened again and reconsid-
cred, and three of them assure the Sec |
retary that Mrs Batiste will be we'll |
taken care of through her Illness; that
she is a strong and healthy young wo- |
man about twenty three years OF age |
and that II would be an extraordinary |
case If the Government were to deport |
back to a land of devastation a woman
who barely escaped with her life from
one of the worlds greatest disasters.
Educated ard Refined.
Mrs. BatIste is an attractive young
woman, ard has made friends OF all
with whom she has come in contact. She
has every evidence OF good breeding, is
an excellent musician, and, having a
finished education, hopes 10 be able to
secure n position as gOverness in some
home where her child will be cared for.