The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-27

also Justice OF the peace, Is 'he P'aeo W.
daily marriages The detention room Is 'he
place of mutterings and EXPLANATIONS OF
protest and despair at the thought OF peing
turned back from the promised land.
In a biz room that is like terminal rail-
vav station hundreds Of immigrants are
gathered every morning. They cro~o
the long benches and stand in single ME
between iron ratings that lead to desks
1t which officials sit.
This Ia a critical time for the Immigrants
for they are waiting to answer the ques,
lions and undergo the scrutiny which Will
either admit them to the country upon
vhich their eyes have long been Get. or
will send them to the Diet ention ROOM ano'
probably, back to the Old World.
Every now and then the busy pen OF an
INSPECTOR il raised in doubt. 1t may Do
an old man who Is before him.
-How much money have your asks
khe inspector. II necessary the interpreter
translates.
None"
.Who are your relatives or friendsf'
Into the eyes Of the old man comes q
blank look.
aOld and in q strange land without friends
ar money, comments the inspector. Hold
him for further inquiry.
The immigrant may BE- a tired looking
woman who has left three OF four children
on the benches.
awho are you going tor
my husband
DO you expect him here at Ellis Island
10 take you away
NO
Does he know you've GOMEZ
NO
where does he live9'
in America
.Yes, but wherei In what city or town.
III. blank look comes into tho womans
eyes.
How do you expect to and him'
sHe L. In America.
sHow much money have your
sTen dollars
.Tske her aside.' says the inspector.
writing a moment and then glancing at the
next in line.
well" he remarks - an Italian With
villsinow countsnance looks At him with
shifty eyes, you hardly Seem to be OF the
stuff Of which good citizens are made. Ever
been in jail?"
The Italian evidently finds Il impossible
to lie under the Herce glsnces OF this man
IN uniform. He admits that he has been,
what for2"
Fighting
well, did you kill your MANI
The interpreter repeats the question
and tho Italians face lights UP. He be-
comes voluble.
NO" explains the interpreter to the In
spector, .he says he didn't kill his enemy
that L., not instantly. Not till three months
had passed did the man die
Stand him aside"
Back on the line little way 10 Swedish
rirl with red cheeks and round blue eyes
When asked whom she expects to meet,
she says her lover.
.You are not married to him YETI
-No,' answers the girl with a faint smile
well, you will be before you 60 away
with him. says the inspector as he makel
4 note and waves the girl toward an at
tendant
These were some detentions on one linz
in a short space OF time. There are dozel
lines, and for long hours every day the,
pass the inspectors desks. Absconders
runaway girls and wives. stowaways, In
competents, criminals, contract laborers
are continually trying to pass these portal
into the domain Of Uncle Sam.
The majority OF them find the barrier
closed. They are first taken to the deten
ton room, then before the board OF specis
INQUIRY, and are finally sent back acros
the sea, at the expense of the STEAMSHIP
company that brought them over.
But sometimes one OF these voyager
never returns. Ellis Island has had 1t
suicides.
At dinner in the detention room the othe
day a visitor saw seventy-fve contrat
laborers, three girls who had attempte
to fec from disgrace in their own lane
several mothers with their children, on
reckless looking young stowaway fror
the West Indies, jailbird, and long ro
OF old Russian Hebrews, each one typ
who had come to this country witho,
friends or money.
THAT fellow over there remarked q
official, indicating a husky looking Col
tract laborer, was in party OF Italian
that were sent back some time ago becauf
we discovered that they had come ov'
unO0T COuJIdCp' pub Io USSopSA jaw ~
fore the ship sailed and we had to emplo
an Italian detective to hunt him down.
A good many Of these people exhau'
all their resources to get here. and it pref
nearly breaks their hearts to be sent bac
without even being allowed to land. Son
OF them are willing to take despera
chance to enjoy the freedom OF America.
"One day not long ago we received
message from Governors Island to the effe
that they had found wandering on d
shore man who seemed to be an immigraI
and was minus his clothing. We sent ov
for him and discovered that he had escap
from the detention room here, had til
his clothes on his head and started to swi
for Brooklyn.
But the tide and waves were too mu
for him They had washed away his a
parel and had cast him up on Governor
Island. But it was long swim, and I
nerve he showed made him conspicuo
here on Ellis Island. 1t had been decid
to send him back because he had no frien
nor money, nor any apparent occupatic
but his case was reconsidered, and he "
finally turned loose.
Another case something like this W
that OF a stowaway. We had him mark
for export and aboard the steamer. whe
h. nh~s .,.,I 49,. 81. 4. L..