The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-17
Disappears With Money Belong
ing to Starved Immigrants of
the Bark Vera Cruz.
RELIEF WILL COST $4,000.
Description of the Inhuman Treat
ment of Sufferers ON Beached
Vessel Like Story of the
Old Slave Ships.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Washington, May 16.-All. the resources
Of the Secret Service of the Treasury De-
partment are being brought into play to
capture Captain Fernandez. the master of
near Ocracoke Inlet. N. c., more than a
week ago, with All starving immigrants on
board.
The story of the voyage of the Vera Cruz
III reminds one Of the days of the slave
ships. The immigrants are natives of the
Cape Verde Islands. They were induced to
come to America by the fact that there is
a large and prosperous Portuguese settle
ment in Eastern Massachusetts,. The brig
OF which Captain Fernandez was master
as ,wned in the Cape Verde Islands. 1t
is a !ery old vessel and unseaworthy.
The captain got his cargo of immigrants
by sailing from point to point around the
islands. Most Of them paid exorhitant
passage money. and when they went on
be I'd deposited all the funds they possessed
in the world with the captain for safe-keep-
ing.
The brig was inadequately provisioned.
had a scanty supply OF water and the immi-
grants were packed together like cattle. The
ship had bad weather most of the time. and
It is reported that the captain was intoxi-
Gated during the trip.
The destination Of the brig was New Bed
ford, and the vessel had a small cargo Of
oil. She met adverse winds and was blown
out of her course and the provisions. which
had been scarce at the start, soon ran SO
low that the immigrants were put on one
meal a day.
Water also ran out. and for several days
| prior to the Bleaching of the Vera Cruz in
Ocracoke Inlet, not a man. woman or child
among the immigrants had a drop to drink.
The Captain said that he would run into
Ocracoke to get food and water. and would
then proceed to New Bedford.
When the ship went ashore he Immediately
disappeared. made his way to the mainland
and no trace has been had OF him since.
He took with him the seamen's wages. the
passage money paid by the immigrants and
more than 5000 In cash that had been en-
trusted to his care by the passengers.
, ALL REDUCED TO SKELETONS.
When the life saving service went to the
assistance Of the Vera Cruz last Sunday a
scene was presented impossible Of descrip-
ton. Scarcely a soul on board the brig
was able to stand. They were almost skel-
etons from lack of food, their tongues were
swollen with thirst, most OF them were
crazed from drinking salt water and all
were violently III.
In the emergency quick action was neces-
sary. and the revenue cutter Boutwell,, at
Norfolk. was sent to the assistance Of the
crew ana passengers. When the immigrants
received food their stomachs refused to re-
tain 1t, and the whole All had to be care
fully nursed back to life.
They were finally removed to Newborn.
where they were housed in a large building
which was Inadequate for their accommo-
dalton. and many were sent to the hospital.
There they have remained for several days.
while the Treasury Department has been
busy trying to solve the problem what to
do with these aliens cast away on the shores
OF the United States. 5y
Bertram NJ. Stump. an immigrant in
epector, and Surgeon Glover Of the Immi-
grafton Service at Baltimore, were sent to
the assistance of the immigrants. and Mr..
Stump to-day made a report suggesting
that the tax of s. a head on each immigrant
be waived and that they be transported to
New Bedford where most of them nave
friends.
The Treasury Department authorized In
spector Stump to make arrangement for the
rail transportation of the immigrants to
New Bedford. and the Treasury Depart
ment will pay the bill. 1t is quite likely
that the whole matter will cost the Govern
Ment at least 5000