Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-16
SENT TO NEW BEDFORD
ACTION TAKEN REGARDING THE
VERA CRUZ PASSENGERS.
Inspector Stump Reports the Results
of His Observations Of the
shipwrecked Victims:

The following report has been received al
the Treasury Department from the inspect
or in charge regarding the passengers OF
the Vera Cruz VII recently abandoned near
Newbern N. c.:
''NEWBERN. N. c., May Is, 1908, IL m
''Sir: l have the honor to report that the
manifesting of the passengers and the
making out of list of the crew of the
barkentine Vera Cruz VII progresses more
slowly than 1 anticipated. The captain OF
the barkentine abandoned his ship, taking
all the money he could lay. his hands on,
and, from the statements of those exam
ined. half starved them.s was. d ''unk most OF
the time, and they find. themselves here in
a most pitiabe condition.
Il attach herewith letter addressed to
our Portuguese interpreter, Mr.. F. D. Do
Valle, together with~his translation of the
same -.
Assistant Surgeon Giover.and myself are
still of the opinion that the. best thing to
do is to have these people transported,
preferably by sea, to Some point in Massa-
chusetts, where they can communicate with
their relatives and friends se.;
The crew also ;ares absolutely without
funds and unpaid. with no, possibility of
shipping from this point
Il am glad to report that the cases of
dysentery have practically ceased and sew
eral OF those in our temporary hospital
have been discharged today.-rrhere are no
exception of three or four. cases of ira
choma, believe all the rest%can be legally
landed If transported north.
"As to making arrangements for trans
portation, l have told all importuning pas
senger agents that the matter rests with
the department.
Il respectfully urge that you make some
arrangements, certainly by Monday next.
to I,nx Tho han
tax money and fines for not properly mani
Testing these aliens cannot be settled at
present for the reason that there Is no
representative of. the barkenune here. The
papers report that the agents in New Bed
ford disclaim any responsibility.
Without you wire me instructions to the
contrary, all who have received telegraphic
femittances from the north, sufficient to
cover. their transportation. will be permit
ted to travel at their own expense. In
their destitute condition I don't consider
that, the government would demand that
they pay their own h3ad tax or fines.
'The assistant surgeon urges transporta-
ton by water, because Of the fact that the
question of meals woatid he a serious one If
they went by rail- Pie Norfolk and South
ern Railroad Company has a large boat
leaving here every other day about PM,
which could put the whole lot, via Eliza
beth City, in Norfolk the next morning.
From there they could 60 by the Merchants
anu dlHetS l<iiie TO Boston HOF ITOVluelce
direct, or to New York via the Old Domin-
ion Line. At all events something should
be done speedily, as they are huddled to-
gether in an old shed which, has no win
dows, but does not lack ventilation.
Again urging the necessity for sending
these people to the north as soon as possi-
BILE, L remain, respectfully,
(Signed ''BERTRAM N. STUMP,
inspector in Charge"
The Secretary of the Treasury has tele-
graphed instructions as follows to Inspector
Stump: ~
Department unable to make arrange
ments for transportation Of aliens by wa
ter. Convey by all-rail route to New Bed
ford. Mass, bills to be presented, with your
approval. TO department for payment. If,
In your Judgment, guards are necessary,
their employment is hereby authorized at 81
per diem and expenses both ways"