The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-18
THE ST.LOU|S COMES
CRAWLING IN.
Delayed Over Six Days by
Leaking Boilers,
Disgorges Mass Of Furious Passengers Who
May Sue for Damsg STOOD ard Water
Supply Cut.
(By the Associated Press.)

New York, Jan 17.-The steamship ST.
Louis arrived at her pierhere today after
an extremely slow trip owing to leaky
boilers Her time from Cherbourg to the
Lightship was thirteen days, five hours
and twenty minutes, six days, fifteen
hours and twenty-five minutes behind
the ships best record. There was no
accident of any kind at any time, and,
although heavy eather was encounter
ed. practie1Il ny q the delay was caused
by inability 10 get up good steam in the
defective boilers.
The passengers became very indignant
when they learned of the poor progress
the vessel was making and an Indignation
meeting was held, at which the line was
severely censured for permitting passen-
gers to embark on a steamer in the con-
dition the ST Louis showed. A statement
was drawn up and given to the public
on arrival here today by a committee
chosen to set forth the grievances of
those on board.
After she was sighted off Nantucket
last night the st. Louis made good time
to New York and reached her pier some
hours ahead of the time set last night.
1t did not take long for the first and
second cabin passengers to cross the
gang planks, once the lines were fast,
and as they got beyond the rope en-
closure they were gathered to the arms
of their waiting relatives. While this
was going on on the upper deck of the
pier, where the first and second cabin
passengers land. similar scenes were be-
ing enacted among the steerage passen-
gers on the lower deck of the dock, but
in this case the passengers had to again
part from their friends to do to Ellis
Island for examination by the immgra-
tion officers.
When the passengers started ashore
a uartermaster was placed on guard at
every g-plank with orders from the
dock superintendent not to allow any one
to go on board. None of the ships of
ficers was allowed to come ashore.
A Parlett Lloyd, of Baltimore, was
one of the signers of the first cabin pas
sengers resolutions. He said:
There was no pleasure or gaity aboard
the ship. Every one was as depressed
and angry as men and women could be in
such situation. Suspicion began from
the very moment that we left Southamp-
ton. When it first began to be rumored
about the ship that the boilers were de-
fective and leaky, and we sought in
formation from the officers and stewards,
we could learn nothing. Our fears were
either laugher at or jocularly evasive
answers made.
"But when the officers saw that we
were in deadly earnest and would not be
i
truth, they changed their attitude and
told us promptly what we wanted to
know, or told us that they knew nothing
about the cause of the delay. All of the
first-class passengers have put their
cases into the hands of myself and Mr.
Berni as their lawyers, authorized us
to make such claims against the com
nany as we see fit, and to endeavor to
collect damages.
Rev. Arthur Crane, of Savannah, Ca,
said:
"Whatever we may say in condemna-
ton of the management of this line, and
the way we are being treated, we should
like it distinctly made not none of our
anger and Indignation is directed at the
officers and crew. We received nothing
but courtesy and honorable treatment
from them and we do not hold them at
all to blame for the hardhips and dangers
we have had to endure"
After the first week the food supply
was appreciably cut down, according>& o
the statement of passengers, and cream
and eggs were taken from the breakfast
menus. and only a small allowance of
milk was given to each passenger. From
subordinate officers on the ship it was
learned that the diet of the crew for the
past week consisted solely of oatmeal
and potatoes After about a week the
running water supply was cut off, and
passengers could get water for toilet and
bathing purposes only in buckets, as it
was brought to them by the stewards.