The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-10-22
FROM ITALY TO THE STATES
Solomon Huebner Tells of Storm on The
Ocean

ocean trip containing great many
interesting facts that are brought forth
in this letter.
New York, Sept. 1908
My dear Parents:
Have arrived at New York after
most disagreeable ocean journey of IA
days and hours.
The steamer Nord America is purely
an Italian steamer not a member of the
crew being able to speak English
Moreover the steamer carries only
Storage and first class passengers. OF
the 1909 passengers only S3 were first
class passengers while 1926 were steer
age, that is Italian immigrants, the
poverty stricken and the thrash of Italy
which will be dumped upon the Amer-
can shore to start life anew in coun-
try which will give greater opportunity.
The fate and life of these "Steerage'
immigrants is simply terrible. Being
compelled by necessity To leave their
own country they are treated like cattle
after they leave. | saw many OF
them treated at the Naples Boat Ian
ding which WAS simply revolving.
Everybody before getting aboard an
Italian steamer must pass a physical
examination and if found to have a con
tagious illness will be rejected, | saw
a number OF the steerage passengers re-
jected and compelled to stay back in
the land whcih they were almost forced
to leave. 1t is needless to say that
those who were left behind prese nted in
deed heart rending sight. But worst
of all, when this mass OF human wrecks
arrives at New York, many are refused
admission on the grounds of illness, or
because they do not own $50 or because
they have no one to get them from
Castle Garden | was informed that
the steamer on which | came took back
eighteen immigrants on her last trip.
But while the lot of many of thee
people is full of danger both at the be-
ginning AMI end of the journey the lot
of all is very hard during the journey,
All sleep together in large racks, the
bed clothing consisting largely of coffee
sacks and dirty cloths. The food is
generally dished out to them in large
dish pans from which each one helps
himself rs best he can, the most greedy
generally getting the most, In many
instances | have noticed the first class
Italian passengers put pieces of meat,
bread, fruit, etc, into their pockets and
give it to some 'steerage' friend on the
sly.
During the day it is n perfect sight 10
see these 1926 steerage passengers
lounging about Italian steamers seem
to be kept pretty dirty and men and
women and half naked children lie scat
tered all over the decks, floors and isles
of the boat, and this life for period Of
nearly Is days.
In the first class portion" of the boat
conditions are a hundred times better
than in steerage, yet the service for the
fare OF $50 is very poor The food is
on the whole poor, and it was a perfect
sight to see some Of the Americans on
board kick about everything on the
ship. The ship was overcrowded and
the steerge passengers would take every
foot Of breathing space they could, No
l,,t
would complain, but the steerage pas
sengers. you know would stand in front
Of the American state-rooms, or would
make little too much noise to suit some
OF those swell" American dudes and
danes and then you ought to have
heard the kicking and the "My God"
'for Gracious sakes' etc. Conditions
on board the steamer were made worse
by tire fact that we encountered tbs
equinoctual storms and rains. Az you
will notice from the minutes | enclose
we had enough Of bad weather. A con
tinuous storm Of Ave days is indeed
very weakening to those who are not
used 10 1t.
Well enough for this time. | am in
the best Of health, have plenty of cash
and will proceed to Philadelphia as
quickly as steam can carry me.
The total distance from Naples to n
Y. is 4l20 miles.
Voyage ge-Departed from Naples on
Sept 49, at 9p. N. with fine weather
and by noon of following day made 1877
miles
Sept 18th Reached Sardinia about
/ / a. III. and followed closely its South,
ern Shore from end to end for period
Of six hours The island is very rocky
| and very mountainous and is dotted
here and there with small cities Tue
Mediterranean was smooth as glass
during the whole day, repeatedly the
steamer passed large schools of por,
poises fish about 6 to SIT long, which
amused the passengers by showing their
| fpa nv iumniny cnnnlataly ont of tb.