Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-15
CAPT. SLAMM'S REPORT
CONDITION IN WHICH HE FOUND
THE VERA CRUZ PASSENGERS.
Many of Them Suffer From over-Eat-
ing After Their Long Period
Of Famishing.

Can't. Slamm of the revenue cutter Bout
we'll which went to THE relief of the pas
sengers and crew of the sbrigantine Vera
Cruz III, which stranded the 9Th instant
in Ocracoke inlet, N. c., has made a pre-
liminary report to Capt. Shoemaker, chief
OF the revenue cutter service.
Capt. Slamm says that son his arrival at
the wreck he found that the master of the
Vera Cruz III had left the vessel, with
all his pei sonal effects and instruments of
navigation in the keeping of friend, to
go to Wilmington N. c., to procure funds
with which to pay for the transportation
of the passengers to New Bedford, Mass,
the destination Of his vessel. All of the
ships papers, including the passenger list,
were turned over to the collector of Gus
toms at Newbern, whittier the passen-
gers and crew were taken. The vessel.
Capt Sramm says, was practically aban-
learned the passenger list Of the Vera
Cruz called for 24O souls, while the keeper
of the hfe-saving station Is reported to
have landed 391, exclusive of the brigan-
tines crew. This fact. together with the
circumstance of the vessel being taken for
fresh water into the dangerous inlet where
she grounded, Capt Slamm says, appears
suspicious The vessel is imbedded in the
sand and will probably be abandoned.
Thirty-fve barrels of whale Oil comprise
her cargo.
To Be Sent to New Bedford.
Pending a disposition Of the entire case,
the immigration bureau has decided to
send the 400 Portuguese immigrants, who
are held at Newbern, N. c., to New Bed
ford, Mass, to which place they were des-
tined when the captain of the Vera Cruz
III ran his vessel into sand in Ocracoke In
let, N. C. The immigrants are in desti-
tute condition and are being cared for at
the expense Of the United States. They
will be taken at government expense. They
will be conveyed to Norfolk by the Bout
we'll and sent from there to New Bedford
At the latter place many of them have
friends who will care for them, and this
will allow number of them to be ad-
mitted as immigrants to this country.
Inspection of Passengers.
A dispatch from Newbern, N c., yester-
day says: Inspector Bertram Stump, DR.. M.
w. Glover and Assistant Louis Lottes, aid
ed by Interpreter ]. F. Doyalle of Brazil
began today examining immigrants from
the wrecked steamer Vera Cruz as to
health and eligibility of landing according
One hundred and thirty-eight have been
inspected, none of whom could be legally
landed, because they are paupers. The
man claim TO nave deposited thelr money
averaging from 81 to S3S each, with Capt.
j. NJ Fernandez of the Vera Cruz, who
has left the city. Four Of the immigrants
will have to return to the island on account
of rachoma, a very dangerous contagious
disease Of the eye which causes total blind
ness. DR.. w. M. Glover has ordered their
diet restricted, as their gluttony after
long furnishing has caused much sickness.
Sixteen are now in the hospital and several
more complaining.
During inspection one female immigrant
received letter from an employee on the
steamer Ocracoke, plying between Eliza
beth City and Newbern. The letter said
that the first and second pilots of the bark
Vera Cruz and two passengers have started
for Norfolk. Va, trying to reach New Bed
ford, Mass. The inspector in charge at
Newbern has wired the collector of customs
at Norfolk, Va, to hold them for inspec-
ton.