The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-09-19

Gale Endangered Sylph and Sinks
Tug Nearby.
INsPEcTs IMMIGRANT STATION

Mr.. Roosevelt Spent Four Hours on
Ellis Island and Was Pleased With
Conditions Found There-Interest'
ing Incidents.
New York. sept. 17.-While en- route
from Oyster Bay to New York Presi.
dent Roosevelt, on the naval yacht
Sylph. passed through terrifying
wind and rain storm. during which The
vessel was in imminent danger. Sub
sequently he visited the immigration
station on Ellis Island. New York bay,
and made a thorough inspection Of tne
institution.
When the Sylph weighed anchor At
Oyster Bay the skies were dark and
forbicdine. and as the vessel drew out
OF the bay a light rain fell. Less than
an hour after the Sylph had entered
Long Island Sound she ran into ter
rife wind and rain storm. The storm
increased in severity rapidly and OF
Fort Schuyler II developed into a hur'
rioane. The wind blew al the rate OF
e5 miles an hour. The Sylph. com
paratively small vessel. pitched heav-
ily. and listed very sharply TO star
board. The president and his guests
had been forced to go below. and be
yond a drenching none OF them suffer
ed Inconvenience. The waves ana
wind swept the deck, making IL almost
impossible for the sailors TO remain
exposed 10 their force.
In He'll Gate, quarter of a mile OF
the port how OF the Sylph. a tug boat.
having in tow a large threemastcd
schooner. was capsized by the wind
and waves. She sank stern foremost
but did not settle completely OFT OF
sight for perhaps five minutes.
small boat from the tug put OFF with
the crew except two men. who chung
to the bow until the vessel disap-
peared
President Roosevelt and party later
went to Ellis Island to inspect the i'm
migrant station.
Before beginning his tour of inspec-
ton of the station President Roose-
welt informed Commissioner Williams
that II would be impossible for him T.
make such an investigation as he
would like.
Commissioner Williams then re-
quested the president to appoint COM
mitteo in whom he could have conf
dence to make complete inspection OF
the plant and its administration. In ac-
cordance with this request the presi-
dent named as the committee Eugene
A. Philbin, Thomas Hynes. Arthur on
BrieseD ard Ralph Trautmann.
Nearly four hours were consumed by
the president in his inspection Of all
departments of the immigration sta
ton. At the conclusion of the work
the president expressed his pleasure at
the admirable condition in which he
had found everything on the island.
He personally complimented Commits
sioner General Sargent and Commits
sioner Williams on the excellent work
they had accomplished. and assured I
them their administrations needed no
defense with him. it spoke for itself
He said II was literally true that there
was no other country in the world
where such work was being done as at
Ellis Island. in theUnited States.
During the inspection many interest /
ing incidents occurred. the president /
acting upon his desire to go directly {
among the immigrants themselves with /
a view of ascertaining personally how
they were treated. He was particularly 4
by the fact developed that |
10 out OF so applicants for admission
were supplied with American money.
The statement was made by the i'm
migrant officials that immigrants
passed at the station carried an aver
age aggregate Of $4,000 year In
American currency. One man TO whom
the president talked had $3.50 in $
and $40 bills.
The presidents interest was attracted
by a comely German woman, Adele
Walter, from Leutendorf. who bore IN
4 wicker basket a tiny 7-months-oid
baby. After chatting moment with
her the president clipped a So bill into
he hand of Jacob Riis to be given to
he woman for her child. She nearly
ainted upon learning that the gift was
rom President Roosevelt.
Summer underwea! at cost, 10 days