Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-25
Thirty-Eight Ignorant Croa-
tians Sent to Davenport by
INSCRIPTIONS Agent
HE TOOK ALL THEIR MONEY
Promised Them Nine Months Work
in Davenport, But They Found
Nothing to Do When They Arrived
at That Place, and Are Now on the
County's Hands.
Special to Times Republican.


Davenport, May 25.-The extent 10
which ignorant foreigners are victim
lied by their wiser brothers who prac-
tically exercise a padrone system over
them was shown yesterday when the
authorities were compelled to shelter
and feed thirty-eight Croatians who
had been sent from ST. Louis up the
river on a wild goose chase in search
of work They were Croatians from
southern Austria, swarthy and un-
couth in appearance, unkempt of hair
and young in years, speaking Bohem-
ian, Polish, pigeon German and other
Slavic tongues.
They were brought here by the
steamer st. Paul. being placed ON
board at ST. Louis and given lower
deck passage here, where 1t was sup
posed they would be put to work on
the interurban lines.
The contingent was without money
and without food. They were made the
victims of the odious padrone system.
Eugene Petersberger directed them
to Sheriff Macarthur. who gave them
shelter for the night in the Jail, and
served supper and breakfast to them.
A reporter questioned several of the
men who pointed out one OF their
number. He was Intercepted and
answered in English that sounded IKE
a pied" line.
He said that he and the thirty-sev-
en- others had been working on the
worlds fair grounds at st. Louis, and
a few in railway construction work in
Arkansas.
I'VE are Austrians," he managed 10
make the reporter understand. from
Croatia, we Czeks no Turk, all Slavs.
Man named Tom K1nny, Kenny, what
you call him, say us dat railroads
have plent' work by Davenport. He
TAX So from each an buy ticket an
put us on boat.
Close questioning brought out the
fact that Tom Kinney, or Kenny, or
msybe it might be Keane. had an Of
fee In st. Louis aear the union depot
on Market street. He has gold teeth.
which show when he smiles. ms
man told the Croatians that 20 labor
ers were wanted at Davenport, roads.
The SO men were anxious to come. ana
he took SO from each one for ticket
and before the st. Paul pulled out from
her dock he had herded the three dozen
and two Slavs on board. Then he left
them, and when the boat pulled out not
even his agent who was to accompany
them was on board.
Kinney, or whatever his name might
be. had guaranteed them nine months
work.
When they got here they found no
work and the whole 3s Croatians are
now unon the hands of the Scott coun
ty authorities.
The dumpage is not taken with GOOD
grace by the authorities.
Daniel Mirkulch, spokesman or the
contingent, says one Of the IS, who Is
named Peter Radalvaric, was robbed of
S45 the first night on board by some
one who cut the money out Of the leg
of his trousers, wherein 1t was secure
~ sewed Rade Rajio, another of the
crew, lost $40 by the same light-fin-
gered robber.
The kindness OF Sheriff Macarthur
gave them shelter last night and neces-
sary food. Their further disposition is
being looked after.
Niirkulch and his company desire to
get back to st. Louis, and If they are
gotten transportation thither 1t Will not
be well for Kinney, or kenney. or
Eeane, TO be caught by them. Each
member of the 3S Croatian crew is mad
as Turk and there might be trouble
coming in the direction of the padrone.