The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-11
ANOTHER LOAD
OF BRAvAMEN
Schooner Hattie and Lotti0 Has
No Passenger List or Manifest
IMMIGRATIONOffICERS NOTIFIED
Craft Is Ashore Near CunImlcut foInt and
Is Being Watched 10 Prevent
a Landing.

II is probable that the United States
immigration authorities will have 20 deal
with another attempt at smuggling i'm
migrants into the country. Yesterday af-
ternoon. Commissioner George B. Billings,
OF Boston was notified by the customs Of
ficials- -ef this -eitN-that the sailing
sci Hattie and Lotte had run
aground i'm the Providence river.
Just ABOVE Rocky Point. and that
she had on board 20 passengers. and
crew OF 70. Passengers and crew are
all natives OF the Western islands
IL was also stated that she had neither
the passengers nor the crew manifested
and had no papers OF any kind TO show
the government representatives. All the
circumstances indicate that an attempt
may have oeen made to land these peo-
pie and then hide them among their own
people In this city and New Bedford.
The Hattie and Lotte Is commanded by
Captain Silva, and plies between the Cape
Verde island and Providence, and the cap
tain, crew and passengers are all Bravas.
They Speak Portuguese and are as dark
as West Africans.
WT1A. WATCH TIE CRAFT.
Now that the government officials have
knowledge OF the vessel the chances Of
smuggling these passengers will be slim.
The vessel Is aground and the only way
they could get on shore would be in
small boats and, this possibility will be
guarded against until the immigra tion
inspectors reach here early this morning.
Commissioner Billings. who has charge
Of the New England district has ordered
Or. VI Victor Stafford the inspecting
con ana Inspectors suIIvan and Brosna-
ban OF New Bedford TO this city, and they
will examine the passengers. as well as
investigate why the captain has not mani
tested his passengers. or has no other
papers for the customs officials II the
captain cannot give any satisfactory rea-
fer his apparent disregard -ef-tife
laws, he may be arrested and brought be-
fore the United States court.
The Hattie and I.ottie have had trouble
with the immigration authorities before
About year and half ago a number
OF these western islanders were SNUG
glcd ashore here. and tho captain at that
time made his escape great many OF
those brought here illegally were after
ward arrested by tho immigration in
spectors. anA while some were allowed TO
remain here, others were sent back.
WATCH ALL OF THEM
Every Cape Verde vessel that comes
either to Providence or New Bedford has
10 be closely watched. for so many at
tempts have been made by the captains
10 get by the authorities that every pre-
caution is made to guard against any at
tempts I'm this respect
Last year. at Providence. the Sarah f..
Lee. another one OF tilese vessels. ran
aground on about the same spot I'm the
Providence river where the Hattie and
Lottie grounded and under cover OF
night. about 100 Bravas were taken ashore
In small boats; then packed into covered
teams and electric cars, and taken into
the Brava colony and hidden The cap
tain disappeared.
The vessel was seized by the govern
ment and later sold at auction. The un-
fortunate immigrants. who were not
aware OF what sort OF game they had
run up against. were arrested BY the i'm
migration inspectors and taken to the
detention station I'm Boston. They were
locked up for weeks until their cases were
disposed of. Some were released and
others were deported.
A great sensation was caused By the
wholesale attempt at smuggling immi-
grants, and IL cost the owners OF the
vessel considerable money. The CAPTAIN
was not found until months later. when
he was brought before the United States
commissioner and fined.