The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-01-27

VADERLkND ORDERED
BACK TO QUARANTINE
SEVEN HUNDRED PASSENGERS
IN THE STEERAGE.
Investigation of the Con-
ditiOns Leading to the Death of Ten
of Them to be Made-Health Officer
DOty to Have archaeological Exami-
nation Made of Two Bodies Not
Buried ut Sea-Questions of Food and
Proper Sanitary Conditions.

New York, Jan. 26.-Ten steerage
passengers died at sea on the Red Star
line steamer Vaderland, which arrived
here from Antwerp on January "a. The
cause of death was given as congestion
of the lungs and pneumonia, and the
vessel was passed at Quarantine. To-
day seven hundred steerage passengers
were not permitted to land when the
steamer came up to her dock, and by
order of the health officer of the port
tn esteamer was sent back to Quar-
antine.
When the commissioner of imnigra-
ton here received word that Health
Officer Doty had taken this step he
telegraphed to the authorities at Wash
ington as to what he should with the
steerage passengers down at Ellis Is
land. The reply was to turn them over
to the health authorities.
-Four departments are now conduct
ing Investigations. Collector Strana-
han and Surveyor Clarkson are separ-
ately acting on behalf of the treasury
department; Dr.. Doty is conducting a
rigid medical examination on behalf Of
the quarantine service; Immigration
Commissioner Williams is acting under
orders from the secretary of the de-
partment Of commerce and labor. ,t
. Proceedings ere commenced by Col
lector Stranahan at Ellis Island this
afternoon and six witnesses were ex-
amined. ... ..;.
None of the officials would make a
statement as to the nature of the tes'
timony given by these witnesses. When
recess was taken Mr.. Doty ordered that
all witnesses have their clothes sfumi-
gated, and as a consequence of this the
hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.
Among the matters which will come
before the investigation board are:
Were the passengers on the Vaderland
properly fed? Did the employees Of the
steamship company sell the steerage pas
sengers food, knowing that the passen-
gers could not eat the steerage rations?
Did the steerage passengers receive
proper medical attention. Are the al
legged statements that the air of the
steerage was foul true? Were the san-
itary arrangements on the Vaderland
bad and dangerous to human life2 n
All four Investigations will be carried
out strictly along these lines. BY the
detention of the passengers at Quaran-
tine this work has been greatly facili-
tated. Already a large number of af-
fidavits are in the hands of both Col
lector Stranahan and Commissioner Will
liams. %&@. \
OF the ten steerage passengers who
died, eight were buried at sea. Autop-
sizes were performed on the other two
bodies, and while no official statement
can be obtained regarding the results
of these autopsies, DR.. Doty has order
ed complete meteorological examina-
tions to be made in each case. &c.,.
The examination will not be complet-
ed until tomorrow night or Saturday,
and until that time the health officer of
the port will make no public announce
ment as to the cause of death. Mean
time the Vaderland will be thoroughly
A careful examination was
made as to the vessels condition before
her return to Quarantine was ordered.
The Vaderland sailed from Antwerp
an January IA. The first death occurred
two days later, three died on the goth.
three on the 22d, one on the 2Sd. and
two on the oath. The ships surgeon
and two physicians who were in the
first cabin gave it as their opinion that
death primarily was due to exhaustion,
exposure and poor nutrition. The pass
age, 1t was said, was a rough one, and
those that died had been seasick from
the day of sailing.