New-York tribune., 1906-11-01
PASSENGERS INDIGNANT
Italians Peered an Statero0m VIM
dOzcs an EarLu Morning.

When the North German Lloyd liner K6nig
Albert, in yesterday from Mediterranean ports.
touched at Gibraltar on October % a petition,
signed by nearly all the cabin passengers, pro-
testing against the alleged overcrowding of the
steamer and the encroachment of steerage pas
sengers into first cabin quarters was presented
to the American Consul.
The voyage of nine days from Gibraltar did
not lessen the Indignation of those In the first
cabin. for they reiterated yesterday with much
establishment the protest they had made at
Gibraltar.
According the special inspector sent by
Collector Stranahan to investigate conditions on
the steamer, and according to officials OF the
North German Lloyd Line. the steamer was not in
a filthy i'll smelling condition. and was within
the law regarding the number of steerage pas
sengers taken aboard.
The customs Inspector after looking the
KONG Albert. said that there had been no viola
tions and that she could easily have carried
two hundred passengers more. Many Of the
cabin passengers who suffered through the al
legged intolerable conditions aboard ship talked
freely of their experiences
Frederick Matthews. of No. so West 10th street.
who was in the first cabin. declared that two
thirds of the promenade deck fore and aft was
turned over TO the steerage passengers. He said;
The Italian commissioner aboard the
snip 10 see that the SteerdSe naQ JnlS part OF
the first cabin promenade deck. Many of the
higher priced staterooms We're situated Just
where the immigrants had full sway: 1t was
anything but pleasant to wake up in the morn
ing and see the face of curious Italian peering
into the window Of ones cabin. Yet this an
noyance was tolerated throughout the voyage.
Then. the smell from these persons of the
steerage and from the filthy refuse which they
strewed about the deck was positively unbear-
able The trip is ended, but the matter IS not |
ended with When the situation became
such that the cabin passengers rose up en- rnasse
to protest of the ships officers told those
who had paid high prices for rooms that they
could get a rebate their tickets and change 70
some other part of the ship
Miss A D. Tyson who became Ill. it is al
legged from the smells aboard the ship was put
under the doctors care and removed to better
stateroom on the upper deck She said that Two
days before the steamer reached New York the
ship was cleaned up and the smell of disinfect-
ants was as bad as the odors that came from the
steerage.
The disinfectant even got over the food. she
said, "for tasted 1t in the potatoes at dinner
One of the passengers said that when Mr.
Sprague, the American Consul General az
Gibraltar went aboard the K0nig Albert at
Gibraltar to Investigate the charges of the pro-
testants he held his nose and said; |
I've seen enough 1 must hurry now ana
get the boat that brought me out here Tor l
don't want to be taken all the way 10 Ne"
York on the K6nig Albert"
CAPTAIN Feyen of the K6nig Albert, when
asked why the ship was overcrowded said;
Its not overcrowdng; it's overnonsense. L
brought over fewer passengers than the limit
of the law. If the passengers are so par
ticular, why don't they go over on their own |
private yachts?"
A representative of the North German Lloyd /
Line said yesterday that the large number or
immigrants could be restricted only when the
United States immigration officials increased
the amount OF space allotted to each steerage
passenger.
The KGnig Albert is allowed by the law 70 /
carry 3O4 first cabin, 101 second cabin and
1 562 steerage passengers The italian law |
allows her TO take on board 1850 persons in |
the steerage. Her complement yesterday was |
1863 first cabin. 1J2 second cabin and 1,6ii |
steerage passengers.
The North German Lloyd Lines representa-
tive said yesterday aboard the steamer that |
the company would gladly transport Steerage |
passengers in steamers that carried nothing |
but third class passengers. but that the immi- |
grants insist in travelling on the larger and |
faster steamers.
Another inconvenience objected TO by the |
cabin passengers was the entr6e the steera ge
had to the main alley the port side. along |
which situated many first cabin rooms.
Rear Admiral Chadwick who a passen- |
ger, declined TO talk of the voyage but his |
name appeared the letter of protest TO the |
American Consul at Gibraltar.