Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-11-06
ARRIVAL OF THE mTrEkIND.
First Cargo of immigrants Reached
Charleston Sunday.


Correspondence Columbia State.
CHARLESTON Nov 4. The much
heralded North German Lloyd steamer
Wittekind arrived In port today from
Bremen with ATS passengers on board,
being the first Of at least two vessels
which the big steamship corporation
is to run to Charleston, In the move
ment inaugurated by State Commits
sioner Watson to divert the tide Of
Immigration from northern ports to
Charleston, that these people may be
distributed through South Carolina,
supplying much needed agricultural,
mechanical and labor hands, where
they are most desired. 1t is probable
that the wittekind will prove the first
of a regular and permanent line OF
steamships for both passengers and
freight between Charleston and
Bremen, the permanence. of the line
being in a measure dependent upon
the success of the two first vessels.
The second vessel Is due to sail from
Bremen on Dec. 81 for Charleston.
Sighted at 8 O'clock.
The Wittekind was sighted off quar-
antine about o'clock this morning
and shortly after the big vessel had
been seen, Commissioner General Sar-
gent, Surgeons Stoner and Earle, Dep
uty Commissioner Stump and num-
ber Of inspectors and other officials
of the United States immigration and
labor department boarded the army
steamer General French and started
down the harbor.
The steamer stopped off quarantine,
where Acting Quarantine Officer
O'Driscoll boarded the vessel and
made his inspection. The vessel had
a clean bill Of health and no deten-
ton or fumigation was necessary. Then
Dr.: O'Driscoll turned the vessel over
to the other government officials. The
inspectors Immediately began their
arrangements for the inspection OF the
passengers. Collector of the Port
Crum had given his permission for
the working Of the vessel on Sunday,
1t not being customary for q vessel 10
be entered on Sunday at the custom
house and consequently little or no
time was lost in getting the work
started. When the vessel got on the
lower water front on her way to-
Union pier, the towboat Waban ran
alongside and assisted in the docking
Of the vessel at the head Of the pier.
The vessel was tied up shortly before
noon, when Mayor Rhett and the COM
mittee of the Commercial club and
Secretary Herbert of Col. Watson's
office passed through the gates,
guarded by police officers and through
the specially erected files, over which
the custom officers presided. Col
lector Crum himself was at the gang
plank with a deputy and later he re-
paired aboard the steamer to lend
helping hand to the officials OF the
government and the local committee
and to generally assist in providing
the desired facilities for the handling
of the vessel, her passengers and pas
senger's effects. Later on several OF
the representatives of the cotton mills
were also permitted to board the ves-
sci for conferences with Commission
er Watson and other officials. On
the adjoining wharves were crowds
Of spectators and more or less ex-
citement and confusion attending the
docking of the vessel. But on thel
steamer there was perfect decorum.
The officials got busy and the local
went about their work of
arranging for the handling Of the
passengers, at the conclusion Of the
inspection. The officers of the ship
were about their work, and couple
of dozen big longshore-men began to
remove the matches and soon the ef-
fects Of the passengers were being
lowered to the pier for examination
by the local custom house officials
Watson Equal to Occasion.
Col. Watson was much in demand, |
but he proved the hustler that he has
shown himself on so many occasions, |
in the way that he dispatched the
many matters that came before him.
He had the assistance Of Secretary
TT 90 nj
Famaey, a bright young Frenchman
that he had picked up in London and
who will assist him with the conduct
Of his bureau In Columbia. The To-
cal committee was rendering valuable
assistance to the commissioner.
Changing Currency.
Among the conveniences arranged
for by the Charleston committee was
the exchange of currency for the pas
sengers. Mayor Rhett had Messrs.
Croft and Steiber, of his bank, the
Peoples National bank, at the wharf,
and later the clerks were provided /
for in one Of the cabins, with their
bags Of gold and silver, prepared to
facilitate the passengers. It was |
service which was much appreciated /
by all parties interested, and another
EFFORT of Mayor Rhett to add to the
success Of the arrival of the first
vessel in Charleston since
the middle sixties, when immigrant
vessels regularly piled to Charleston
from Bremen.
AS to the trip Of the vessel, 1t was
marked by good and bad weather.
She sailed from Rremen on October
Is. When in the North sea, a storm {
struck the boat and for seven days
she had terrible siege of bad wealth.
er. The big boat is said to have tossed '
ike a match. in the heavy sea and
nigh wind. The weather then calmed
md continued so until five days age,
when she ran again into bad weather
,.l,Inl, lnntnd fnr trrn dauo L