The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-11-07
SUMTER. S. c. WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER z. 1906
WITTEKIND CAME IN.
wATSCN,s IMMIGRANT SHIP AR
RIVED AT CHARLESTON.

Trip Marked by Some Rough Wealth
er-Sanction of Belgian Govern
ment Obtained by Mr.. Watson
Marriage and Inspection.
Charleston, Nov 4.-The much
heralded North German Lloyd steam
erWittekind arrived at port today
| from Bremen with ATS passengers on
board, being the first Of at least two
vessels which the big steamship cor
poration is to run to Charleston, in
the movement inaugurated by State
Commissioners Watson to divert the
tide of immigration from Northern
ports to Charleston, that these peo-
pie may be distributed through
South Carolina, supplying much need
ed agricultural, mechanical and Ia
Dor hands, where they are most de-
sired. It is probable that the Witte-
kind will prove the first Of a regular
and permanent line Of steamships for
| both passengers and freight between
Charleston and Bremen, the perma-
nence 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.
9th for Charleston
Sighted at s O'clock.
The Wittekind was sighted off quar-
antine about o'clock this morn
ing and shortly after the big vessel
has been seen, Commissioner Gene
raj Sargent, Surgeons Stoner and
Earle, Deputy Commissioner Stump
and g number of inspectors and other
officials Of the United States immi-
grafton and labor department board
ed 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
clean bill Of health and no deten-
ton or fumigation was necessary.
Then DR.. ~O'Driscoll turned the YES
sci over to other government officials.
The inspectors Immediately began
their arrangements for the inspection
Of the passengers.
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
Herbert and of Mr.. Jean Ferman
Fearney, bright young Frenchman
that he picked up in London and who
will assist him with the conduct of his
bureau in Columbia. The local COM
mittee was rendering valuable assist
ance to the commissioner.
Among the conveniences arranged
for by the Charleston committee was
the exchange Of currency for the
passengers. Mayor Rhett had Wessrs.
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 SER
vice which was much appreciated by
all parties interested, and another ef-
fort Of Mayor Rhett to add to the
success Of the arrival Of the first i'm
migrant vessel in Charleston since
| tn middle sixties, when immigrant
vessels regularly piled to Charleston
from Bremen.
AS to the trip Of the vessel, it was
marked by good and bad weather.
She sailed from Bremen on October
| IS. When in the North sea, a storm
struck the boat and for seven days
she had terrible seige Of bad wealth
er. Inc Dig DOdI IS SdlO 10 nav Z
tossed like match, in the heavy sea
and high wind. The weather then
calmed and continued so until five
days ago, when she ran again into
bad weather, which lasted for two
days.
On the Wittekind were twenty-five
cabin passengers, nineteen adults, five
children and one infant. In steerage
are 394 adults, As children and II
infants. There about 112 families, IS
single men and two single women. 1t
is worthy of note that the number Of
married people grew suddenly in one
day, early this morning Commissioner
Watson marrying no less than twenty
nine couples, reducing to this extent
the number of eligibles for bachelors
and maids at home.
There were 126 adult Belgians and