New-York tribune., 1906-07-20
AMERICA In PORT.
Conflicting Stories Of Conditions on
Disabled Steamer.

The Fabre Line steamer America, in tow Of
the wrecking tug Rescue. arrived here yesterday
from Bermuda with her crew and 116 passengers
The disabled steamer was brought up to the
Atlantic Docks, Brooklyn, and her passengers
Immediately sent to Ellis Island.
The story OF the accident to the Americas
shaft and the subsequent drifting of the steamer
for eleven days at the seas mercy as told by
the captain and the ships officers differs greatly
from the tale of hardship told yesterday by the
passengers landed at Ellis Island.
The officers told of good health and good order
prevailing on board. They declared there was
an abundance of fresh meats and other foods
served to the passengers throughout the voyage,
and added that there was cause for COM
paint.
Jose Pujol. corkmaker, Of No. 1890 Second
avenue, a passenger on the America, said he soon
discovered after leaving Marseilles that the
America was sadly lacking in steerage accom-
mediation as provided by the passenger act of
1882. He said:
went to Algeria on a visit with my wife. We
boarded the America as Steerage passengers at
Marseilles 1 soon saw that Captain BUhe was
not giving the passengers proper treatment, and
1 protested. 1 told him did not expect lux
uries. but we wanted at least eatable food and
separate compartments for the women. He
called me aside and told me he would give me
good room in the cabin and for me to keep my
mouth shut. took the cabin accommodations
for myself and wife, but did not keep my mouth
shut After we broke down and it looked as if
we could not repair the broken shaft the captain
insisted trying TO fix the machinery.
The engines stopped on June is, and at L
o'clock on the morning Of the 18th an italian
steamer came along about a mile to starbOard.
We had two red lights hanging on the foremast
signalling we were not under control. and the
steamer circled around us waiting for some sig
nal from Captain Buhe, but he made no appeal
for help and the steamer went on her course. We
saw another boat which proved to be sailing
vessel. When the ships officers saw her they
sent the passengers below and battened them
down. At the end Of eight days the chief engi-
started the engines, which for only five min
utes and then stopped for good.
1 had four steerage passengers constantly on
watch for a passing steamer
Four men of the crew were hurt while we were
drifting. One fell from the foreyard and one
was scalded in the galley. The ship was filthy.
Fire and six days would elapse before the decks
would be washed down. Men and women slept
together in the same compartment and there
was no redress told the captain that this con-
dition was disgracefuL
At Bermuda PujOl protested on behalf of the
passengers. all of whom did not want to be
towed to New York in the America The French
consular agent gave him little satisfaction and
told him to make the best of it, pilgrimage
on foot was made by sixty passengers to the
home of the British Governor of Bermuda at
Hamilton
The passengers said the Governor told them:
'If you people don't look out the police win get
you"
William Boutilier, Of Halifax. said that the
passengers were forced to take rancid soup in
lieu of regular meals.
DR.. Di PaOli, the ships surgeon, said that
everything possible was done for the passengers.
He said the health was good aboard and that
the steamer had eighty tons Of fresh water in
her tanks wheE she arrived at Bermuda Four
oxen and ten sheep, he said. were put aboard
at Marseilles, and there no scarcity of food.
The America left Marseilles June 3 and
broke down in midOcean on June 16, 600 miles
from Bermuda She drifted until June 27 when
Captain Pence, of the italian steamer Dinna-
mare picked her up and tOwed her to Bermuda
arriving there July 4.