Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-03
HOME FROM EUROPE
BY STEERAGE, BROKE
Many American HoIiday-Mak-
ers Returned That Way
in August.

NEW YORK, September 3-On an aver
age 1000 American citizens have arrived
weekly in New York from European ports
In the steerage of the various transat-
lantic liners in the last four weeks. The
official figures for this class of travellers
were announced at Ellis Island, and it
was said that in August 4,O19 Americans
had arrived at New York as third-class
or steerage passengers. Vessels from
British ports brought most OF them. the
Cunarder Mauritania. on the voyage that
ended at New York last Thursday night.
alone bringing 325 Americans in her
steerage
All sorts of explanations are advanced
for the large number of Americans who
and these explanations range all the way
from dead broke" to emergency" the
last named being those who have to get
home and owing to the crowded condition
OF the ships have to come steerage or else
stay abroad until the rush is over and
cabin accommodations are available
That the haste to get back to this coun-
try on the part of persons who have been
summering in Europe this year is greater
than ever before Is beyond dispute. Every
ship bound this way from British and
continental ports is booked to the limit,
and the ships that are to sail In the next
few weeks are also booked to capacity.
Premiums are being offered by Americans
anxious to get home for any sort of first
class accommodation.
But the homecomers who are coming
back In the Storage as q rule are not
persons who are coming back because
there Is no other accommodation to be
had.
"Go Broke" Abroad.
1t was said that at least 90 per cent
are coming steerage because that Is the
only kind of ticket they are able to buy.
Many, 1t is said. are Americans who had
saved up money for a trip abroad and
went over first or second class. but went
BROKE" and when the time came TO
come back had to take the cheapest pas
sage.
When the White Star liner Baltic dock
ed last Sunday two Americans who had
often crossed together in that ship met
on the pier. One, woman. had Travelled
third class, and the other. a man, had
come az a saloon passenger
why. how do you do?" said the wom-
an. When did you get in here?"
II arrived on this boat about ten min
utes ago" answered the man.
TT Is funny didn't see you" the wom-
an answered. Then she blushed. for she
had travelled third class. and realized too
late that her friend had come first class.
The westward steerage voyagers. IL is
said. represent every section of the United
States. Many of them are landed as
soon as the boats dock, because they have
papers by which they can prove their
citizenship. Others who do not have the
necessary means Of Identification have to
go to Ellis Island to prove their citizen
ship.
But II should be understood that despite
the humble nature of their Homecoming
the American steerage passengers gener-
ally manage to have fairly good time
on the way over. They don't have any
concerts nor do they eat their dinner to
music, but what they get in the line Of
food Is substantial. and they have COM
Portable berths in which they can sleep
as well as any saloon passenger