The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-05-15
Financial i: Commercial g. Promotion


find any evidence whatever that the
ventilating apparatus really provided
had been approved by the proper i'm
migration officials of the port or place
from which the vessel was cleared, an
approval which is necessary under the
terms of Sec. of the Act, where the
method of ventilation really provided
does not comply with the law of the
United States. Some inspection was
had when the vessel sailed from Por-
tuguese ports, but none before she sail
ed from Gibraltar. A system Of venti-
lation might well be sufficient for six
or seven hundred immigrants, and not
sufficient and proper for fifteen hun
bred. The portfolios in the various
compartments did not admit air for
proper ventilation. Notwithstanding
the fact that there was an electric
light plant on board, there were no
electric fans provided. The use of
these fans, at very small cost, might
have ameliorated conditions.
Contributed to Mortality
1--WE found from the evidence that
lack of ventilation to some extent con-
tributed to the large mortality on the
vessel during her voyage. When severe
weather necessitated closing some of
the portfolios and matches, the rate of
mortality increased, the ventilating APP
paratus itself not supplying sufficient
! air
THE food on board appears to have
! been ample and of good quality. Per
haps the method of it's preparation did
not quite accord with the previous
habits of the immigrants, but as to this
no complaint can be made. Tables
and seats were provided in the COM
partments. They were not, however
sufficient to seat all of the passengers
in three sittings.
There was some uncertainty in the
testimony as to the condensed milk
| furnished for the use of infants. We
investigated this as carefully as we
could, owing to the fact that the NOR
tality on board was almost entirely
confined to infants. From the condi-
ton of the evidence, however, we
would not be inclined to attach any
blame to the owners Of the vessel on
this account.
Hospitals Wholly Unfit.
"The hospitals on board of the YES,
sci were not as required by law, and
in our opinion from the evidence, Who'll
ly unfit for the purposes for which
hospitals are provided The ventila
ton in them was poor, and the space
allotted to them entirely too small
The compartments used as lying-iI
hospitals were wholly inadequate in
every respect, and in some instances
as to these latter hospitals, we found
that even ordinary conveniences were
not provided for the inmates. In this
respect we believe that the apparent
ignorance and lack of cleanliness con
stitute no excuse for failure to provide
accommodations. With the class Of
passengers such as were brought or
the Orteric, excess of care relative tt
hospitals is more desirable than fail
ure to comply strictly with the law.
Strong Condemnation.
"The provisions of the Passenger
Act relative to cleanliness were vic
lated in a manner which cannot be too
r strongly condemned. On the lowe
3 deck, on which passengers were berth
: ed neither closets nor convenience
were provided for the passengers, ant
D this is also true of the deck above tn,
lower deck. All of the water closet
; on board of the vessel we're on tn,
upper deck, and could be used only b,
= passengers able or willing to clim
there. No proper method appears t
S have been adopted to protect the yes
e sci against the filthy condition whicl
e was necessarily created. The deck