Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-12-11
HAS WORST CASE ON RECORD
Fifty-seTen Children Die in Eight
Weeks in Steamers Steerage.
ITS CONDITIONS UNBELIEVABLE
Acting Secretary Cable, Department
of Commerce and Labor Fines
Owners of the steamer
OrterIc R7,O6e.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.-Charged with
the worst case OF neglect OF steerage pas
sengers on record under the passenger
act of 1889, the owners OF the British
steamer Orteric have been fined 1890 by
Acting Secretary Cable Of tho Depart
ment OF Commerce and Labor.
Among its l,2i2 passengers there we're
In the eight weeks OF Its voyage fifty
eight deaths, fifty-seven being children;
the births numbered fourteen, tho sexes
were not properly segregated during the
larger part OF the time; the ventilation
OF tho ship was Inadequate and greatly
Increased the mortality rate; the hospital
facilities were ill-ventllated and without
proper equipment, while the sanitary
conditions OF the vessel were almost be-
yond belief. Acting Secretary Gable, after
giving ample opportunity for the ships
agents to make a defense, directed today
that the full penalties be imposed.
The case has been pending before the
department since the arrival OF the
orteric at Honolulu, April u last, where
the collector OF customs, who acts In
behalf OF the bureau OF navigation, Inn
mediateiy discovered the unlawful condl-
tlons
The vessel Is not regularly engaged in
the steerage business, but was specially
employed to carry Portuguese and Span
lsh immigrants through Magellan straits
TO Honolulu. The ship was allowed to
clear upon depOsitIng a bond for $1,000
Captain Defends the ship.
Tho master OF the vessel James Find
lay attempted 10 explain the existing
g.g.t4 q N..,.- - IA
after leaving Gibralter there was a riot
between the Portuguese aud Spanish
male passengers. resulting I'm q, pitched
battle with knives, clubs, cleaners and
pistols TO prevent further trouble the
Portuguese passengers were placed aft,
while the spanish passengers were put
In the forward part OF the vessel. This
resulted IN the commingling OF the sexes.
He mentions the refusal OF the pas
sensers TO assist in keeping the vessel
clean and states that the lack OF cleanli-
ness on their part had much TO do with
the conditions. The ships doctor stated
that he would not permit the compart-
ments 20 be washed. as this would have
resulted in unavoidable dampness, which
would be detrimental; that all accumuia-
tions were rendered harmless by disln-
lhtldHtSs luhN Nhe Sleeping compartments
were scraped with shoyels eVerg' day and
swept and that the parents concealed
the illness OF their children and refused
medical attention.
Commissioner OF Navigation Chamber
lain described this case as the worst
which had come to his attention aud ex-
pressed his concurrence in the following
of a scathing arraignment BY
the grand jury
I'VE cannot emphasize too strongly the
necessity for the observance OF regula-
lions requiring vessels TO be kept in a
clean and sanitary condition. When poor
immigrants, perhaps unaccustomed 10
modern methods Of sanitation are brought
into tropical climate such as Hawaii
not only their own good. but the good
of the community I'm general is subserved
by rigid inslstence on compliance with
The law
The passenger act Of lsS2 claims 90 sa fe-
Continued on Second Page