Connecticut western news., 1914-08-27
COL. 0SB0RN'S EXPERIENCE
Travelled in Steerage Under Wretched
 Conditions.

raVeleo m SteeraSs under Wretched
 Conditions.
 Col. N. G. Osborn, editor of the New Haven Journal Courier, whom the wur caught far from home, arrived in New York early Sunday morning on the steamship St. Louis, and reports harrow. ing experience as steerage passenger, and his interview, printed in the J. O, is not calculated particularly to persuade prospective ocean voyagers to make a grand rush for passage on the St. Louis, of the American Line, when they get ready to go abroad. Among other things, the interviewer wrote:
 The St. Louis sailed on the 10th with about 600 people in the steerage, most of them of the type which usually goes first class. Colonel Osborn and his party took sheets and blankt ts oL board with them, and it later turned out that this was a wise precaution The sleeping quarters consisted of hunks approximately six feet long by three wide. There were from eight to thirty-two of these in each eompart- ment, arranged in tiers of two each and on both sides. Each bunk was separated from its neighbor by an iron partition about six inches high. It was impossible to sit up in the hunks They were similar to those in an ordin- ary sleeping car, but without the com forts or the cleanliness. The only bed. ding was straw placed in the bunk, and the passengers had to make their own beds. The compartments were indescribably filthy and a horrible stench arose at all times. For an en- tire week, during the voyage across. these were all the sleeping acoommoda- tions that were to be had. Privacy was impossible. It was no unusual sight to see rats running along the beams and one man found rat in his bunk. #
 The steerage passengers were not allowed on the second class deck, being forced to keep to the steerage run. The staircases leading to the deck above were roped of the first day. I The passengers in the second cabin formed a committee, with Judge Maho, of the United States district court as chair man, and petitioned the captain tn givo the steerage passengers moro deck room, The rear portion Of the flush ddnk was then opened to them. On this and the steerage run the 500 passengers in the steerage were crowded, with but few chairs. e.-s...-
 The toilet facilities were inadequate and the toilets themselves were unclean bo the last degree. The wash room contained but five metal basins csked with dirt, and the water was shut of except during prescribed hours, two or three hours in the morning, two In the middle of the day and twosor three more at night Those who had not brought soap with them were unable to obtain any except from other passengers.
 There was the stench of the regular neglected ocean.going hold, and all the ingredients were present for an epidemic which, fortunately, did not break out.
 Among the steerage passengers were forty leading physicians of this country who had been attending the inter national medical conference in London, the editor cf the Christian Advocate, Bishop Remington, business men of large means, newspaper and other pro- fessionAl men, altogether people of the same personnel and wealth as those in the second cabin. Yet they were treated like the ordinary immigrant, be- ing even forced to wear tags, and escap- ing Ellis Island upon landing in this country only through the courtesy of the officials of the port of New York. The concessions which it was under stood would be given to those who went >steerage were not forthcoming, and no consideration was shown to them. Huddled like sheep in the steerage quarters of the vessel, they had to bear their condition as best they could. The officers of the ship did nothing to make them feel better and they were roped off from the deck above. Colonel Osborn thinks that the line missed, wonderful opportunity to commend itself by treating the passengers as it did. When off Nan tucket light and it was seen that port would be made in a short time, a great feeling of relief took possession of the passengers. It was with afeeling of nausea that they went into the hold to get what little luggage they had. They could hardly bear the stench which arose when the restraint was at last removed and they knew that they were to leave the ship soon.
 "I would not ask prisoner at our states prison to go through what the steerage passengers on the St. Louis had to put up with" said Colonel Osborn, in summing up the conditions on board the ship,