Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-03-23
CONFUSION At
PORT OF ENTRY.

ms caused a great deal OF consterna-
ton at both Ellis Island and HofTman's
Island, the quarantine station, where the
immigrants had been passed without
question. The health authorities at both
Of these places Immediately started max
Ing special Inspections for typhus infec-
ton, which naturally required much
more time than the ordinary health in
spe- ions. They were DELAYED In their
work by the lack Of proper facilities
ships. with Storage passengers who had
10 be examined began to pile up in the
hnrbor, and thus arose the present con
gestcd condition.
The Federal authorities have recently
taken over the State quarantine station
at Hofman's Island but inasmuch as the
facilities have not been increased condi-
tions are not noticeably improved Re
porters are not permitted to add to the
general chaos OF Hoffman's Island. but
from the stores Of returned travellers. one
learns that the immigrants have q sad
time there.
1t was early morning and frightruly
cold when they came for the immigrants
on our ship In a small tug boat" mar
rated an American woman who arrived
on French ship the other day. "They
began to transfer the infected or sus-
pected immigrants at once, but not with
out fight, because the French OFFICIALS
objected. saying that the immigrants
were perfectly clean. The poor people.
having come from Italy and the south
Of France, were not prepared FOR a cold
climate Their clothing was distressingly
scanty and they trembled with cold
Those who did not get typhus probably
got pneumonia later. Mothers were
dragged away from their children and
all bundled into the tug Many of them
could not speak English and did not
understand what 1t was all about. They
kept them over there at Hoffman's Island
all day, waiting for examinations. and
during all that time they did not have
thing to eat. OF course, 1 suppose the
government cannot help it, but 1 do
think something ought to be done"
This woman's ship was formulate. how
ever, to be held up only twenty-four
hours. Others have had to lie in the
hRrbor for two or three days while the
quarantine office caught up with its
work. on one Of these detained ships,
the immigrants recently staged a rebel
lion, threatening in the choicest words of
several different languages to do some
damage If they were not permitted to
leave the boat. Then, as they were not
released, they carried out their threat
They broke some furniture and Incl
dentally the water pipes Nevertheless,
they had to remain there the rest Of the
day and the ships stewards got even by
charging them so cents per cup for
drinking water.
WORKS HARDSHIP ON
SHIPPING COMPANIES.
The immigration, moreover are not the
only ones who are not enjoying the
present situation. The steamship COM
ranies find 1t equally difficult. Every
day they are held up in the harbor
means a large money loss for not only
must they lose valuable time, but they
must continue feeding their passengers.
One large steamship company has placed
one of its vessels at the disposal of the
quarantine officials as a detention ship
for imm grants, who are transferred to
1t for examination while the shin that
brought them continues on its way
Under the emergency ruling no craft
from a foreign port can approach within
300 yards Of a New York pier without a
permit, granted only after the most
rigid inspection.
One hears vague rumOrs that the steam
ship companies are establishing their own
delousing plants on the European side,
but no definite information seems to be
available on this point. Many people feel
that 1t is up to the foreign governments
70 roll h.