It was nearly evening before all the business connected with the
emigrant department was over and the emigrants began to settle down in
their new locality, and the building being lit up with gas gave a more
cheerful aspect to the interior, and enabled us to survey the somewhat
novel scene before us. You could at first imagine, were you not
painfully concious to the contrary, that all those human beings
seated on the benches had assembled to witness some theatrical
entertainment. On looking right and left, an arrangement will be
observed to have been effected, once the emigrants marched in
miscellaneously---the Germans and Dutch, who form by far the most
numerouse body, being parceled off into the eastern portion of the
building, which is seperated from the other portion, which contains
indiscriminately English, Irish, Scotch and French. Two large iron
stoves, between four and five feet high, fed with plentiful supplies
of anthracite, and throwing out considerable heat, occupy each end of
these apartments, one being set apart for the males and the other for
the females.
In a far corner of each compartment is a kind of refectory, where for
fifteen or twenty cents you can obtain a half a pint of coffee, a roll,
cheese or butter; but many of the emigrants appeared to prefer
purchasing their own tea and coffee, and preparing it in tin utensils
in the stoves. There are two water taps and an iron ladle at each end
of the division, from which draughts of the Croton are in constant
request, nothing in the shape of wine, lager beer or spirits being all
owed to be sold upon the premises.
Two very civil and intelligent watchmen reconnoitre during
the night to keep order and attend upon the emigrants, both having
served their country in the late war. One will not very readily forget
his first nights' sojourn at Castle Garden. They were indeed "noctes
noiauda"---anything but "noctes ambrosiana"---it's hard boards anything
but a bed of roses. Having determined to rough it with our traveling
companions, who could not afford a dollar for their bed and breakfast,
we essayed a sleep, but vainly. Somnus had no compassion on the
denizens of Castle Garden, however much they may invoke him, for such
is the cold comfortless, sepulchral character of the place (this, it is
only fair to state, was the experience of the writer before the
building had been placed in thorough repair arising from the wind
whistling through the open casemates, doors and windows, combined with
the tantamara of tongues, the squalling of children and the erratic
ramblings round about of a colony of rats that it was impossible to
obtain repose, even after a fortnight's rocking to and fro and reeling
in the Scotland, the snug hammock of which was a comparative paradise
to this.
Those who were unable to sleep rose and stood around the stoves. One
subject of conversation adverted to with melancholy interest had
reference to the suspected murder of one of the emigrants as the
Scotland was leaving Liverpool. At all advents, the body of a
respectably-dressed man, with a letter in his pocket was found stowed
away in one of the recesses of the engine room, some 30 feet below
deck, and in a place the seamen and firemen affirm where it could not
have got by accident or a fall. The supposition is that the man was
first murdered on board, and then secreted below. The head and body
were dreadfully mutilated. On being discovered the body was wrapped,
with some fire bars in canvas and thrown overboard.
We are not aware of whether any report of this mysterious affair was
made to the Emigration Commissioners or to the British Consul either
here or at Liverpool, but it was a matter that called for investigation, and
cast a gloom over the passengers for the remainder of her voyage. Every
one, through the columns of the NEW-YORK TIMES, is now familiar with
the ultimate unhappy fate of the Scotland on her return voyage, the
fourteenth that she had made in and out in the service of the Transatlantic
Emigration and of the National Steamship Companies.
But there is one interesting incident illustrative of the sagacity and fidelity
of a Newfoundland dog on board the derelict vessel, the Kate Dyer, that
deserves to be recorded. Just after the vessel was run down by the
Scotland and about to sink, the dog was seen to rush into the water and
endeavor to rescue a youth from the watery grave that awaited him.
Three successive times the dog dragged the body of the boy from the
sinking ship, and the third time it slipped from him; foiled in his
attempt he stood for a minute or two more howling and mournfully
watching the scene, until, in desperation, he made a fourth attempt to
float the body, but with no greater success than before; unsuccessful
in saving the life of the lad, the Captain and crew of the Scotland,
who had been intently watching the efforts of the noble animal,
rewarded him by saving his life and hauling him in safely on board ship
amid the cheers and congratulations of the crew.
As may be imagined, much of the conversation of the sleepless
emigrants that night was directed to the good or bad fortune they had
met with during the day in quest of situations and employment, and
many came back reporting dolefully and despondently in that respect.
Bakers butchers, boiler-makers, gardeners, grooms, and in fact masters
of almost every calling to be found in the book of trades, all stated
how they had canvassed the various establishments in the great City
during the day, and had found, with some few exceptions, that they were
all full, and that no help or hands were wanted.
Never were the advertisements columns of the TIMES and other papers,
for "help wanted," devoured with such avidity or the few cents for their
purchase invested in them with such readiness, and it is gratifying to state
that in very many instances they led to the procurement for the poor
emigrant of a billet and a home. The report of a second and
subsequent day's pursuit of employment under difficulties showed a much
more gratifying result. Some had been temporarily, and others
conditionally, engaged, either in factories or at farm-work, the latter
at $12 a month and their keep, while many who had not succeeded were
kindly sent, by order of the Commissioners, to Ward's island, to be
employed in miscellaneous work about the State Hospital and grounds, or
to work at their respective trades, for which they received their board
and lodging in return, until something better could be obtained for
them.
Most of the strong, healthy girls and young women, principally
Irish, succeed, through the agency of the Labor Department of the
Commissioners, in obtaining situations as housemaids, nursemaids,
milliners, sewing-machine hands and dressmakers, and in a few days bid
adieu to the sheltering care of Castle Garden. At one time, when
matters looked very discouraging in the way of getting work, and many
of the emigrants, after disposing of their wearing apparel, were
reduced to their last few cents, the propriety of waiting in a body on
the British Consul was mooted, but the suggestion was not carried out
in that form. One or two, however, did centure in their individual
capacity, to wait on that functionary, and after making a statement of
their forlorn and embarassed condition, were informed, to their great
discomfiture and chagrin, that the Consul, although the representative
of Great Britain for the protection and assistance of British subjects,
had no power to render them relief, pecuniarily or otherwise, and that
all he had the power of doing was to give assistance to seamen in
shipwreck or distress.
A poor Frenchman, who had been a waiter in Leicestersquare, reduced
to his last sous, also waited on the French Consul and was told to
"go to Castle Garden." A similar application to a Society entitled the
St. George's Society, having the reputation in England of being a good
Samaritan body of gentlemen who relieved and assisted Englishmen on
their arrival here, met with a similar result, it being explained by the
Secretary that the limited funds at the command of the Society were
appropriated to the assistance, not of emigrant Englishmen, but of needy
natives and of indigent men and women far advanced in years. Well with
such Job's comforters as these, might the aid of Providence be invoked by
the poor emigrant!
Still, as a pleasing set-off to all this, many were the little incidents told of
hospitality and charity shown by residents and natives to the newcomers in
their difficulty--such as the giving them a day's work and a dollar, or a hearty
meal and information as to the best means of getting work, showing a genuine
sympathy and fellow-feeling on the part of those who had once been adrift
and in difficulty themselves.
Among the emigrants that came out on the Scotland, were three or four poor
fellows who turned out to be "stow-aways" --that is to say, persons who had
stowed themselves away clandestinely on board, anxious to get across, and
willing to run the risk of doing so, even at the risk of three months hard labor.
They were not discovered until the vessel neared New York, when every man
was challenged for his ticket, and of course, in these cases, there being none
to produce, the interlopers were detected and taken before the Captain, who
at first threatened to exhibit them in irons on the quarterdeck, but relenting,
on second consideration in his more serious intentions, he determined, after
the administration of a few cuffs and a severe shaking from one of the mates,
on making them work the remainder of their passage,and forthwith, the ship
being short of hands, set them about swabbing the decks and helping the
firemen in the coal bunks. And right glad were our "stowaways" of the
mercy shown them, seeing that they had all along secured, and would
continue to do so, food and lodging to the end of the voyage.
At one time it was seriously ontemplated by some of the more desponding
and disappointed to turn "stowaway" and return from whence they came,
in spite of being made the laughing-stock of those at home; and some
half-dozen, who could not be induced "to wait a little longer," actually went
on board to return with the Scotland.
A very noticeable thing among the miscellaneous crowd was the
attention paid by the Irish portion of it to their devotions.
Invariably as vesper and matin time drew nigh, men and women scattered
here and there were to be seen upon their knees in supplication. At
least one-third of the emigrants by the Scotland were Irish, most of
them vigorous, spirited young men, many of them bent on joining the
Fenian brotherhood, and speaking enthusiastically of its progress.
There were two or three young priests among the number.
It is astonishing how the Irish take to this country, and no wonder when
it is remembered how differently they are treated to what they are in the
old, of which they speak with great bitterness of spirit. Many are the
weeping eyes and widowed hearts, that now under the great exodus going
on are leaving their native shores, and it is understood that in the
Spring the number of new-comers, more particularly from the counties of
Waterford, Wexford and Cork, will be enormous. They know they can find
a free home in the far west, and that they will be treated with
kindness --- kindness that great key to good will and willingness of
every man's heart, the want of which on the part of England and the
English people, not less than their political wrongs and maltreatment,
has been the great secret of the inveterate and
vendet a-like feeling and alienation of Ireland from the mother
country.
In the States, they no longer have "the country" thrown in their face,
and "no Irish need apply" is never heard in dealing with Americans.
There was one among the group of woman who was the object of
great commisseration. She had lost her little one on the voyage, from
fever, and the poor child had to be thrown overboard, she, poor
mother, being left, like Rachel, weeping for her child and would not be
comforted because it was no more. It is indeed a sad thing to have to
hide one's offspring in the grave on land, but there is something about
death and burial in the cold canvas winding-sheet at sea, in a
fathomless grave, yet harder and more galling.
It is pitiable to perceive the condition of some of the young women
who arrive from the mother country in the familt way, though it is at
the same time satisfactory to think that they will not aid in swelling
the huge holocaust of infanticide there, but that their offspring,
cherished and taken care of with the mothers by the State Hospital
here, will form additions to the future populations.
There was no prohibition against "smoking" at the Garden, his pipe
being one of the prime comforts and companions of the poor
immigrant in all his vicissitudes and "trials,"and the fragrant weed
was freely indulged in, the more so as it was very properly prohibited,
excepting on deck, during the voyage, or if indulged in, it was at the
risk of being put in irons by the Captain.
Two stories were told of two adventures in one of the least
reputable parts of the City, not a stone's throw from Castle Garden,
which if true, or of more frequent occurrence, call for serious
investigation.
A mulatto man from Liverpool, going down South to the cotton
plantations with which he was connected, states that on one
occasion he went into one of the lager-bier saloons; and having
occasion to go into the back part of the premises, through a long and
dingy corridor, when at the end the gas-light was suddenly
extinguished, and hearing some mysterious movements, and mindful not
only of his life, but watch and money, he precipitately and
successfully recovered his way back and immediately left the suspicious
premises and people, from which he heartily congratulated himself on
his escape.
Another emigrant went, the day after his landing, into a
lager-beer shop kept by an Irishman, in Washington-street, without
knowing the character of the locality, had a glass of beer, and sat
down to rest himself, and, being rather travel-worn and weary, after
being about ten minutes in the bar unconsciously closed his eyes.
Suddenly the brute of a bartender, in a rude Irish brogue, ordered him
to get up and go out. Taken by surprise at the abruptness of the
treatment, the poor emigrant stood and stared, when the ruffian seized
a heavy wooden club in the corner, and, uttering an oprecation?? about
the English threatened to smash his customer's brains out, and as he
slowly left the place, actually hit him a heavy blow with his club upon
the shoulder. The occurrence may be left to speak for itself, and may
be recommended to the notice of the Police.
As a general rule, the emigrants behaved themselves throughout the
voyage, with remarkable decorum, which was not even infringed upon
when one fine night they held a sort of sea-carnival or dance on the
after deck of the Scotland. It was pitiful to meet with some at the
Garden who had to bemoan the loss of their boxes, and ludicrous on
the other hand to see how one poor girl had contrived to keep all her
earthly stock of goods in the fragile interior of two bandboxes.
Many were the complaints made by the poorer class of
emigrants---forgetting that it all arose out of the war---at the high
price of provisions---just double that in many instances they paid in
the old country, and hoping that, if for their sakes only, the country
would soon return to the ante-war prices---a consummation most devoutly
to be wished. All appeared to be hearty and in good health, that most
priceless of blessings, for "he that hath thee," says Sterne, "has
everything with thee, but he that is so wretched as to want thee wants
everything with thee."
Only one or two cases had to be sent to the hospital, and altogether
the vessel had a clean bill of health, far different from last year, when
owing to the prevalence of cholera, many died and had to be thrown
overboard. No inconsiderable amount of thieving occurred both on
board and at Castle Garden, of wearing apparel and other articles and
one night at the Castle one emigrant, subsequently detected through
the vigilance of Officer Murphy, had the effrontery to rob another by
whose side he was sleeping of his watch. In fact nothing was safe out
of sight or hands for a minute from the marauders and pilferers.
The crew of the Scotland being short-handed many of the emigrants were
well cared for in grub and grog and paid extra for lending a hand on deck,
and most lustily did they work at the ropes, singing "Yea, yeo, yea, yeo,
we are all bound to go." Many of the men had become grizzly and hirsute,
and much wanted a clean shave, but almost stood aghast when they heard
that it would cost them twenty-five cents to have their beards taken off--
an operation that, when last effected, they only paid a penny for.
I have since seen some of those emigrants who were at first so despondent
and could get no work, and it was delightful to see what transformation they
had undergone. They had obtained situations either in stores or in some
capacity and were all happiness and smiles. Their patience and
perseverance had been rewarded. One or two practical thoughts and
suggestions appear to arise out of the foregoing "olla pedrida" of the
experiences of an emigrant. It would be a good plan if the
Commissioners, in order to facilitate and increase the opportunities of
getting work, were to invite notifications wherever hands were required
from establishments and factories throughout the City and State, and
keep a register for the purpose. Lists might be advantageously posted
up in the garden, together with the daily newspapers, for the
information of the emigrants.
The vast space at present unappropriated in the balconies of the
building might be converted into dormitories for the women and
children, and those in delicate health, and a towel or two, some
soap, and other requisites, would be useful supplemental
articles in the washing rooms. Many a poor emigrant comes over in a
filthy and verminous condition, and the first thing done with such
would be to order them a bath and send them to the hospital, where
their clothes might undergo a process of purification and fumigation,
and so prevent the spread in the New World of the pestilencesness of
the old. It is true the emigrant can go to church, but a better
observance of the Sabbath might be added to the other regulations and
arrangements of Castle Garden. One of the officers might offer a few
prayers, or read a discourse, or raise a hymn, or the chaplain of the
State Hospital or other establishment in the City might officiate in
the evening.
Farewell, Castle Garden! I have met with nothing on the continent of Europe that can at all compare with the spectacle thou presenteth, and the benevolence and benefits that thou bestoweth - sacred asylum of the emigrant escaped from the dead ooze and dead lock of the Old World to the new life and progress, splendor and expansiveness of the New, where, under thy paternal and excelsior system, he may be no longer subjected to the terrors of landlordism, the tyranny of taxation or the evils of class representation; but, being welcomed into the great family of freedom and becoming a loyal son of the Republic, almost realize the Arcadian representation of the poet, when he tells them to go...