NY-CAN-NY-L Archives

From:
Subject: [NY CAN] The Belfast Mercury, Ireland, April 19th, 1851
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 12:10:08 EST

Report on the Extent and Plight of Emigrants in New York.

The Belfast Mercury, Ireland, April 19th, 1851

EMIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES. - NEW YORK, APRIL 2.-

The number of emigrants arriving daily from Europe, and especially from
Ireland, is astonishing. A day or two ago, the packet-ship Washington,
Captain
Page, from Liverpool, arrived at this port, after a somewhat boisterous
passage of
thirty-six days, during which she lost her main-topmast, fore and mizzen top
- gallant masts, with sails attached. She brings five cabin and 956 steerage
passengers, making a grand total, including officers and crew, of 1,010
souls,
all in good health.

The Marine Hospital at Staten Island is crowded to excess, and a New York
paper observes:-

" The number of poor people from Ireland who are wandering the through the
streets, in a starving condition, is dreadful. Every night they go to the
police
station-houses for food and shelter. Last night, in the Fourth-ward
station-house, there were 80 poor people, of this description, huddled
together, and
when food was laid before the children, they rushed at it, and devoured it
like
hungry wolves. Such are the victims of Irish Landlordism." - Freeman.

This thread:

• [NY CAN] The Belfast Mercury, Ireland, April 19th, 1851 by