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" The closet accommodation provided consisted of two for males and
" two for females, approached by lobbies, but as no notice was posted
" up to direct the sexes, both sexes were using the same closets.
" The lavatory accommodation consisted of three basins for males
" and two for females. These were fitted in the lobbies of the closets,
" and provided with a constant water supply.
" The ventilation and lighting of the quarters were unsatisfactory, and
" a nuisance existed from the condensation of moisture on the bare iron
" in the quarters.
" The whole of the after deck was occupied by 147 Russian ponies,
" the result being that in the event of bad weather, the passengers would
" be entirely confined to their own quarters."
The facts were reported to the Board of Trade, and, as they were Russian
vessels, also to the Russian Consul in London, who has written to
St. Petersburg asking that these reports should be investigated.
On the 19th August, the s.s. "Sergei," from Riga, arrived at Gravesend
with 257 alien immigrants on board. The Master reported that two infants
had died amongst the Russian immigrants on the 18th, the day before the
ship's arrival at Gravesend, and that both the bodies were on board. After
inspection of the bodies by your Boarding Medical Officer, the facts were
communicated to the Gravesend Borough Coroner, who ordered the removal
of the bodies to the Gravesend Mortuary for subsequent inquest. As a result
of a post-mortem examination the bodies were found to be extremely
emaciated, and in both cases the lungs were found to be affected with BronchoPneumonia.
In the course of examination of the alien immigrants, a child was found to
be very ill with Pneumonia.
On an inspection of the alien quarters they were found to be in a filthy
condition owing to the accumulation of food and other refuse on the floor of
the quarters. Little or no attempt had been made to clean the quarters,
whilst the atmosphere was described by the Boarding Medical Officer as
unbearable.
Weakly children, especially those suffering from any lung trouble, would
necessarily suffer as a result of having to live under such conditions even for
a short time.
It will be seen that the wording of the Act as to those forms of disease
which would render an alien immigrant an undesirable alien, is of the most
general description. Each case must be considered on its merits in the