Page:Immigration and the Commissioners of Emigration of the state of New York.djvu/78

64 it; they are desperate men, and can be kept off only by an armed force." This state of things must be borne in mind in order to properly understand the dangers to which the emigrants were exposed on their arrival in the port of New York.

The following affidavits will more fully show the mode of operations of these runners, and of the establishments in whose interest they worked. Thus, R. Schoyer, being duly sworn, says:

"I am a Director of the Netherland Emigrant Society. The first fraud practised upon the emigrant is this: the moment a vessel arrives it is boarded by runners, whose first object appears to be to get emigrants to their respective public-houses. Once there, they are considered sure prey. These runners represent the interests of all the various taverns and forwarding lines. Each party bringing with them their bullies to fight off their opponents, the emigrants become bewildered. As there is frequent bloodshed upon such occasions, the strongest party carry off the emigrants. Previously to going to the taverns, they are told that meals will be furnished for 6d. each, and 6d. for lodging, when, in fact, they are never charged less than 2s. and often $1, per meal; and their baggage is held until all is paid. The next ordeal through which the emigrant is obliged to pass is called 'booking,' by which is meant that the emigrant is taken to the forwarding office, and then induced to pay his money for the fare to the West. The emigrant is informed that that is the only office in which they can pay their money, the proprietors thereof being sole owners of the steamboats, railroads, and canal-boats throughout the entire route. After having thus gained the confidence of the emigrant, he unsuspectingly pays his money, upon the assurance that he will have no more to pay. The money received, the runner gets one dollar for every passenger booked, besides a salary varying from $30 to $100 per month, which is divided with the landlord."

P. H. Hodenpyle, being sworn, says: "I am agent of the Netherland Emigrant Society; have been since April last; I have been in danger frequently of personal violence from the runners; they are Hollanders, Germans, English, Irish, etc. There have gone, this fall, one Hollander and two German runners to