Reseña del libro "Inmigrantes Españoles en Hawai; Puerta a California 1907-1913"
Relatos históricos de inmigrantes españoles reclutados para trabajar en la industria de la caña de azúcar en Hawai durante los años 1907-1913. El barco con su ” carga humana” navegó primeramente desde el puerto de Málaga [y posteriorment] zarparon desde Gibraltar a través del estrecho de Magallanes a Punta Arenas hacia Honolulu, Hawai. Gente extraordinaria e historia impresionante, viaje de 54 días, nacimientos, enfermedades, muertes y entierros en el mar. Los emigrantes enfrentáron una tierra extranjera, nueva cultura, otro idioma. La historia de los buques: S.S. Heliópolis 1907, Orteric 1911, Willesden 1911, Harpalion 1912, Willesden 1913, and Ascot 1913THE HAWAIIAN STARHonolulu, HawaiiThursday, December 13, 1906A THOUSAND SPANIARDS TO COMETHE BOARD OF IMMIGRATION WILL PROBABLY ORDER 1000 SPANIARDS FROM MALAGA WHO ARE REPORTED AVAILABLE.-STACKABLE IS CABLED FOR MORE INFORMATION.-FRASER REPORTS THEM AVAILABLE.-STACKABLE IS IN LONDON AT PRESENT.Se vuelve a decir que la emigración española será para reemplazar a los japoneses (that the Spaniards are being engaged by Hawaiian sugar interests to replace Japanese laborers.) (The Salt Lake Herald, 17.02.1907)"Ahora acaba de darse en Málaga el escándalo de un vapor negrero atracado a aquel puerto para carga de campesinos españoles... El espectáculo ha sido extraordinariamente conmovedor... Los emigrantes lloraban con desconsuelo, despidiéndose de la tierra que les vio nacer... El pueblo que presenciaba aquel espectáculo, agitaban los pañuelos despidiendo a los pobres pasajeros, que abandonan su tierra natal que les niega el pan para la vida" (El País, 12.03.1907)Death busy since ship entered Pacific –Fever and measlesEste título era del Hawaiian Gazette, 14.04.1911"Death stalked among the fifteen hundred Spanish and Portuguese immigrants aboard the British immigrant steamer Orteric, which arrived yesterday after its long voyage from Spain and Portugal. Fifty-eight deaths were recorded among the children during the voyage.Muerte de 58 niños en el SS OrtericHAWAIIAN STARHonolulu, HawaiiThursday, April 13, 1911[p. 1]FIFTY-SEVEN CHILDREN DIED ON ORTERICThe immigrant steamer Orteric arrived this morning after a trip of forty-six days. As the vessel came alongside the Chanel wharf a heterogeneous crowd lined the ships side. The crowd was kept back from the wharf, and no one was allowed on except those who had business there.SS WILLESDEN (1er Viaje) GibraltarEl capitán Cox tenía que contar una terrible historia, sobre la forma en que, los inmigrantes, fueron embarcados en Gibraltar. [Captain Cox had a terrible tale to tell of the way in which immigrants were shipped at Gibraltar.]Gibraltar, que desde que fue ocupado por los ingleses, ha sido siempre lugar de acogida de contrabandistas, desertores y malhechores, en este tema concreto de la emigración jugó el siguiente papel: saltarse las leyes de emigración españolas, exprimir a los pobres emigrantes, y tratarles peor que al ganado, [In many places cattle were better penned up than were the people who awaited transportation].IMMIGRANTS PENNED UP.Captain Cox stated that at Gibraltar there were many hundreds of people ready to go wherever a ship would take them. They were huddled up in a compound, with very little to eat, and their baggage was scattered around. There was absolutely no protection from the four winds, not even a shed to keep the rain off. The people were lying there ready to go anywhere that offered. Had the Willesden been going to Rio Janeiro, Brazil, or anywhere else they would have gone aboard without demur. The people were picked out in families, and told to get on the vessel, and they went. In many places cattle were better penned up than were the people who awaited transportation.
