SAVED FOR 17 YEARS TO VISIT THE STATES.

Shannon News, 6 December 1927, Page 3

SAVED FOR 17 YEARS TO VISIT THE STATES.

THRIFTY COUPLE’S TRIP VIEWED WITH DISTRUST. 1 LONDON, October 26. Two thrifty cotton workers, Mr and Mrs T. H. Butler, of Daisy Street, Blackburn, Avho for seventeen years had prepared for a visit to relations in America, complain of hardships experienced at Ellis Island. They booked on the Celtic, and were surprised to find their holiday tour spoilt by compulsory detention at Ellis Island. ’ Here they stayed for some days notAA-ithstanding official visas signed by the American' Consul. “indignities Avere added to by inquisition,” they told a Press representative yesterday. “When avc pointed out that Ave Avere tourists and not immigrants, we Avere told that ‘you English have tricked us before. Tliev come as visitors and May. ’ • , i “Among the questions asked Avere these: —

“‘I-low long have you been married?’ “ ‘ Hoav much can you save : “ ‘lloav much did you earn, and Avho paid your passage?” / DETAINED FOR A MONTH. . The officials received with incredulity the statement that, this Blackburn couple had been able to save sufficient for an American tour on textile Avages. One foreign Avoman, Avho spqke English perfectly, stated that she had been on Ellis Island for a month, and there was ivo sign of a move. Mr and Mrs Butler Avere more fortunate than many. Their relatives in Philadelphia got to work, and through the agency of the Catholic Welfare Society the ban was removed, and a re-union Avith relatives after seventeen years’ separation was rendered possible. _____