Please note that this document includes racist language.
In August 1884, a group of black residents of Baltimore purchased first-class tickets to board the Steamer Sue. About an hour into the voyage in the waters between Maryland and Virginia, they were told that they were not allowed in the first-class cabin because ship’s regulations prohibited African Americans in that part of the vessel. When they returned to Baltimore, they filed a lawsuit against the Baltimore, Chesapeake, and Richmond Steamboat Company.
This is an excerpt from the testimony of Elizabeth Francis, who was employed as a stewardess on the Steamer Sue. She recollected that the passengers were told they would sleep in the forward (second class) cabin even though they purchased first class tickets. Francis also described the second class cabin as clean and well-kept, in contrast to the testimony of the passengers.
This testimony comes from the stenographer’s record of the case, including a full transcript of the court proceedings and testimonies from all of the witnesses.
