The Osceola times., 1878-07-20
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The narrative OF the experience of the
Azor and her three hundred emigrants
at Sierra Leone, contained in the letter
OF Mr.. Williams, published to-day, is as
interesting snd amusing in its way, a.
the graphic description Of the disease
ridden bark from Charleston, given TO
the public on Saturday. Captain Holmes
found that there would be q heavy in
crease in the mortality Of his passengers
II be were becalmed or delayed in any
way between Sierra Leone and Monrovia,
and he wisely deternined to make ar
rangements to be towed to Monrovia BY
the Ethiopia. The contract was regu-
larly made, but before the hour appointed
for sailing the Ethiopia quietly steamed
out of the harbor, her captain vouch.
sa6ng no apology or explanation to the
dismayed and iever-stricken emigrants.
Mr.. Williams, with natural indignation,
characteriz,s the conduct Of Captsin
Simnons a. " q piece OF the most heart
less cruelty" Captain Simmons knew
the situation of the AIor, and that, liz
the opinion OF the port physician large
number of the emigrants would die
IL they were kept aboard the ship
many days longer. In Sierra Leone his
conduct is denounced BY hi. own
countrymen a. "dirty." This is not
enough. II is the duty Of the govern
ment to bring the behavior Of Captain
Simmons TO the notice OF the British
government, in order that the facts may
be investigated. A country a. ready Is
Great Britain is 10 honor thos. who save
life, whether they be foreigners or British
subjects, will not be .low to condemn
and punish the commander OF Q British
vessel, in an English port, who deliber.
a,ely breaks a formal bargain, and
ahandons to their fate hundreds ef those
emancipated Africans for whom England
ha, always pro.essed peculiar sympathy
aud affection. Captain Simmons was not
governed by the commercial instincts OF
the shopkeeper, or by the generosity OF
| VIC ooitoi, VI W tuc CueIltg vi tuc
philanthropist. In every way and sense
he was false TO the honorable traditions
Of the British merchant service. A
spotless record BY his act is smircbed
and stained. Fortunately for the Azor,
another steamer, not commanded by a
Captain Simmons, ran into Sierra Leone
on May 3 18th, and by her. the Senegal,
the Liberian bark was towed TO her
destination, casting anchor in the port
OF MoDrovia at midnight on Sunday,
juno ID, forty-tws days from Charles
ton. With fair weather the voyage
could have been made 10 twenty-five
days or less. The bad faith of Captain
/ Simmons gave Mr.. Williams an
opportunity to see the ins and outs
Of Sierra Leone. OF this pecu-
liar town, with its three horses and two
hundred white inhabitants, its one story
houses, chafering merchants and tower
ing cocoa trees, he draws a faithful il
not Asttering picture. Politics the
colony has none, as the governor and
council are appointed by the crown.
There is newspaper in the town, which
sometimes opposes and sometimes sup
por.s the colonial government. The
man who owns the press is hostile t.
Governor Rowe the man who owns the
type is Governor Rswe's staunch friend.
Type vetOes press, or press vetoes type
and the government Is In or out of favor
accordingly as lead or iron have the
upper hand. 1t should be noted, how.
ever, that diversity OF interests and
affections, as represented in the owner.
ship and management OF Newspapers
causes dead-locks and see-sawing In
other places than the west coast ol
Africa. The physical power OF the
natives at Sierra Leone Is most surpris
ing. There, as here, the thickness, OF the
skull and the strength Of the spinal
column are turned to excellent account
Wages are small, but living is cheap
and fruit cells at surprisingly low prices
The judgment formed BY Mr.. William.
of the alligator pear as q steady diet
is rash, and will not be confirmed by
those who have had larger experience
Of its peculiar flavor. On the other side
it will be noted, in favor of Mr.. viii,
liams, that he admits that mangoes art
delightful. A smack Of the lip.
evidently accompanied his remark tha,
the mango has an aromatic, spicy taste
impossible to describe" There in
Africa, near the eqator, Mr.. Williams
found souvenir OF his native city. Tn.
water in Sierra Leone tastes Just likt
tawny fluid drawn from the bosom of the
historic "Jemes." The laboring classei
in Sierra Leone are respectful, faithful
aud well-behaved. As they must draw
line somewhere, they, negro like, draw
it in the wrong place. They will stand
anything except being called niggers,
an ofsnse which Is punished by fine
by the local magistrates. Nearly every
body in Sierra Lsone, except the Mus
sulmans, Is more or lee, black, aud thu
SOC al relations are awiully mixed. Tt
his horror, Mr.. Williams found himself
in the house of one of the first merchant ts
at table with the merchants son anc
daughter, both of them persons of color
The daughter is an accomplished mu'
sician, is visited by the British officer
and their wives, and Is leader of Sierrs
Leone ton. In this respect Sierra Leone
despite the large negro population, is nc
better or worse than England, or the
continent OF Europe, where the distinc
ton that southerners naturally and
necess irily make between whites aud
blacks is necessarily unknown. 1t wa,
not pleasant sight in Paris, in the day.
of the second empire, TO behold the En-
press Eugene and the dainty danes O.
the court dandling, in public, the odorou,
little piccaninnies Of hisimperial highnes.
Soulououe emperor of Haytii The