The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-01-08

the arrival of the ship. They had come
from different sections, ond were entire
strangers to the city and each other.
When asked what county she came
from, she said that she did not know
After some consideration however, she
said she believed they called it Bur
county," Being asked whether she
came from above or below Columbia,
she said she did not know where Co
lumbia was. She lived on Mr., Orval
Birds place. 1t was not far from the
railroad She didn't live near any town
in particular. Had conc on the train
Had been coming two days and nights.
Knew where sho lived was in Carolina.
Had her husband and children with her.
Had sold everything before leaving
home. Hal come here because they
had gotten word that the ship that was
to curry them to Liberia was herc.-
Didn't know who they had gotten word
from. Wanted to 90 to Liberia because
it was the will Of God that His people
should 90. Expected God to take care
of them until they did 60.
This is fair specimen Of the general
answers obtained from questioning 9th
ers. Some Of the women were cooking
in the yard, while others, with their
children, sat in the piazza summing
themselves. The men had all gone out.
Going down Line street. at the corner
of Line and ASH, a number of country
colored men were found standing in
front of small frame house. On the
pavement sat about a dozen women, while
through the open door could be seen
piles Of baggage inside the house with
children at inGnitun,. This party con
tainld about 100 men, women and chill
dren, from Lancaster county, who had
come down that morning. They were
in precisely the same predicament as the
others, and had their ELECTS hauled to
the house temporarily, and DOW stood
about waiting for something to turn up.
They seemed comfortably dressed, and
to possess considerable intelligence, but
were entirely without leadership or
plans for the future, having come down
with the expectation Of going immcdi-
a'ely on board the ship They had evil
dcntly no idea Of what 10 do in the ex-
is'ing emergency. a crowd Of sympa-
thizing city colored people surrounded
them some inyeighing against the Lii
bcrian Exodus Association, and some
coudoling with the strangers on their
unfortunate position.
After while, George Curtis, the
secretary and leader Of the Exodus AS
sociation appeared, and as soon as it
became known who he was the crowd
gathered around MIN. His first exhor-
tation was that the emigrants keep to
themselves and have nothing to do with
any strangers, to avoid being fleeced.
The N.ps aad Courier reporter ap.
preached him just then, and asked on
whom the responsibility rested for bring
ing these people into this condition.
lie replied that hc didn't know as
vet. That there Was conflic: OF vera
city between Middleton Ingram, Of Lam
caster, and one of the directors, the for.
mer asserting that the hitter had writ
ten to him, instructing him to come
down and bring his people, and the lat
ter denying 1t. lIs George Curtis)
intended, however, sitting the matter
thoroughly, he said.
The next question was, "What do you
propose to do with them 2"
lie answered that he didn't know.
He was trying to make arrangements for
them. He then drew the male adults
into line, and took their names, inform
ing them that he had engaged rooms
for them that would hold six each, at
two dollars per month.
Good God !" said one Of the men,
"you amt going to keep us here a
Month, are you?"
Yes" was the reply, 'you may have
to stay here month, but we are trying
to get work for you in the phosphate
works. Mr.. Porter will leave in few
days to select a ship. We have money
enough in the First National Bank to
pay the first instalmrnt on one
The enigran;s seemed better satisfied,
and went off with the LiberIan secreta.
ry to look at their quarters on some oi
the sid. streets.
\ call aud inquiry at the Office Of the
l.. +. 4. elected ihe response that the
people who came here did so entirely
on their own responsibility, and with
out the knowledge. conscut or invitation
of the Association. When asked to
explain why 1t was that people came,
apparently moved by the same impulse,
from parts as far apart US Lancaster and
Burke county, Georgia, they could give
no explanation beyond surmse that
report had gotten around in the country.
The cmigrints seem entirely unable
to give any satisfactory account of why
they come at this time, beyond that
they got word to do so.
More of these people are expected to
arrive. On whom the responsibility for
the cruel deception rests cannot as yet
be ascertaiucd, but terrible blunder or
more terrible fraud has been commit
ted somewhere. The Libcrian Exodus
| Association had best hurry the ship, or
storm will be raised about their ears.
Charleston Ners ond Courier.