The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-22
A SAD STORY FROM BRAZIL.

RETURN OF TWO LADoEEIs wHo WENT OUT ON
TIE CITY or RICHMOND TO WORK ON THE
GAILRoADs-A TERRIBLE STORY OF sTARyA-
TIoN, IMPRISONMENT AND CRUELTY WHAT
THE AMERICAN CONSUL SAYS.
[BY TtLRaRAPH TO THE uEnALD.l
CHARLESTON, s. G. juno 21. 1878
Two OF tho men who Brazil 10 work Tho
projected railroads for which Messrs. ?. r. Collins
Co, OF Phiiadeipna, arc tho contractors,
arrived in Charleston to-day, and gave q
pitiful account OF their own hards FPS
aud suforngs aud OF the condition OF their unlor
iunato companions. Their George
0'Rourke and Michael Judge. They made agree
msnt with Collins Co 10 work at Sanaton, In
Brazil. They were TO be paid 81 80 q day and re-
ceivc ful ratons OF good. wholesome iood
With 45S others they sailed from Pniladcphia IN
the City OF Richmond, on February the l4th. Among
the number were many OF the survivors IRON
tho Metropolis, which bound for Brazil with rail-
road hands. They had good passage and wero woli
treated. The distance from tho mouth OF tho Amazon
up the Madeira River to San Anton is about eighteen
hundred miles. Arrived at San Anton March 23
the laborers found that quarters whatever had
been provided for them. 1t rained every day,
aud they had NO shelter except such
they could mako for themselves. They were put
TO work discharging railroad iron, but many too
much Frustrated by tue voyage be capable OF great
cxcrtion. Another trouble tho want Of cooks
None were provided by tho contractors and the
were unable 10 cook for themselves Their rations
were hard tack and salt pork, with coffee. without
sugar They told that huts would be put up for
them when the steamer had been discharged, but in
the meantime they pinchcd with hunger and
worn out by exposure TO the elements
On tho third day alter their arrival tho men deter.
mined to speak TO Mr. Collins. Thcy told him they
could not work unless they given good food.
we'll cooked His answer thai .thcy set
OF 49,, and II they did not 20 TO work at
once he would arm fly oil his own
men and drive them into the river" o'Rourke
himself ailorward appealed to Collins for food
but received in reply pistol shot, tho ball passing
close to his bead Tho assistant surgeon the City
| OF Richmond took shot at O'Rourke and
missed. third shot was fred by some with
effect. Having less appetite for lead than for salt
| ham ORourke walked away. Hc says that Clptain
Kelly, OF the City OF Richmond, and u
number Of the crew the whole oc
currenco and can testify TO the truth
OF this account. The OF the hr,ng reached tho
Brazilian Commandane, who dcmandcd that the pistol
| OF Collins be given TO him. Mr.. Collins now inter
vened, and the Communicable was persuaded 10 30
| ABOARD he Richmond. where no we'll taken
OF by Collins that he made further cxpos.uia
| uons.
The island OF San Anton quiet n tropical
midday, but Collins seems to have grown alarmed lie
called for his engineers and ovorscers and armed
| them with rhes, and put guard ut The
wore ordcred to suspend operations and all that tho
men got Tor supper was some haicooked salt meat.
Tho next morning the men had no broadcast Soon
peared, who surrounded tnmbIe down hut, wEerc
most Of the men were By order OF Coins man
named Hogan called for O'Rourke came
and was immediately arrested and put In irons.
10 vain ho ssxes wnas -, nc had done.
Tnoy were ars, pus IN tho sorohousc and Kept there
bread and water three days While the prison.
been built 1t nothing but q small square, with
out roof OF any kind, and with no openings other
inc prlsonerS nine IN ALL woro thrust they
wcre:-O'Rourkc and Judge, three other nc
eight days exposed to the hoat OF the SUM- which made
| them almost crazy IN tho middle OF me day. Tncr
food was possd through me bars o. ,neir cage Il
In. Meantime party Of he men outside had become
desperate that LEFT San Anton aud struck
! SECOND IxpRsoxMxxr
The prisoners In tho pen, tncuding O'Rourke and
Judge. were put aboard OF the City OF Richmond
! aud taken TO MaLous, far down tho Madeira River.
Hero they put In and kept there for forty
| eight hours. The Brazilian authorizes could Ind no
charge against Them and put tnem on steamer with
Thcro Collins nnding himself IN trouble
| with tho locul government account OF his
yuas s back 10 MsnoSs AZ Maoous, half starving,
they remained three days and there were allowed
mako their way TO Para. Al this place they Ar.
Conc. the American consul, who could 10 nothing Tor
them, but who knew Of the circumstances Of tneir
| arrest aud confinement. Mr.. Cone told them that
something must be done Americans wers con.
stantly coming down the river hall starved aud half
naked. Ho said that he had written 10 Washington
| on the subject
| rELL IN WITH AN AMERICAN CAPTAIN
0'RouTke Judge fell In with Captain Harris, Of
the brig Diilwn, about to start Tor Bull River. South
Caroline, who gave them borth To that port where
they arrived ON tho 17th, after run OF thrtythroe
| days As 0Rousko and Judge were about TO leave
San Anton the last time their coinpanone, who had
loft Phiiade phia with them and envied them their
chance OF returning, came down to the rivers brink
| am appealed to them IN the namc of God, and
their knees to make their condition known, through
| the NEw YoRK HERALD, 10 their country men
America as unless some reiici came they would ali
| bc dead before the months they had agreed Ia
| work would have expired. 0'Rourke and judge lett
| san Anton aboat April - Al that time the
condition VI tue American laborsrs was beartrend-
| ing. and effort had been made 10 them
| IRON sickness, N curs those who III
or furnish them with rude huts aud food had boon
promised. Tue story Is tolo us nearly ns possible IN
| the words oi tho uen themselves. There will ue no
difficulty testing Inc truth oil their statcmonts, anu
VIII be borne IN mind that they arc nos the first 20
complain OF inhuinun treatment ~ the hands Vi the
/ contractors Tor Brazilian roads