The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-07-12
The Azor's Terrible Trip.--who are to Blanc ,

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The Azor's Terrible Trip.--Who are to Blame! !!
To-day we publish the first letter received from
Mr. Alfred Is. Williams who sailed from Charles
ton on the bark Az0r bound for Liberia. This let
ter gives particulars of the strange and sad
events briefly mentioned in the cable telegram
from Madeira, and brings before the public,
with strong yet tender touches, the light and
dark sides, the mingled tragedy and comedy,
Of the Iz0r's terrible voyage. Reading this
letter, 50 fresh and r0cy while so thoughtful
and discriminating, we congratulate ourselves
upon the success which has so far attended the
boldest adventure in the history of Southern
journalism, success largely due to the constan-
cy, courage and ability of'the gentleman who,
with photographic accuracy, rcproduces every
noteworthy event in the novel experiences of
the African cmigrants from Charleston.
There was an error in the transmission of the
date of the Madeira telegram. Sailing from
Charleston on April 81, the Azor put in ut Sier-
IN Leone on May %, and reached Monrovia at
midnight on June =. The bark proved herself
10 be a fast sailcr, rs we anticipated, but the
winds were battling and, with the long calms,
protractcd tho voyage.
When the Azor was only two days out, it was
discovered that tho provisions generally were
bad and unfit for use. There was superabun-
dance of meal, flour and rice, and good guam
ity Of pork and salt beef, but the flour was
coarse and black, and the meal only fit "for
hogs TO eat. 1ncrc was meat enough, puI IL
was not meat supplied by the Exodus Asseci-
alton With the exception of five barrels, the
meat belonged to the stores of the emiSrants,
intended for their support in Liberia until their
first crop should be made. This is n bad bcgin
ming, as il is mentioned by MIR. Williams that
the emigrants are entirely without money How
they will live in strange land, pcnnilcss as al
most all of them are and helpless as arc too
many of them, We shall hope to learn i'll subsc-
quent letters.
The emigrants proved to be docilc and obcdi-
ent, but it was impracticable to make them spar
ing in consuming food and water, and inpossi-
bic To make them tidy and cloanly in their hab-
its. They would take no exercise. Some Of
them did not venture on deck during the whole
voyage. Cold water they regarded with holy
horror. Between decks, in the morning, there
was as much dirt and confusion rs can DC found
in any crowded negro hovcl on the Carolina
coast. Capt. Holmes and his officers caused
the whole ship to be regularly swept and scrap
cd and required the bedding and clothing to be
aired and dried frequently. Serious sickness
might have been avoided but for two facts
One is, that there were cases of measles aboard
when the 4zor left Charleston, and The other is,
rsa. .xsss s..sx 5xtssfss1s e 70
rant iguoramus, as conceitcd rs stupid. Mr..
Williams says that the Rev. B. f. Porter, the
President of the Exodus Association assured
Collector Baldwin at Charleston that he "knew"
This agrees with our own information the
subject Collector Baldwin whfully and
deliberately nislcd. In truth, in the words
of Mr.. Williams, this man Curtis "knows
about as much about medicine rs q strcet-car
mule" More mischicvous than mule, Curtis
administered medicines of the nature and prob
able effects of which he knew nothing. To
poor creature who had measles, Curtis admins
tered in the course of one morning, Coffee, with
an infusion of ginger, Dovcrs powder and
Friars Balsam.' She died the same day. CAL
omel and jalap were the favortc prescriptions,
and it soon became necessary for Capt. Holmes
to prohibit any further experimenting by DR..
Curtis. The emigrants had hcen assured by the
managers of the Association that physician
from Washington would accompany the iEor.-
Upon this they relied. Not only was there no
physician, but there were no such medical stores
as good spirits and wines, sago and arrowroot
When stmulints were needed for the sick, the
slender private stores of Capt. Holmes and MIR.
Williams were rcsornd to. With short allow
ance ef water, with food of poor quality, and
without physician, it is not strange that the
death roll should have uccn large. 1t sands
thus:
T. Johnson, years, April %.
=. Shcllevy Adams, infant, April 2S.
3. Anna Maria Sglcr, -, May 4.
4. Charlotte Mason, ~ years, May O.
D. Whitfield Smallwood, % years, May TO-