Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-07-25
ftum Afrita.
From the News and Courier
the "AzoR" AT SIERRA LEONE,
A BRITISH CAPTAIN LEAVES TIE EMIGRANTs
IN THE LURCH. 81


Nv last letter, dated Sierra Leone. May 80
was abruptly concluded with the announce,
ment that we were off for this place in tow OF
the steamer Ethiopia, of the British mail line
between Liverpool and the west coast OF At
rica. After posting that somewhat volumln'
Gus document, FASTENED, in company with
Capt Holmes, to the landing, whence we dis.
cerned to our astonishment and grief, the
Ethiopia steaming away over the bar w'thout
the Azor, which lay anchored at her place.
We hurried aboard the bark, and signals were
vainly made to recall the steamer, which
finally disappeared around the CAPE This
desertion of US was not only breach of com.
mercial contract and plighted word on the
part of Capt. Simmons of the Ethiopia, but it
was a piece of the most heartless cruelty.
He had distinctly made an agreement with
Capt. Holmes to tow the Azor to Monrovia
f,r E150, ($750,) the latter promising to be
ready by II o'clock, A. NJ. We we're ready
by lO.45, A. NJ, at which time the Ethiopia
was steaming away nearly out of sight. Capt.
Simmons knew our situation perfectly. lie
had been informed of the opinion expressed
by the physician-that should further delay
occur in disembarking the Asor's passengers,
large number would certainly die. What
his motives were do not know. do know
that he has violated the rules held sacred by
every merchant and sailor, not to speak of
gentlemen or men of honor. He is a disgrace
to his company and his nation. His conduct
was generally characterized in Sierra Leone
as "dirty." .. :l.....
FORBIDDEN FRUIT.
My last entry in the journal" of any i'm.
portance, was on the 2sth, the day of our ar
rival in Sierra Leone. Early next morning,
several bumboats were about the ship, most
of them having plentiful stores of pineapples,
bananas, oranges, mangoes, alligator pears
and cocoanuts, which their owners clamorous-
" offered for sale, speaking, like the pilot, a
iabber apparently equally savoring Of French
and African English. One or two women
were also on hand, vociferously soliciting Or
ders for washing. The Azor people clustered
like bees on the rails, and stared, with open
eyes, on the visitors, and with watering mouths
on the fruit. This latter, however, was rigid
ly excluded by the ships officers. We had
about 300 souls aboard, and had fruit been
allowed as it was wanted, we should have had
300 severe stomach aches before night.
THE DANGER OF DELAY.
About s o'clock on this morning (29th) the
colonial physician came out in the barbor-
masters boat. He (the physician) is an octo.
room, with the white duck suit, cork hat, can.
vas shoes, side whiskers and vocal infection of
the average EDglishman in these parts. He
was little afraid of US, think, and kept his
boat at safe distance, asking questions as to
the disease aboard, its symptoms, &C., and en-
tering the answers in a morocco notebook
with gold pencil. He was rowed by black
oarsmen, and spoke to them in manner that
showed plainly that universal social equality
was, by no means, an accomplished fact there.
Bye and bye the doctor came aboard, looked
at the patients, prescribed for them, and prom.
ised to send medicines and disinfectsnts. He
confirmed our previous impression that the
sickness was mild form of ship fever, caused
by overcrowding, uncleanliness, insufficient
medicines and inefficient medical attendance.
He gave, as his opinion, that every day of de-
lay in getting the emigrants ashore increased
the danger of violent ard fatal outbreak.
He was asked what the consequence would be
should the Azor sail and be delayed for ten
days longer. From fifty to sixty deaths, d
was the ominous and significant reply. This
proved the wisdom of putting in, for the sick
ness alone, omitting mention of the scarcity Of
food and water.
GOING ASHORE.
As soon as the doctor had gone, Captain
Holmes and 1 went ashore, in boat propell.
ed bv two black oarsmen attired in cotton
shirts and pantsloons and red skull caps. Our
arrival at the landing seemed to create con-
siderable excitement among the numerous
loungers in that vicinity. We were immedi.
ately surrounded by about twenty black men
and women, the former touching caps and the
latter courtesying, and all offering to do all
sorts of things-"for consideration" Right
here l will get through with describing the
style of dress that prevailed.
THE LATEST AFRICAN FASHIONS.
The dress of the fishermen has been already
spoken of as generally consisting of rag
about the loins The habiliments of the boat
men and policemen have also been mentioned
The ordinary laborers, porters and longshore
men usually wear loose thin shirts and trow'
sers; although they frequently have only the
latter, and in other instances, what resembles
a long bag cut open at the ends, with two
holes cut above for the arms. All are bare
footed and most are barelegged below the
knee. The almost invariable heao c":ering
is skull cap Of gaudy color. Clerks, mes