Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-01-10
THE PHANTOM SHIP.

groes in search Of ship to take them TO
Liberia:
For several days past detached parties of
colored people have been arriving in this city
BY different railroads, from different portions
of the country. They invariably brought
with them certain amount OF baggage,
usually consisting of one or two mattresses or
feather beds, clothing and few provisions
wrapped in bed quilts These people, upon
their arrival here, always inquired for the
whereabouts of the Liberian ship, and SEEM
ed incredulous when informed that there was
no such craft in this port. Many of them al
ready held shares of stock in the "Liberiau
Exodus Steamship Company" while others
procured it Immediately upon their arrival.
Upon learning that the promised ship was
not here, and not likely to be here soon, they
seemed much surprised and disheartened. All
of them had disposed of everything they
possessed before leaving home; they were en-.
tire strangers here, and had little means OF
subsistence. They got together, however, and
rented the house No. 49, at the corner OF
Rutledge avenue and Line street.
a reporter for the Ne,us and Courier call.
ed at this place yesterday to learn something
of the plans, prospects and experiences of the
proposed emigrants. His knock was answer
ed by q respectable looking colored woman
She said that about fifty men, women and
children were quartered in the house, which
has about eight rooms, and were living in the
best way they could while awaiting the ar
rival of the ship. They had come from diff
ferent sections, and were entire strangers to
the ctv and tn each other,
When asked what county she came from,
she said that she didn't know. After some
consideration, however, she said that she be-
lieved they called it "Burcounty." Being
asked whether she came from above or below
Columbia, she said she did not know where
Columbia was. She had lived on Mr.. Orvsl
Birds place. 1t was not far from the rail-
road. She didn't live near any town in par
ticular. Had come on the train. Had been
coming two days and nights. Knew that
where she lived was in Carolina. Had her
husband and children with her. Had sold
every thing before leaving home. Had come
here because they had gotten word that the
ship that was to carry them to Liberia was
here. 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
%. Expected God to take care Of them un-
til they did 60.
This is fair specimen of the general an
swers obtained from questioning others: 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, number of country colored
men we're found standing in front of small
frame house. On the pavement sat about
dozen women, while through the open door
could be seen piles of baggage inside the
house, with children ad intnitum This par
ty contained about 100 men, women and
children from Lancaster county, who had
come down that morning They were in pre-
cisely the same predicament as the others, and
had had their effects hauled to the house
temporarily, and now stood about waiting for
something to turn up. They seemed COM
fortably dressed, and to possess considerable
intelligence, but were entirely without lead
ership or plans for the future, having come
down with the expectation of going immedi-
ately on board the ship. They had evidently
no idea of what to do in the existing emer-
gency. A crowd of sympathizing city colored
people surrounded them, some inveighing vio-
IentIy against the Lfberian Exodus Associa'
ton, and some condoling with the strangers
on their unfortunate position.
After a while, George Curtis. the secretary
and leader of the Exodus Association appear
ed, and as soon as it became known who he
was. the crowd gathered around him. His
first exhortation was that the emigrants keep
to themselves and have nothing to do with
any strangers, to avoid being heeced. The
reporter approached him just then, and asked
on whom the responsibility for bringing these
people into this position, rested. He replied
that he didn't know as yet. That there was a
conflict of veracity between Middleton In
gram, of Lancaster, and one of the directors,
the former asserting that the latter had writ
ten him, instructing him to come down and
bring his people. and the latter denying it.
He George Curtis) intended, however, sitting
the matter thoroughly, be said.
The next question was, "What do you pro-
pose to do with them ?"
de answered that he didn't know. He was
trying to make arrangements for them. He
then drew the adult male emigrants into line,
and took their names, informing 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 month, are you?"
eyes," was the reply "you may have to
stay here month, but we are trying to engage
work for you in the phosphate works Mr..
Porter will leave in few days to select
ship We have enough money in the First
National Bank to pay the first instalment on
one"
The emigrauts seemed then better satisfied
and went of with the Liberian secretary to
look at their quarters on some of the side
streets.
A call and inquiry at the Office of the L. E.
A. elected the response that the people who
came here did so entirely on their own res
possibility, and without the knowledge, con-
sent or invitation of the Association. When
asked to explain why it was that the people
came, apparently moved by the same impulse,
from points as far apart as Lancaster and
Burke county, Georgia, they could give no
explanation beyond surmise that report
had gotten around the country.
The emigrants seem entirely unable to give
any satisfactory account of why they came
at this time, beyond that they "got word" to
do 80.
More of these people are expected to ar
rive. On whom the responsibility for the
cruel deception rests cannot, as yet, be ascer-
tained, but terrible blunder, or more ter
rible fraud, has been committed somewhere.
The Lberian Exodous Association had best
hurry the ship, or storm will be raised about
their ears