Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-06


SEEING NEW HOMES
Too Hundred and Forty Destitute
COtored Emigranfs.
The People Who Are Going from
North Carolina to Indiana.
sad scene Is to be witnessed at ST. Paul's A.
NJ. E. Church, on sth, between and streets
southwest, in which building are crowded about
24o poor colored emigrants awaiting collection
by the Emigrant Aid Society, of this city, Of
means to transport them to wyandotte county,
Ind. STAR reporter went over there yeSter-
day and took a look at them. The church is
rather small. and the packing therein OF 24o
men, women, and children with their baggage,
constantly going and coming makes the scene
an animated and novel one, but 1t Is very pitt
able spectacle. The atmosphere is, of course,
very foul, and II something is not soon done to
help them on their way, pestilence may break
out in that neighborhOod.
THIS Is THE SECOND PARTY
which has left North Carolina to find homes in
indiana. several weeks ago party of about
fifty preceded this one and are now in that
state, where tits said homes have been pro-
ylded for them. That party was made up
and children being among them. Many OF those
composing the party now here are the wives
This party left Goldsboro'. NC, on Tuesday last
and arrived here Wednesday. They state that
this is the
COMMENCEMENT OF AN INTENSIVE EXODUS,
some four hundred more now being in waiting
| in several counties OF that state for the means
| to carry them to their destination in Indiana.
| The turmoil and confusion of so many unor-
! ganiZed men and women, all talking at once
| and babies crying, rendered it almost impossible
| TO get at the facts. The reporter -elbowed his
| way to the pulpit through the crowd of unfor-
| lounging in all conceivable positions on the
| benches, floors and aisles Of the church. Here
| he found the wife of Rev. Daniel Draper, pastor
of the church, receiving and distributing food
and clothing. Mrs. Draper states that the
doors We're thrown open to them last Wednes-
| day, with the understanding that it was for only
| way the day following; that not member of
the Emigrant Aid Society had called to see their
condition with the exception Of the president,
| Mr.. o. s. B. Wall, who has been there once, and
at present there is very little prospect of their
| getting away for some time to come.
| COLLECTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN UP,
as she learns. by the society, to get the means
of transportation, and contributions are being
| constantly taken up in a small way from visit
ors at the church. She states that ST. were col
lected Wednesday morning, and SO. IS cents that
| Clapp, the treasurer of the society in this city;
that Secretary Evarts contributed 80, and SIS
was collected among the members Of the PreSi-
| dents household wednesday,
| THE CHILDREN OF PRESIDENT HAYES
emptying their money boxes into the pool to
wards their relief. During the conversation OF
| the reporter with. MIS- Draper, Rev. Mr.. Draper
came in and at the request of the reporter a
count was made to ascertain the number OF
men, women and children in the party. 1t was
| found that there were Al men and 60 adult wO-
| men in the party of 24O, the remainder being
children OF ages ranging from infants at the
breast to those of 10 years old or more. Mr..
Draper and his wife, also some of the female
| members of the colored Christian association.
are doing all in their power to afford aid and
| comfort to the party. For the most part they
appear to be comfortably clothed, but the va
rtety OF colors and material of the garments.
some of country homespun and Others of sec
ond-hand city wear, makes strange medly.
| STATEMENT OF ONE OF THE PARTY.
James H. Fisher, one of the more intelligent
was secretary to the branch society in Greene
county, N. c., upon being tnterrogated, stated
that the party took the train at Goldsboro.
There were about 400 waiting transportation
but little more than one-half had means Suf
ficient to bring them even to this CITY,. In
answer to questions as to their reasons for leav-
| ing, and II there was any political purpose In
the movement, he stated that
POLITICS DID NOT ENTER INTO THE QUESTION
at all; that It was question of live and lei
| live" altogether.
Reporter.-"I Is the movement general one
or is it confined to Iocality?"
Flsher.-"I only know that the exodus is from
Greene. Lenore and Wayne counties, and tina
the desire is general among the colored people
there to leave that state"
Rep" Why do they wish to leave there?"
Fisher" To find some home where they cal
North Carolfnae" ~ ~
Fisher" In this way: We men have to
WORK FOR THIRTY AND FORTY CENTS PEB DAY
the price fixed by our employers, mostl,
farmers, and then take..in payment orders 70.
pork, corn meal and groceries, at very higt
prices, and at the end of the year instead o
anything coming to us we find ourselves Ii
debt to our bosses, affd are suffering wOrS
slavery than when they We're legally our ma
tiers. Our wives and children suffer for fooi
md an1y an,tS midi
you ieave?"
Fisher .'No, indeed: they did everything
| they could to stop us. They
| REFUSED TO PAY Us FOR OUR CROPS,
and what little effects we had or If they did pay
ANYTHING it was so trifiing that it did not hell
Here another man interrupted and said all b,
got was "a cents each for seven hogs, mule, ;
horse and three cattle.
Rep.-"How did you manage to pay youl
fares?"
Fisher" We had been saving our dimes for
months looking for this time to come, and even
now we are unable to get to our journeys end
Rep" Did you not get reduced fares on the
railroad?"
Fisher.-"No; the railroad agent agreed tt
take US at excursion rates, but finding that II
was an exodus instead of an excursion they put
s39 price right up on us. even charging u. S. 6
head for little babies. This Is why we have run
| short Of MEANS"
| Rep" Did you expect help from the Einigra
| ton society here"
Fisher" Yes, we were promised help as soor
as we got here, but have been disappointed
Not member Of the society has called to see
| u.s."
Rep" How much money do you need to gel
the party through?'
Fisher.-"I can't tell; we have some money
! yet. Some of us have from 81 to $40, aud We
| propose to see how much it all amounts to, but
| 1t will be but small sum-"
Here Mr.. Draper stated that Mr.. Holland, one
| OF the members Of the Emigrant Aid society
had made calculation that 1t
WILL REQUIRE ABOUT s., 200
! TO get them through. He also said that the
/ colored churches were taking up contributions
| In small way, but the progress was very slow
on account OF the poverty OF their people in this
| city. He stated that the situation was sor-
| rowful one to him and the members of his con
| gregation; they could not turn them out OF
| doors into the street, al they had no accom-
| m0dat1OnS at their houses for so many, besides
| these poor emigrants were not In condition to
mix with their families. For the most part
| they were very ignorant and untidy; his church
| had already been greatly injured, and they
| would be deprived OF worship next Sabbath. In
| answer to a question as to his views, whether
| this was political movement by parties in this
| city or elsewhere, Mr.. Draper stated that he
| thought not. These people, he said, from all he
| could learn, had heard about the exodus to
Kansas and Indiana from the states further
south, and had formed societies in different
counties with the
HOPE OF IMPROVING THEIR CONDITION.