St. Landry democrat., 1879-08-09
Starving Felssgces.
FIFTY COLORED PEOPLE SHIPPED BACK
FROM KANSAS-TUEIR CONDITION
LANIENTARLE IN THE EXTREME.
St. Louis GlObe.Dcm0crut

ISt Louis Globe Democrat.
Immediate attention is demanded to
the new aspect Of the colOrcd refugee
question.
At Union Hall, 1915 Christy Avenue,
there were last night about fifty negroes,
Of all ages-gray haired old "nncles !"
and "aunts," and babes at the breast.
They sat around quietly, with II de
mcano! OF perfect resignation to their
had not had anything to eat for thirty
hours. 10 put the matter plainly, there
has been gross miSmanagemcnt sOme-
where in relation to these people. They
came here two weeks ago-refu2ees from
Mississippi and Louisiana.
Rev. Mr.. Lack Of the Provident AssO-
citation, and Mr.. James +. Yeatlnan sent
them to Kansas out OF contributions
made on behalf Of the unfortunate
colored refugees. The "reicf board :"
had nothing to do with their transport
tatiOn, and, indeed, it seems that they
were sent to Kansas against the re-
monstrances Of that body, which had
received instructions from the State
authorities OF Kansas and from differ
cnt colOred committees that as many
colored refugees were within the con-
fines OF the State as could be COnven-
icntly taken care Of during tile coming
winter. The "relief board" wanted
them to be sent to Nebraska or Iowa,
as applications had been made here for
colored labor on the Burlington and
Missouri Railroad, and at Plattsmouti,
Nei., aud Burlington, la. However,
the refugees were sent to Kansas City.
Had it not been for the action of the
authorities and citizens there they would
have starved. No work could be pro-
cured, for Kansas had already absorbed
more than 1000 or 5000 refugees.
Particular Indignation is expressed
| against Rev. Benjamin +. Watson, a
leading colored man OF Kansas City.
He told the people that he had received
Il dispatch from the relief board of
this city, directing that they should
be sent to St. Louis. The" relief board"
empllatically deny having sent such a
diSpatcI--the board knew nothing what
ever of these parties. On the strength
OF the representations of Rev. Watson,
| owing to the inability to otherwise pro-
vide for them, the State and city au~
thorities paid their way back to st.
! Loyis. Rev, Watson accompanied them
to East St. Louis, left them at the Ohio
and Mississippi depot on Friday morn
ing, and told them that he was going
W lLlDi Ill t!it ttilifittCC VI tlltlI dl /
val. He went to the "relief board"
stated that he had brought fifty colored
+people from Kansas City, and then
" skipped" In the meantime the re-
fugees had nothing to eat. Farmers
came down and offered to hire many OF
them, but they could not go, as their
| household effects were put together in Il
car which had not yet arrived. The
mayor Of East st. Louis drove down,
inquired into their condition, and gave
them a round of rations. He then drew
on the contingent fund to pay their way.
On getting to tllis side somebody told
them to go to the old Eagle toundery,
on Main street, between Carr and Bid
die, which place, during the height OF
the exodus, was used as a temporary
stopping place. But they could not
get into tile Eagle foundry, and police
man directed them TO the Office OF the
relief board, No. 993 Morgan street.
The secretary Of that insttutsOn did
not know what to do with them; but
Wm. E. LaWton, vice pres ident OF the
board, and president OF the st. Louis
Union Society, opened the Union Hall,
No. 1915 Chr;sty Avenue, for them.
A meeting Of the Relief Board was
called for last night, and only three
members turned up. Nothing was done
beyond requesting the Globe Democrat
reporter 10 mako AZ appeal for the
starving refugees, as tho board has not
cent in its treasury. The three mem
| bers where the mayor ought to draw
| upon the contingent fund.