The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-03-26
THE COLORED EMIGRANTS
From Louisiana and Mississippi al
st. Louis.
a GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THEIR CoNDI-
TION-wHAT THEY ARE DOING.
s.. Louis Republican. 18th.1

The steamer Grand Tower arrived befol
daylight yesterday and tied up at the foot
Chestnut street. Her decks were packed an
crowded with African Immigrants from th
South. As stated in yesterdays Republican
they numbered between 500 and 600, and pee
+ pie here who take enough interest in sue
/ things 10 ask themselves the question were /
/ great doubt a. to what should be done wit
the numerous visitors. A number of Souther
merchants and s.. Louis men interested in tn
/ Southern trade were on hand early in tn
morning and mingled with the dusky passen
gers endeavoring TO find out the cause OF thi
/ sudden hegira, and to persuade them To retur
| To the plantations where they are so nue.
needed. The proclamation OF the Mayor wa
also circulated and read to them and ever
effort made to open their eyes to the rough ex
pcrlence that inevitably awaited them shoult
they continue in their course. A strong fore,
OF police was also hand TO look after thu
horde OF scalpers and hand-cartmen mostl,
coored, who were ready to
MOVE THE BAGGAGE
OF the immigrants. The police mingled with
the throng warning all to look out for sharper.
and also endeavoring to dissuade them from
their unpromising journey westward. But for
the most part all warnings were thrown away
As stated above, the boat was crowded \
person standing at the bow and looking astern
saw nothing bnt heads and shoulders. They
We're standing on the deck and sitting on boxes
and boards and wherever a spot was sheltered
from the wind, they were literally squeezed
together. Their bedding was scattered about
on the deck where the owners had lain for the
night and the whole mass of humanity hud-
died together there seemed uncertain and
needless OF what they were to do or how to
look after their own interests They looked
out upon the show-covered levee and shivered
in the cold winds, but though they were many
of them absolutely suffering and had very
little relish for that kind OF climate, most of
them were
PERFECTLY UNCONCERNED
For the future, apparently thinking that when
ever their own means became exhausted they
would have taken care of somehow or other
and they didn't think il worth while to inquire
how. Quite number of men and women
started off up town to look at the city or to
find acquaintance. Others began to look af-
ter the removal of their baggage and in a
short time the wharf boat and levee were cum
bered with miscellaneous litter of luggage.
over which great tarpaulins were spread to
keep off the snow. As happened with the
previous cargoes who have arrived a large
number entirely destitute and have not a
cent with which to maintain themselves here
Or go forward on their journey. A large num-
Der of those who were better provided made
arrangements to go forward and
1ie Lewis for Kansas City. Many others will
90 by railroad to-day and still others will take
he next boat. But after all have gone for
ward that can pay their passage there will
still remain in the city a considerable number
who will have to helped along in some way or
hey will meet with
SEVERE SUFFERING.
The resident colored people here have pref
Y mnch Xh1u-ted their means of
md it begins to look as though it these wan
ierers found it possible to exist at all away
rom the South, the entire colored population
II the npIan1ting1 districts would speedily
particular idea purpose in oIass I
kept to get away from the South. ne nv nv
,oor and ignorant one. Few Of them have
yer been off the plantations of the neighbor
foods they have just left and they have no |
more idea of what going to Kansas means |
han they would have about proposition to |
axe the traditional voyage across the Styx.
'hey are exceedingly suspicious OF white men,
lowever, and are inclined to distrust all
tatements which tend to discourage them in /
he expectation of perfect bliss at the end of
heir journey.
1t is positively stated from the West that
here is no demand whatever for this class OF |
immigrants in Kansas. Beyond an occasional
arm hand or herdsman none of them will be /
nough money to start work on their own ac-
cunt as farmers. Their whole life and edu-
alton entirely units them for useful career
n Kansas.
There is no Disgusting the fact that they
re impressed with a very strong determine
ion and desire to get away from the South !
The full history of the development OF this
ceiling will probably be found to embrace some
pad management on the part of Southern plant
rs but more largely the power of discontinued
negro politicians to work upon the imagination
md preiudices of an ignorant and unfortunate !
ace.
THE EXODUS. I
las undoubtedly assumed proportion for great
r than anybody had anticipated, and now ex-
ends to a very long stretch of river, their eff
ects piled up on the levees waiting only Tor
he boats to come and take them away. They
ire like a flock of sheep. Let one start, and
III the rest will rush after pell-mell. An old
ady, who said her husband had a span OF
lorses and wagon on the boat, was asked
what she going to do.
" dunno" was the reply.
"What did you come up here for?"
DE guv'nor done sent for u.s.
What made you come away from Louisia-
Ia ?"
''Well dey make US pay so an acre rent for
lie lam an we only gets six or seven cents Tor
.otton. Can't make no money dat way! No
lse stavin' dar Can't make a Twin ~
Do you think you can do any better up
lere2"
4 dunno. Pears like it's Just as bad here"
Do the white folks drive you away from
,elow?p
"Oh no. Dey wants us to stay. Dey's
mighty glad to have US. Now de steamboat
nan he says he will
TAKE Us BACK FREE,
But he makes something out of that shuah. l
Know it. | think dey can't get along down dar
sidout de Eiggers, but de niggers is all gwine
% Leah"
Are you going to Kansas? p
No / don't like de show, but / haint put
nv foot in so fur dat | can't take it out.
We'se Jest gwine to stay here an see if we can't
make sometin' wild de team, an if we can't we'll
20 back. Use gwine to write to my two dar-
ers not to come yet till dey see what We gifts"
SCENES AT NIGHT.
A reporter OF the Republican visited the
Second Baptist church (colored) at the corner
Of Eighth and Christy avenue lastnight about
ten o'clock, and found the immigrants in the
act of retiring for the night There were about
two hundred inside the church and nearly as
many eolored residents collected on the streets.
All of those who were preparing to lodge in
the church were provided with bedding. Some
had blankets, pillows and mattresses, while
others were more or less literally provided
with comforts and pillows. a portion of the
floor near the front door and In the aisles was
covered with the mattresses upon which whole
families slept, while the young ladies and gen.
tlemen stretched themselves upon the pews.
The church authorities had taken care to make
everything as comfortable as possible, not for
getting that warm FIRE was Indispensable.
During the evening the immigrants were visi-
ted bv a large number of the ehurch-going
lolored people, who brought large baskets Of
provisions and came with encouraging speeches
to cheer their new acquaintance. The church
was tightly packed until bedtime with con-
slant stream of colored humanity, who, with
CURIOUS, BUT FRIENDLY
eyes viewed their brethren from the South.