St. Landry democrat., 1879-12-13
OF for AassSRS.
a<OTHrE BATCH OF nELUDED BLACK
ES ROUTE FOR THE LAND OF
BLEAK PRAIRIES, SNOW,
WIND AND STARVATION.
Fna!!;ss tTc1Gs) Herald. j

The tide ct coorcd emigration that is
rolling into Kansas at present from TINS
State is very large. They are gong
bv the hundreds to land where q great
many must die of cold OF hunger thus
winter. Nearly every train that goes
north carries lot OF them. SO far they
have been coming from the southern
counties, but the movement is spreading,
and is beginning to be felt in this sec
tiOn OF the State.
Thursday evening 2S2 of these deluded
people, hailing from Walker and San
IacInto counties, arrived at the Union
depot, having come over the Texas and
Pacific road. They had Il pile Of plum
der with them, W hlch was dumped IN a
mass on the platform. a large percen-
tage of then. were women and chlldren,
and they were but poorly clad. Inc
men were not q thrifty-lookins set by
any means, but the entire party appeared
to be infatuated with the idea OF gong
to Kansas.
They were rather reticent when asked
the cause Of their leaving the State,
and had evidently been drilled to eVade
all such questions. Someot them, now"
ever. would venture q few remarks
wien their companions would tell them
that they we're talking too much,'
which invariably hushcd the speaker
The entire crowd was, to all appearal..
ces, in charge OF a co!ored man named
Martin, who comes from Kansas; but
there was white man who, though ne
kept himself in tho background, was
the leader.
A Herald and Commercial reporter at
tempted to interview them, but they
positively declined, remarklng that tiit
colored folks were going to hansa;
sinply because they thought they could
do better there than here. This wa:
ali that could be gotten out of them. The
reporter circulated among the smaller
frv. however, and succeeded in learning
that the white man who accompanied
them and Martin had come from Kansas
as representatives of the government
and advised them to 20 to Kansas, wileit
they would be cared for by the govern
ment until they could establisli homes
They said that these men told them tla
they would be given hundred acres o
land each. These men, they SAID. iiat
showed them that they really did no
have any rights here, and assured then
that they would have them in Kansas
They had Just about money enough II
carry them to their destination, whlchl
fifty miles this side OF Topeka. Among
the number were several very old ant
infirm men. The women and children
were, for the most part, clad IN sl'mme
clothing. There will be large crowd
to follow them in q week or so. They
resumed their journey OIL the north
bound passenger train over the Central
Beside the above number, twenty
three canvased wagons, literally loadet
down with blacks, passed through
Thursday. They were from Washing
ton and tho surrounding counties, un'
bound for most any palt of Kansas tina
suited their fancy. They were a; more
!, thrifty looking set than that which wen
by rail. Seeing IN old colore1 MAJ
, walking along with his wagons, the re
, porter asked him il he belonged to tn
party. "No, sab. boss. bless my soul
| don't. When dis niggah emigrates from
: Texas be wants it to he to heaben, wha
, de angels walk dem golden streets.