The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-02-01


LEAVING HOME WITH 500 AND TWO
MULES, HE GOES BACK WITHOUT CENT
Post Dispatch.
One of the passengers who went down
the river on the City of Helena last night
was Alexander Jackson. colored. He has
been to Bleeding Kansas" and is now on
his way back to his home in Mississippi A
reporter happened to meet Alexander on the
boat an hour before she showed off, and had
the pleasure OF quite conversation with
the gentleman. He is more intelligent than
the common run of his people, and said he
could read and write. There were several
other people with him who were also on
their way back home from Kansas.
"When did you go to Kansas ?" asked the
reporter of Alexander.
Last March, sir; and if God forgives me
for this once, I'll never go back"
GLOW did you happen to goY'
"Weil, sir; there came some circulars or
papers into the neighborhood, and got one
and read about Kansas, and just made up
my mind to 60 and see for myself"
"What did the circular sayY
at said that good land could be bought
from the Government at fifteen cents an
acre that they would wait two years for the
the pay that they would build a man a
pretty good cabin to live in till he could
build one of his own; that they would give
man provisions to last his family six
months, and that they would give him two
mules"
"That was splendid
- Uu uv, ga.v,.sire it was, too; but Lord
sir, there was nothing OF the kind"
did you come through st. Louis ?"
Eyes, went through this very town. got
here in boat and was met by a lot of col.
ored fellows on the wharf and they took us
up to church, where was so sick thought
I would die"
Did the eolored folks say Kansas was a
good placer
ooh, yes, sir, they said it was Gods own
country for the poor colored man."
did you have any money or property Y'
Yes, sir, | had 800 in money and two
good mules"
odd the colored fellows here get any Of
your moneyT
"They did when | started out to Kansas.
They took us all down to the river and
strung us along in a line, and when the
boat got ready they yelled out, "Here's the
ship of Zion. Get on board. They asked
me II had any money. | said ! had lit
tie and went to my wife to go get some.
She did not have less change than
FIFTY DOLLAR BILL,
which took and gave to them. They said
"Oh, here's fellow who has got lots of mon.
ey. They did not give me back but SIS Of
"Do you remember any Of their names ="
Zone was named Prentice and | think
another was named Prince. When we
were getting on the boat ready to start |
heard one of them say 10 another one that
he would like to have money enough
to 60 up to Kansas to start eoffin-house
suppose he thought that we would all die
and tell you it was about true, for they
died in Wyandotte like sheep, and there Is
a long row of them buried there now, and
they are put in Just as close together as nv
fingers, with no dirt hardly on them"
! swell, how did you get along in Kansas o
well went out to Topeka, and thew
said all that stutfin the papers got down
at home was lies. | went out in the coun-
try and bought twenty-six acres Of land for
50 an acre, instead OF Is cents. The Gov.
eminent land was all taken by the railroads,
and | bought mine from railroad | lived
there for while, but saw that could not
make snything, The people out there said
1t was a bad place for me. | sold the place
for less than gave for it, and went hack 10
Topeka, where bought lot aud built n
house. | went around and tried to oct
work. They would not pay me but seventy
i've celts a day, and sometimes when | asked
Tor work they looked at me like thew
thought | was crazy. l could not make
living and rented my house for So q
month and went to Wyandotte, worked
while and did pretty weIA but they stole
my mules and ] spent all my money trying
to find them. The people rented my house
70 in Topeka got so they could not pay their
rent, and there | was without ANYTHING. I
Just made up my mind | would Leave and
so back home. DIR. Karga, ths man used
to work for, sent me the money to paw NV
fare, and now tell you have got enough
of Kansas. And know hundred colored
people up there who would go back to Mis-
slssippl If they had the money to psy their
way. When | get back hosae I know I ear
get enough to live Oh, but if l had staid in
Kansas ! believe | would have starved"
Alexander is well satisfied with his little
exodus experience, and his wife seemed to
be In the same state of mind,
-$N@-
Memphis Avalanche