Morning journal and courier., 1880-08-16
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. STARVING IMMIGRANTS. Experience of Russian Col0nists
 in Brazil. THREE YEARS OF MISERY. Enticed From Home Under False
 Promises. BATTLING WITH STERILE SOIL. Their Small Means Quickly
 Wasted Away.
NEW YORK.

Starving Emisra ants-Wretched Experi- ence of Russian ColOnfsts i'm Brazil 1 Vain Efforts to Get Living from Mother Earth-Their Ranks Dectmate ted 1 by Disease-A Sad Tale of Suffering. l NEW YORK, Aug 15.-Sixty seven Russian | emigrants arrived here Friday from Brazil being all that remained of 33O souls who left Russia early in 1877 to find homes in Brazil I They are mostly natives of the colony of l Graf -Samarisch, Russia, where they were en- gagged in farming. They were induced to ! emigrate by agents who pictured Brazil to | them as paradise where with little labor l they might acquire wealth, and where life had many charms unknown to their wintry cline. l A free choice of the best land was promised l them, and it was also declared that the Bra gillian Government would pay all the expenses of the long and costly journey. On the 28th of January, 1875, they landed in Antonine province, at the port of Barrana, two aged people and thirty-two children having died on the passage from the extreme heat of the climate, so different from their own. They
 had to pay all their expenses, which made serious inroads on the means of some of
 them. After several days they were sent to
 the village of Palmyra, where land was given
 to them and the colonists endeavored with
 energy to make new homes in this wild
 country. The Government gave them seed
 and they planted wheat corn and beans.
 They bought horses and agricultural imple-
 ments with their own money and built
 houses. The sheat, however, was enervating
 and blasting. The seed sprouted, but were
 scorched before they grew more than two
 inches through the parched earth, and all
 their crops failed. Sickness appeared among
 them, and women and children died An
 other attempt to raise food was made, and
 another failure was the result By this time
 the money of the majority of them had been
 exhausted, but a few who had some means
 started back to the coast and managed
 to return to Europe. Being unable to
 grow anything there for food the Bra
 zilian Government was appealed to. They
 were therefore assisted, but many suf- fered greatly, the nations not being sufi- cient for their large families. The colonists remained at Palmyra for year. Then the
 Government selected another spot in the forest less exposed to the heat, where they were conveyed and were once more provided
 with seeds with which to begin over. But the jungle did not take kindly to cultivation and the crops again failed. After six months the poor colonists, number their decreasing under the deadly influence of malaria and of heat, removed to the city of Baranqua. Here the men were employed by the Govern ment in repairing the streets, but they were paid only half milreis per day, which was not sufficient for the support of their fam flies. After weeks of suffering the Government, against their wishes, caused their removal to the village of Para du Batia For five months and eighteen days they struggled along in an effort to make the earth yield them living, but with the same result which attended them at the start. At their urgent request the Brazilian officials then allowed them to go back to Rio, where, after remaining six days longer, they learned with great joy that they were to be sent home. They embarked from Rio July 25th on the Sirius and landed here on Friday afternoon. As the unfortu- nate party sat huddled together in the rotun- da at Castle Garden they presented a woebe- gone aspect, and the story of their suffering was written in their wasted features. Five families are destitute, having not cent to pur- chase food. The remainder by putting their little hoards together, can subsist for ten days or two weeks. They have thrown themselves upon the generosity of the emi- grafton commission and their immediate wants have been provided for. Efforts will now be made to procure them employment after they have recovered from the effects of their hardships. With few exceptions they desire to remain in this country, believing their prospects will be brighter here than if they return to Russia without money Homes in the Northwest will be sought for them. The men are naturally hardy and vigorous, and after they recover their health will be able to work on farms, for which they are well tr aimed.