Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-04-22
Rad Enough of Liberia.

a lew days sinco returned emig,ant from
LbeiiA passed through our town on his Way to
DAtVile. w., who was subject Of muoh in
terest TO cur colored citizens. We will endeav.
or to give as near as pcss be tt story as told
10 bis own language:
III left DAnville, Va. for NV York Oh the
25h day of Sept, 1876, With my father and
m other who carried with them nine children.
We took passage on the Ell zabeth for Monrovia.
This veSs:l had on board when il Left New
York two hundred coIored people going to
Liberia. The tip was made in 6fiy'thrce days.
aud maty died before reachiug Monrovis. |
think We landed IS. Oae of cur family died
en- the voyage.
After landing We found 90 accommodation
| whatever for us-no place to shelter US and 40.
where to 70. After wandering about for come
time we were forced By the raioy weather to
tske our blankets and tack them up for shelter.
We lived 10 this way comparatively comfortably
for about ton days. wheu all our ra'ions we're ex-
hsusted. After tits great want and distress were
experienced by all. We .st applied to The natives
fur TODD, but they laughed at our misery AID
otjoyed cur misfortune. Then We applied to
to the ship Company and some white Catholics,
who gave ui little food and clolhing. 10 this
Way We begged scauty support oc the first
six weeks after landing; but even this source
tailed u.s. ind We were complied 10 break up
our camp and wander about the country and
search for food and something to do Some
few returned to Aner!cl-a!l did so who had
means to pay their passasG-Whilo many died
from the exposure and want of food. My tath
er aud family landed With only clcveo dollars
which had been erent long before this time.
am tal!or By trade and succeeded 10 getting g
little work in Monrovla, where stayed most oil
tlne. The chief o. ct CT all our family was to
save money sod bliog Us btct to America
ibis was very difficult 10 do. as some of u:
were ss.ck nearly all the time aud wo were
forced TO pay very heavy doors Till:
but alter four years OF great toll and suf-
tetlog We found that We had saved $47O.-
had lost 10 the meantime my father and s
brother, who died and weic buried near Mouro
via. Our family now c>rsisted Of my mother, :
brothers, 5 sisters aud my wife, whom | married
in honrovia Cur fare 10 Charleston. &C. amout
ed TO S93 each, but the b,lshcs of our passage
money was kindly advanced to us by those pas
sengers who were also returning. Before resch
ing New York a fever Of some kind broke ou
Oh board of the vesssl, and I saw nv wifs
buried in the sea. each wrapped in c.nva
bag kept on board for that purpose. Th,
three kind bsnefnctcrs who {, listed Us il
paying Gus passage also died on this trip. Or
reaching New York I was Transferred fol
Charleston, where landed last NJ ondsy two
weeks ngo. and l am now on my way to Dan
| vile, Virginia. the only member of my family
living, on foot, sick, and entirely dependent OF
tho kindness OF those who give me something t.
est and somewhere to sleep. don't ssh fol
to walk to my old h me in Virginia.
suppose you have no cesire 10 return <
Liberia2
"N", sjr: rather than 10 repeat my expert
ence at Monrovia, l say it in all sincerity snt
truth, would prefer living aid dying a slave
or spend the remainder of my days in the Vir
GINA pt nitentiary than to return to that GUS ID
cd land"