The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-02-11
HOW THEY FARE.
A Sentinel Reporter Among the
Negroes from North Carolina.
The Poor Dsluded Radical Tools Shivsring
in Bare Rooms, Over Ashes
and Embers.
The Golden Promises Held out to Them Are
Realized Only in the Imagination.


mile below the Belt railway, huddles over
poverty-stricken fires, which are kindled in
two cook stoves, in couple OF shanties, live
two families of colored people. They are
from North Carolina, and this is the prom
ised land which they have sought and found.
It is not the Eden they anticipated; neither
have they found any of the milk and
honey which they were led to believe
flowed perpetually in this favored cline
Instead, they have found a cold and unsym-
pathetic land, where the keen and biting
blasts of q winter they knew not Of whistles
through the crevlces, and chills their blood
as they shiver around their meager fires A
Sentinel missionary strolled down that way
yesterday, and visited these deluded beings,
and what he saw and learned in one
house will be sufficient to let
the people know how delusive were the
hopes which led the ignorant immigrants 10
leave their cotton fields for the North. A
woolly-headed little imp was standing in
front OF shanty, and on his invitation the
reporter entered. The furniture consisted
of cook stove and wooden box. Around
the cook stove were huddled half a dozen
woolly- pated little ''nigs," while a seventh,
little girl, was sitting on the box, and her
mother q buxom wenCh, stood over her in
the capacity of hair dresser, or, more prop
erly, wool-carder. The mother was comb
ing the little ones wool into minute pig
tails. which she wrapped with twine
until they looked like whip lashes
The reporter was saluted good
naturally by the female head Of the
family, with whom he Immediately entered
into conversation. She informed him her
husband was named John Best, and that he
was out in town searching for work.
How long have you been here?" the man
of mercy asked.
I'VE KUN Christmas"
Where from?'
I'VE libed 10 miles from Goldsboro, y. c."
What did you leave there forr'
"Kase We thought times was better heal"
Couldn't you get work there
1--WE tended cotton dar. Specs you don't
hab no cotton heah?"
NO; no cotton. Couldn't you get paid
for your work thereP
1--WE got paid fur 1t, but wages was drefful
small"
Are you doing any better here?'
NO. sab; we ain't dom muffin, but we
What made you leave there, did you
ssy@'
They? Whom do you mean by 'they'?"
de folks what was gittin' up de meet
ms. Dey tOle US we could all cum
heah fur muffin, an when
we done got heah dey would glib US clothes,
an house, an plenty OBJ work an big
wages
well, did you come here for nothing?'
mo, sab; it cost s. .65 head for me an
my ole man an all de chilluns 'cept desc
three Indicating with her lips the three
youngest) to go from Goldsboro to Washing
tom
ssHow long did you stay in Washington"
1--WE was dare a week. 1t tux all our
money for to get dar. We lowed when we
stsrte1 for to keep our money till we got
heah, but de railroad tux it all"
How did you get here"
''Mr Williams said fur all what had
money for to put 1t in an help pay for dose
what amt got any, an so dat tux all dat any
OBJ 'em had. Mr.. Perry was In Washington,
but he didn't do muffin for u.s."
''If it took all your money to pay fares,
how did you get anything to eat?'
"We" and Just here one little moke tipped
another one over, and the mother, casting q
reproviDg look at him, said, in a tone not
10 be mistaken, 'Chilluns, be still; whar
you done gwine an left 20 Manners
This restored good order, and she con-
tinued:
dat was 1t. We done spent all our money
and couldn't get muffin to eat.
well, have any of the folks who prom
ised you so much done anything for your"
mo, sab. III we ponds on dere promises
specs We perish, shuah."
"Was anything said about voting when
you came?'
''Dey said dey wanted as many to come
az could, SOS dey could beat"
you say they again. Now, whom do you
mean"
DE folks what was gettin' up de meet
ms"
Have you found any work since you
came here?'
my ole man he worked little for Mr..
Larrihum [Larriganl an dat's all"
How long did he work for hlmp'
"Deed, couldn't tel, kase don't know"
What did he do?'
He cut some wood, an / blebe shuck
corn"
The reporter suggested that some of the
children were large enough to 'shuck' corn,
but an ebony faced little scamp said, "Don't
kotch me out in de cold" This brought
another sdmonihon from his mother and
an inquiry as 70 what had become OF his
manners"
How much did your husband mske?"
inquired the reporter.
'"Deed, don't know; neber ak um."
What are you going to do now?"
'"Deed, sab, dunno. II We get something
to eat and keep warm one day. we hopes fur
to find something de mex day / guess we
better of In de country, If we git dar."
Whose house is this and how much rent
do you pay?"
81 dunno, nebber ak my ole man."
Here one OF the youngsters spoke up and
SAID the house belonged TO John Hoefgeus,
which proved to be the fact. The little
fellow also said they we're going to split
some wood for Mr.. Hoefgeus, IN the summer.
Would you have come here II you had
known how matters are here" continued
the reporter.
"'Deed dunno; nebber thought about
dat befo.' but specs we'd stayed dar If we
know. But now We is heah, an guess We
stay"
"Wers the people who induced you to
come white or blsck2''
"Dey was colored. De white folks did Z
want Us for 10 lebe dsr. Dey tole us it no
better here nor dar, but we doan blebe
dem"
Has anyone offered to help you since
you come here7'
1--WE was in de church fur while, an den
de committee glib US something TO eat. But
when we lebe dar we hab to scratch best
way we can"
Were you abused or mistreated in Caro-
sinap'
mo, sab; but wages was low, an we