The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-01-24
HOMEsICK AUNTIE YOUNG.
IN LIBERIA. SHE
APPEALS 10 HER OLD MASTER.
An Episode Of the EXOdns Of ISIS
Money Forwarded 10 MOnrOvia 4"
Bring the old Negroes and her
Party Rack TO Georgia. so.. "a
New York Sun.


no
New York Sun.
On July 26, 1877, 1000 South Carroll
ma negroes assembled at Hampstead
Hall, in Charleston, TO celebrate the
independence of Liberia. The meet
ing was addressed by the Rev. b. f:
Porter, colored preacher, who talked
about Liberian emigration. "We are
asked,n he said, chow are you going
to Africa? How will you get there?
Why, there are upward of 10000 of
our race in South Carolina alone, 30
600 of whom are able to pay down $40
each, and if they do this we shall have
n capital of $30O,O00 to begin with,
and can thereby have ship ready to
sail by the 18th of next November"
The project of buying u ship in
which to sail to the coast of Africa had
been previously talked of, and vague
rumors as to the undertaking had
spread among the negroes OF the
South. What Dominic Porter said
was repeated with unconscious yet
material alterations in the negro
novels in South Carolina, North Caro-
lima, Georgia, Alabama, and more
distant States, until it took the form
of an announcement that on NoVenl-
her Is. a ship would sail from Charles
ton for Liberia.
When the Government of Wade
Hampton went into effect in South
Carolina, the colored folk were told
and many of them believed, that they
were TO be made slaves again unless
they fled. Their advisers told them
that Africa was their refuge, ana the
idea of great exodus possessed them;
When they found themselves sui
free, though the Hampton Govern
ment had been in existence for mohths,
the colored churches took up the cry.
The Rev, r. H. Cain "Colored
Congressman Cain"-kept standing
at the head of his editorial columns IN
the Missionary Record an article
STYLED, "Ho! for AfricaW One mil
lion Men Wanted for Africa! The
excitement awakened by these meth
DDS existed over Il great portion OF
the South; and negroes Went To
Charleston, bag and baggage, from
long distances, 50 as to make sure OF
getting aboard of the ship that they
thought was going to sail for the
promised land on the 18th of NoVem-
hcr Letters came from all parts OF
the South, asking about the eXpedl-
tion. These evidences of earnestness
led to the formation of the Liberlall
Exodus Association in the fall OF 1871
the purchase Of the clipper-bui!t sail
ing vessel Azor, and the sailing OF the
shin with some three hundred negroes
ON board in the course of the following
spring.
Among those who went out i'll the
Azor was Auntie Eliza Young, Wht
had been slave on the plantation o.
Major w. A. Wilkins, near Waynes'
boro, Ga, With her was considera-
bic brood of younger and some oidel
colored folk from the immediate vicin
ity, who had been living in the
manner i'm which nearly all of the ne
groes lived after the war-in.their nuts
on the plantations on which they were
born. Major Wilkins, who was edu'
Gated as a lawyer, and was one OF tht
largest shareholders of Georgia, trleo
to persuade the negroes to stay ON THE
old Plantation, but without success
They were all excitement over the
prospects held out to them to induce
them to Join the exodus.
The voyage of the Azor was not
happy one. After almost infinite sur
ferine on the part of the passengers
who were crowded in the Storage
the hills or the promised land were
sighted. Some of the negroes had
died and their bodies had been east
into the sea. Many others were SICK
and in no condition to begin panniles'
the work of getting living IN
strange land. Nearly all of them
were destitute of money. An episode
of the voyage was taking the health
of the passengers out of the hands o
a colored physician who administered
to a patient sick with measles i
dose consisting of cootfee with an,infu
sion of ginger, DOvers powder, an'
Friar's bals sam. The next day IN
patient was dropped over the rail lnt'
the sea, There were several births j
the course of the voyage. When Tn
hills of Sierra Leone came in sight tn
negroes were wild with JOY. IN
Azor ran into the harbor of Freetowl
and was lowed to Monrovin by tn
English mail steamship. ...
More than year passed, and thel
Major Wilkins got letter from
Auntie Young. 1t was filled witt
regrets that she had left the planta
ton on which she was born. !
pictured her condition in patheti
terms; it said that if she could one
more see her old home she would b
content to die; but she had no hope
ever getting together money enough
) to bring her back. Measured by he
experience in the sailing ship AZol
the Journey was an almost endles
one. When he received her letter
! Major wilkins wrote as follows to al
old friend of his, one of the firm of w
) G. Browning & Co. of this city:
WAYNEsboRO, GA, Dec. 8, 1879
Mr. Andrew T. Anderson,
DEAR SIR: Enclosed find m,
check for three hundred and fifty dol
lars. which please invest in eX
change on Liberia, and send 1t t
Eliza Young, MonrOvia, Liberia. i
is for her and others to come bacl
home. A year or so ago there was
move from this part of the country II
that direction. These people are sic!
of the move, and if they get bacl
their experience will deter the others
This money will bring them to NcI
York, and | will send you money t
pay their way from New York here
, Pardon me for troubling you will
, such matter; it is out of my line
, But | did not know any other way
My best wishes for your business sue
, cess. sincerely your lrlend'
w. A. WILKINS.
Exchange Oh Liberia is not obtaina
bic, but Mr.. Anderson bought eX
change on Brown Bros. Of London
| whose paper is current thc.world over
The bill ofexchange was enclosed il
: brief note, telling from whom ]
: was, and addressed to ELIZA Young
Morrovio, Liberia" 1t was sent il
the English mail in time to reacl
London before the sailing of the mai
steamer that goes south OH the 9th O
= each month, and touches at MOnrovia
, On the following day Mr.. Anderson
wrote to Major wilkins, telling hin
how his request had been carried on
,, and adding, loosely at was the frs
/, letter | ever wrote to woman il
, Africa
If there has been no delay in finding
I A.. ,,roror ,.aoipiont nf a Letter adj