Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-10-26
NO Use FOR THEM.
Black widows and Orphans Not
Wanted up ia Iowa.


A crowd of negroes, consisting Of
women aud children, occupied a large
place at the north end Of the Plum
street depot platform last evening, and
in their midst an old plantation darby
stood, addressing them earnestly con-
corning their past, present and future.
The gang was an odd looking set, and
attracted the attention of persons who
were waiting the departure of the
south bound $50 Iron Mountain train.
The old colored woman, who said her
naue was Sallie Mccoy, appeared to
be the commander in chief.
What is the natter What are
all these darkies doing here2" asked a
b~ystander OF the laxative Sallie.
well, | tell you mister all bout
dis connection" she replied. you
see dem dar cullud folks standin'
roun' are eoin' to Alabam wild dis
here eullud lady right now. Do you
heah?"
What Are all those children and
women going south? And What for2'
well, lie gwine to tell you. You
see, we went to Davyport, Iva, after de
wsh like a pack Of donkeys, and now
ives goin' back to de good old land
where we was bawn, bless youah
soul"
And what are you going back to
the land you talk about for2"
OATS plain to dis heah lady what
ives goin' back fun. Twas no place
fob de cullud people. Dey calls der,
a parcel of niggas anyhow. Wien
our husbands died from bein' 'sp,osed
to de cold, dey had no use ioaf, desc
childers and widders any noah 4"
Are all these people wid1ws and
orphans2'
Jus SO. People in Iva likes to
get nigga votes, but der 'sylums is not
foah black widders and Orphans"
"Who are all these people?"
My sister-in-law. brudder's chill
dren, grandchildren, neighbors and
neighbors' children. 1t was too cold
10 Iva toh US cDl'ed people, SO we all
come tegedder and concluded to gil
back South as soon as possible; SO you
see heah we IS"
What 90 you propose to do when
you get there?"
go inter dem woods down der and
work, Of course"
What is that woman with that
child in herarms?" the questioner ask
ed, pointing to a young woman not
OATS Matilda, and bless my soul,
she's de best l ebber did see: muffin
cant be said 'gainst dat child, L tell
Arc thore all her children"
No indeed; Matilda has only
Flow long has she been married p
Two years, and dem foah children
ar 9 all hers"
She must be the mother of twins
IN two instances, then, is she nOt2" p
= reckon not. Desc childer were
each born separate and distinct, each
by himself. / don't 'spect | can 'splant
i, but muffin can't be said 'gainst
Matilda, anyhow"
AS has already been stated, there
were about fifty souls in this interest.
ing group Of exodusters. There were
old women, young women, black wo.
men and saddle colore1 women, to-
gether with more than thirty children.
ranging all the way from two to fifteen
years OF age. The most remarkable
CIRCUMSTANCE connected with the old
lady's story was that they were all
widows and orphans. She had no use
for Iowa, and declared that there wa,
a general disposition on the part o.
those Of her race she had left behind
toileave the State as soon as possible
and return to their Southern homes
where they should live more happily
together and enjoy health. Theil
baggage consisted Of a single bed, an
old dilapidated stove, two common
water. buckets and a tea-kettle. Som,
OF the youD ger members of the partl
displayed remarkable intelligence
When they left the Plum-street depo.
they occupied a separate car.