Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1882-07-25


assigned To each bondman certain
portion of the sugar-canc field, which
was to constitute days work. When
the sun sank in the west Ratzborn found
that he had, despite his willing applica-
ton, accomplished but one-half of his
task, and when the Kanaka recalled
him from his work to drive him to his
lodging he was informed that that par
ticular day ) work counted but for one
half of a contract day, and brought on
ly proportionate amount of pay. Ar
irving at the sheds which served them
as resting-placcs for the night, they
were given their evening meal. consist
ing of piece of salt fish and "poy,'
after which they were left to themselves
to compare their present cheerless and
hopeless lot with the pleasanter memo
ries of the past. The same routine was
gone through with from day to day.
The Kanaka ovcrscers, however, grew
more cxacting as time went on. They
used their fists and their boots on those
who did not do their work quickly and
well enough, and within few weeks
the new arrivals discovered that they
were the slaves of brutal and exacting
masters. Their food consisted of salt
meat and salt fish and ''poy' on six
days of the week. Fresh beef was Civ
en- TO them once a week. but vegetables
never. During the sixteen months.
Ratzborn and Anderson remained in
servitude they tasted potatoes four
times. As time wore on their condition
grew worse. At the end of the month
few received more than 50 rs the re-
suit of their labors, and, although they
had worked every day with the eXcep-
ton of Sunday, and many had been
kept at their allotted tasks until mid
night, the three years of the contract
were credited with one-quarter and
never with more than one-half month
Prolonged privation and the absence
Of the most common necessaries of life
induced sickness. Many of the men
had families, and the children and
wives. were the first to sicken. When
these men insisted on remaining at
their huts in order to nurse their sick
families, they were not only docked in
their pay, but the miserable food to
which they and their families were en-
titled to under their contract was denied
them. There was no doctor on the plan
tation, and the sick had to march six
miles into the town of Hilo where the
physician resided. This mans name
was Kittredge, and az he was a partner
with Hitchcock in the plantation, the
patients found little mercy before him.
Early in his term of servitude Ratzborn
was directed to assist in the building of
q tlume, where he had to stand in wa
ter up to his neck during the entire day
On the following day he protested that
his health would suffer from such work
He made a show of refusing To work,
for which he was fined SO. Soon after
on attempting to rise one morning he
fell back upon the planks which formed
his bed. The Kanaka overscer came
to him and ordered him to rise and 90
to work. Ratzborn protested that he
had the fever, when the Kanaka ordered
him to 60 into town for the doctor.
When Ratzborn said that he did not
have the strength to walk SO many miles
over the hills he was removed from his
bunk by force, taken before Justice
of the peace, and by him sentenced TO
forty days imprisonment in the Hilo
Jail. The jailer, however, was more
merciful than his Kanaka taskmaster,
for, seeing that his prisoner was sick,
he brought him physician, procured
him medicine and a mattress, and. after
II severe spell of sickness, the slave left
his prison well man once more.
Ratzborn reciteS several instances
of cruelty committed on the defcnceess
NorSemen. 1t was common sight to
see their eyes blackened and bruised
and their bodies marked from the kicks
of the overSeers. The Norwegian con-
sui paid no heed to their complaints,
and anyone who dared to demand his