The Portland daily press., 1885-05-26
ABUSE OF LABORERS.
A nissisaippian's Experience in Guate-
maIa-Hard Work, Hi Usage and OPP
preston.

VIcKsBuRG, Miss, May 25.-James Early AN
intelligent young Mississippian, about 25 years
of age, who formerly resided at BstesVille.
Miss, where he was deputy sheriff, returned
to his home here few days ago, from Guate-
mala, where he had been induced to go last
summer, by labor agents and seductive adver-
tisements. In an interview last night ne said:
left Vicksburg in September last to 60 to Puerto
Barrios, Republic of Guatdmala, to work for
os Guatemala City Railroad. landed there Oct.
17th In the rainy season. and went to work grading
track; ;s .; graded up 5 to Jan: 2Sd when went
was hired for this work at New Orleans where we
met man by the name of Parker, who had an
Office on Front street, near Clausman. He was
labor agent for Shay Cornice & Co. In company
with 169 others signed contract to work at 81
per day: We we're 10 pay SO for transportation out
of our first pay, and we were to pay $3.50 week
for board upon arrival at the place of the work.
We sailed on the steamer Ella Knight. We landed
in the night while it was raining. The next day we
put up poles and covered them with menacia leaves
and these shelters constituted abodes. 1t con-
tinued 10 rain for about two months. We were not
allowed to stop for the rain, but keep on working
iu the mud and slush. was soon taken down with
the fever, which would leave very weak the
next day. When the fever was on me could not
eat but the following day always had a ravenous
appetite. They issued meal tickets to the workmen
and we could get nothing to eat without ticket.
The day after L was sick went to the timekeeper
who gave out meal tickets, and asked him for q
ticket. He said "You did rot work yesterday; we
feed none here but those who work. Get out of
unable to work, and had to go to the thickets and
get some fruit to stay my hunger until could re-
cuperate enough to work. After had worked %
days, and had done $11.90 worth OF station work,
l asked the timekeeper how Stood He told me
that my passage was $3.50, that my board was
$3.50 per week, and that 1 was then indebted to
the company $1.60. 1 told him thought he was
mistaken, and asked him for an itemized account.
He said, 81 will give you an itemized statement"
and turning to drawer he took out pistol and
pointing it at me said, ~ will give you an itemized
account with this
Soon afterward. in company with six Others we
escaped in a small sail boat in the night and made
our way to Belize, British Honduras. From there
were sent home in the same ship we went over
OF the 100 who went over with me there were
not more than 80 left when escaped. For time
they died at the rate of or per day. Two COM
panions of mine died, and they were stripped Of
their clothing and buried without cofius In the
mud, and within hour 1 saw their clothing dig
played at the commissary department. for sale and
saw some disposed of on account to some of the
men. The men who were unable to work and not
sick in bed were forced by soldiers to go to work.
and when the works if they refused to work they
we're arrested on trivial charge and placed in
the stocks. Very few Americans were put in the
stocks. but Germans were often thus punished. My
feet have been swollen ever since / worked in the
rain last fall, and do not think will regain
my health. / did not get dime or stitch of
clothing for my work.