The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-05-28
Mexican Securities.
Boston, May 27.--Moxican rs, 55%
scrip, 942l; common, 1915.



VIcKsBURa, May 25.-James Early, an
intelligent young Mlssissippian of about
% years of age, who formerly resided at
Batosvllle, Miss, whore he long time
was deputy sheriff, returned few days
ago from Guatemala, where no had been
induced to go by labor agents and seduc-
tive advertisements last summer, In
an interview last night he said:
~ lett Yicksburg In September last TO
90 Puerto, Bnrrios, republic of Gnate.
mala, to work for Messrs. Shay, Cor
nice & Co., on the Puerto, Barrios and
Guatemala city railway. landed the 0
October q, in the rainy season, and
went TO work grading track,
and grading up to January %, when |
won't with the iron gang and worked
there till February. At New Orleans
met man named Parker, who had an
office on Front street, near Clausman,
who was the labor agent for Shay,
Conioe IL Co. In company with 1859
others signed contract 10 work at 50
por day. We we're to pay 50 Transports
ton out OF our first pay, and we were TO
pay S2 90 per week for board upon our
arrival at the work. We sailed ON the
steamer Ella Knight. Whom we landed
we were put ashore in the night, while
| 1t was raining, aad had no camp or
! place to go into. In the ram the next
| day We put up some poles or forks and
covered thom with menacca leaves, and
these constituted our shelter. IL con.
tinued to rain for about two months. II
would rain for an hour and the sun
would come out hot on us.
WORK, RAIN OR SHINE.
We were not allowed TO stop for the
rain, but kept on in the mud and
slush. was soon taken i'll with To-
yers, which would lay me up for day
and leaYe me very weak the next dAy.
When the tevor was on me could not
eat, but the following day always had
a ravenOus appetite. They issued meal
tickets to tho workmen when the meals
were ready, and we could get nothing
TO eat without ticket. The day after
was first sick / went to the time
keeper, who gave out meal tickets, and
asked him Tor a ticket. he looked
over a listiOt those who worked the dAy
previous and said:
you did not work yesterday"
"NO; / was sick"
but those who work get ont OF horo and
go to work and we win feed you"
was unable TO work, and | had Ia
go To the thickets and get some fruit Ia
stay my hungry until could reouper.
ate enough to 60 to work. worked q
days and had done Sll.90 worth of sta.
ton work. One day When ! was un.
able TO put in a full day / went TO the
time keeper and asked him how stood
when he told me that my passage was
$3.50, that my board was $3.50 Der
week, and that / was then indebted To
the company Sl.50.
PECULIAR ITEMIzED STATEMENT.
/ told him thought he was mistaken
and asked him for an itemized state.
ment. He said: 81 viii give Won an
itemized statement" Then turning 10
a drawer he took out q pistol, and, pre-.
senting 1t at me, said: 81 will give Won
an itemiAed account with this,n
| l soon afterward, In company with
six others, procured q small sail-boat,
and IN tho night we escaped aud made
our way to Belize, British Honduras.
From there we were sent homo In the
Same ship we went over in. OF tho 1863
VINO went over with me, there were not
more than 80 left when | escaped. For
a ume they died ut the rate Of seven OF
eight day. Two companions OF
mine died. and they were
stripped of their clothiug and
buried without collins in nude state,
and within an hour | saw thor clothing
dlsple cd IN the commiesary for sale,
aud saw the same disposed Of on ac-
count To some OF the men, Men who
/ we're unable To work and not sick In bed.
| were forced by soldiers 10 go 10 work
ana when on the works, If thoy refused
to work, they were arrested on some
Trivial charge and placed ia stocks.
| Very few Americans were put IA The
, stocks, but tho Germans were often thus
| punished.
COULDN'T ESCAPE.
| A number of mon ran away and AT.
temped to escape, but they had cbarros
put against them and the barefooted Sol
diers arrested them az conyicts
and brought them back, when
heavy fines were put against
them in every case. Some OF the men
appealed TO Mr.. Sarg, the American
consul at Livingston, about nine miles
from where we were at work. He said
he could do nothing for us. The consul
at British Honduras, In company with
some ladies, heard OF our condition. and
ne came over to see for himself. After
ward no reported the matter and the
| United States man.of-wAr SwatAra
went over and brought the Americans
away. i had left, however, before their
arrival, and only heard this from some
or the boys who came over on her, and
who are now on the charity In New Or
leans. My feet have been swollen ever
since / worked in the rain last fall. and
do not think | win ever regain my
health. l did not get dime or a stitch
OF clothing Tor my work while thora.