St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-26
SHAMEFULLY MISUSED
James Early of Mississippi Tells Story
Of Gross Inhumanity and
Suffering.
Enticed to Guatemala by Seductive
Advertisements Offering
Good Wages,
He Was Forced to Work While Ill,
Left Without Food and Never
Paid For Labor.
EarbarOus Treat nent.

VICKSBURG, Miss, May 25.-James
Early, an intelligent young Mississippian of
about % years of age, who formerly resided
at Batesville, Miss, where he was long
time deputy sheriff, returned a few DAYS
since from Guatemala where he had been
induced to go by labor agents and seductive
advertisements last summer. He says he
left VickSburg in September last to 90 to
PuertOs Barrios, republic of Guatemala, to
work for Messrs. Shay, Cornice & Co.. on
the PuertoS BaTios & Guatemala CITY rail-
road. He says: cat New Orleans in
company with 1863 others | signed a con-
tract to work at 81 per day. We were to
pay SO transportation out of our first pay,
and we were to pay $3.50 per week for
board upon our arrival at the work. When
we landed we were put ashore in the
night while it was raining and we
had no camps or place to go out
of the rain. The next day we put up some
poles on forks and covered them with me-
nacca leaves, and that constituted Our shell
ter 1t continued to rain for about two
months 1t would rain for an hour and
then the sun would come out hot We were
not allowed to stop for the rain, but kept
Oh in the mud and slush. l was soon
TAKEN WITH FEVER.
which would lay me up for day and leave
me very weak the next. When the fever
was on me | could not eat, but the follow
ing day l always hada ravenous appetite
They issued meal tickets to the working
men when the meals were ready, and we
could get nothing to eat without it. The
day after l was first sick | went to the time
keeper, who gave out meal tickets. and
asked him for ticket, He looked over a
list of those who worked the day previous,
and said ''You did not work Yesterday
''No, was sick"
"Well." said he, 1--WE feed no one here
but those who work. Get out OF here and
go to work and we will feed YOU" l was
unable to work and l had to go to the
thickets and get some fruit to stay my hum
ger until | could recuperate enough to 60 to
work. [ worked twenty-five days and had
done S11.90 worth OF station work on
days when [ was unable to put in full
day. | went to the time keeper and asked
him how [ stood. He told me that my pas
sage was $3.50, that my board was $3.50
a week, and that [ was then
INDEBTED TO THE COMPANY
S1.5O. told him I thought he was mis-
taken, and asked him for an itemized
itemized statement. Then turning to a
drawer he took out pistol and presenting
it to me said I will give you an itemized
account with this l soon af-
forwards, in company with sig
others, procured small sail boat, and in
the night we escaped and made our way to
Belize, British Honduras. From there we
were sent home in the same ship we
went over in. OF the 1859 who went over
with me there were not more than 80 left
when escaped, and for a timesthey died at
the rate of seven OF eight a day. Two
companions of mine died, and they were
stripped of their clothing. and buried with
out collins in nude state, and within an
hour l saw their clothing displayed in the
commissary for sale, and saw.the same dis
posed of on account to some. of the men.
Men who were unable to work and not sicl:
in bed were forced by soldiers tog0to work,
and when ON the work if they
REFUSED TO WORK
they were arrested on some trivial charge
! and placed in the stocks. Very few Amer
leans were put in the stocks, but the Ger
mans were often thus punished. A
number of the men ran away and at
tempted to escape. but they had charges put
against them and the soldiers arrested them
as convicts and brought them back. Heavy
fines were putagainst them in every in
Std1CG dllll SOlIlt Ol lllc fltu dpp6alGU W
Mr.. Sarge, the American consul at living
stOn, about ten miles from where we were
at work. He said he could donothing for
us. The consul at British Honduras, in
company with some ladies, heard Of our
condition and he came over-to see for him
: self. He reported the matter and the
United States man of-war Swatara went
sover and brought the Americans away. [
ehad left, however, before the arrival, and
onlyheard this from some ofsthe boys who
came over'on her, and who are, NOW iirthe
charity hospital in New Orleans. Edo not
think will ever regain my health. Ibid
not get dime or astitch of clothing for my
WOrkrwh lille there"