Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-05-26
WHITE SLAVES.
TELLS OF MOST BRUTAL TREATMENT
At the Hands of the Railroad Contract
ors-..Cases That Should be
Looked Into.
TALE OF A YOUNG MIssIssIPPlAh.

vlcEsBrRc, Mss, May 25-James Early,
an intelligent young Mississippiau Of about
25 years Of age, who formerly resided ..
Batesville, Miss, where he for long time
was Deputy Sheriff. returned few days
since from Guatemala, where he had been
induced to 20 b. labsr agents and seductive
advertisements last summer. In an inter-
view last night he said; left Vicksburg in
September last 10 90 to Puertos Barrios Re-
public OF Guatemala, to work for Messs.
Shay, Cornice & Co., on the Puertos Barrios
and Guatemala City railroad. landed there
October u, in the rainy season, and went 10
work grading track and graded up to Janu.
ary 2Sd, when went with the iron gang and
worked there till February. AT New Or
leans met a man by the name Of Parker,
who had an o1ice on Front street, near
Clausman, who was the labor agent for
Shay, Cornice 4 Co. In company with l69
Others signed contract to work at $2 per
day. We were 70 pay - transportation out
OF our first pay Ind We were TO pay $40
per week for board upon our arrival at the
work. We saikd on the steamer Ella
knight When we landed we were put ashore
in the night while it was raining and had
no camps or place to go into. In the rain
next day we put up some poles on forks, aud
covered them with menacca leaves, and
these constituted our shelter. 1t continued
to rain for aboui two months. II would rain
for an hour, and the sun would come out
hot on US: We were no, allowed TO stop for
the rain, but kept on in the mud and slush.
| was soon
Taken with Fever
which would 10y me up for day and leave
fever was on me could not eat, but the
following day always had q ravenous
appetite. They issued meal tickets to the
workmen when the meals were ready, aud
we could get nothing TO eat without .
ticket. The day after was first sick ]
went TO the timekeeper, who gave out meal
tickets, and asked him for ticket. He
looked over list Of those who worked the
day previous and said: "You did not work
Yesterday" mo, | was sick well.
said he, I'VE feed no one here but those
who work; get out Of here and 20 to work
and we will feed you."
was unable to work, and had TO 20 10
the thickets and get some fruit to stay my
hunger until could recuperate enough to
20 to work. worked twenty-five days and
had done $ll.90 worth Of station work.
Days when | WAS unable TO put in fall
day went to the timekeeper and asked him
how stood. When he told me my passage
was $3.50; that my board WAS ~ so per
week, and that WAS then indebted TO the
company 81 so, told him thought he
was mistaken, and asked him for an item
lied statement.
Tho Itemiscd Account.
lie said: Il will give you an itemized state.
ment." Then turning TO drawer be took
out a pistol, and presenting il at me, said:
Il will give you an itemized account with
this" soon afterwards, IN company with
six 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. Ofthe 1863 who went over with me
there were not more than 30 when ] &C.
capped. For time they died at the rate Of
seven to eight day. Two companions OF
mine died, and they were stripped Of theis
clothing and
Buried without Cofins
in q nude state, and within an hour | saw
their clothing displayed in the com aissary
for sale and saw the same disposed Of on
account 10 some OF the men. Men who
were unable to work and not sick in bed
we're forced by soldiers 10 90 TO work, and
when on the works il they refused 10 work.
they we're arrested on some trivial chargS
ard placed in the stocks. Very few Amer
cans we're put in the stocks, but the Ger
mans were often thus punished. A number
Of the men ran away aud attempted 70 cs-
cape, but they had charges put against
them, and the barefooted soldiers ufes.ed
Them as convicts and brought them back,
when heavy fines were put against
them in every instance. Some OF
the men appealed 10 Mr.. Ssrg, the Amer
lean Consul at Livingston, about nine miles
from where we were at work. lie said he
coold do nothing for US. The Consul 1t
Briith Honduras, in company with some
ladies, heard OF our condition, and he came
over to see 70, himself. Afterwards be re-
ported the matter ard the United States
man-of.war SwAiara vent over and brought
the Americans away. ] had left, however,
before the arrival. and only heard this from
some Of the bows Who came over on her and
who are now in ,he Charity Hospital in New
Orleans. Ny feat have been swollen ever
since worked in the rain last fall, and do
no, think will ever regain my healh.
l. NJ