The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-05-28
the Guatemala outraxss.

VIcKsBURs, Miss, May 25.-Jamee
Farley, an intelligent young MISSISSIPPI
plan, % years of age, who formerly re-
sided at Batesvllle, Miss, where he for g
long time was deputy sheriff, returned a
few days ago from Guatemala, where he
had been induced to go by labor agents
and seductive advertisements last sum-
mer. In an interview last night he said
81 lett VicksbuFg in September last to 60
TO Puerto Barrios in the republic of
Guatemala, to work for Shay, Cornice &
Co., on the Puerto Barrios and Guate-
mala City railroad, landed there
October %, in the rainy season, and went
70 work grading track and grading up
to January 23d, when / went with
the iron gang and worked there
till February. At New Orleans
1 met man named Parker, who had an
office on Front street, near Cluasman,
who was labor agent for Shay, CornIce
81 Co. In company with 169 others !
signed q contract to work at So Per day.
We were to pay 50 transportation out of
our first pay and were to pay $3.50 per
week for board upon our arrival at the
works. We sailed On the steamer ELLA
knight" When we landed we were put
GoAOAO IA EA1C AlSGS, WLAAG ~ " a. Ao1hAAE
and had no camps or place to go into.
In the rain the next day we put up some
poles and forks and covered them with
menacia leaves and constructed our shell
ter. II continued to rain for about two
n'Snths. 1t would rain tor an hour and
the sun, would come out hot on us. We
were not allowed to stop for
rain but kept on ct work in the mud and
slush. was soon taken with fevers,
which would lay me up for day and
leave me 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 when the meals were ready
and could get nothing to eat without
ticket. ] went to the time keeper who
gave out meal tickets and asked him for
ticket. He looked over the list of those
who worked the day previous and said
you did not work yesterday No;
was SICK Well, SAID he, we feed no
one here but those who work. Get out
OF here and go to work and we will feed
you.' was unable to work and
l had to go to the thickets and get some
fruit to stay my hunger, until could re-
cuperate enough to go to work. work
ed twenty-five days and had done $11.90
worth of station work. On days when
WAS uudDlO 10 put III q lUll Jay WOHI W
the time keeper and asked HIM how
stood, whea he told me that my passage
was $13 so, that my board was $3.50 per
week, and that / was then indebted to
| the company 81 80. told him I
thought he was mistaken and asked him
for an Itemized statement. He said, i
| will give you an tented statement
Then turning to a drawer he took out a
| pistol and presenting it at me said: Il
will give you an itemiZed account with
| this l soon afterwards In company
with six others procured 8 small
sail boat and in the night we escaped
and made our way to Belize, in 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 ninety lett when l
| escaped. For time they died at the
rate OF seven or eight day. Two CON-
panions of mine died and were stripped
OF their clothing and buried without
| collins and in nude STATE, and within
an hour l saw their clothing displayed
tn the cOmmissary for sale and the same
| disposed Of to the account of some OF the
men. Men who were unable to work,
and not sick Ia bed, were forced by
soldiers to go to work and when on the
works, if they refused to work. they were
| arFeSbeu on some Trivial charge hHu
| placed in the stocks. Very few Ameri-
cans were put in the stocks, but Ger.
mans were often thus punished. A
number of men ran away and attempted
to escape, but they had charges put
against them and were bare-footed
Soldiers arrested them as convicts
and brought them back, when heavy
fines were put against them in every
case. Some of the men appealed to Mt
Sarg the American consul at Livingston
about nine miles from where we were al
work. He said he could do nothing fol
US. The. consul at British Honduras
in company with some ladies, heard o
our condition and he came over to set
for himself. Afterwards he reported the
matter and the United States man o.
war "Swatara" went over and brought
the Americans away. 1 had left how
ever before their arrival and only heard
| this from some OF the boys, who came
over on her, and who are now on charity
in New Orlean. My feet have been
swollen ever since | worked in the rain
lasv fall and do not think l will ever
regain my health. did not get dime
or stitch of clothing tor my work
| while there"