The Red Cloud chief., 1885-06-05
WORSE THAN
Hosng Men From This CosssSy Eatiee1 -
Gsutemaia and Inhumsnly Treated.

Ho0nG Men From This CovnsSy Entiee0 -
Gsatemaia and Iuhumsnly Treated.
vIcxsBuRo, MISS, May ce.-James Ear
lev, IN intelligent young MississippiaA.
twenty-five years OF age. who formerly re
sided q, Batcsville where he was for . long
time Deputy Sheriff, returned . few days
ago from Guatemala. where he bad been In
duced 10 60 by labor agents seductive
advertisements last summer. In an inter
view las; night the young man said: Il left
Vicksburg In September last 70 go TO
Puerto BarYios. In the Republic OF Guase-
mala to work for Shay. Cornhce & Co.. on
the Puerto arrics & Guatemala City Rail
way. I landed there October % in the
rainy season and went 10 work grading the
track and laboring up to january % when
vent with the iron gang and worked there
ill February. At New Orleans l met .
man named Parker who had an ofice q
Front street. near Clausnian,
WHO WAS 4 LABoi: AGENT
for Shay. Cornice Il Co. In company with
100 others, l signed q contract TO work az
So per day. We were to pay 80 t~ranspor'a-
ton out OF Our first pay and were TO pay
$50 per week board upon our arrival at
work. We sailed On the steamer Ella
knight. When we landed, we were put
ashore In the night, while it was raining,
and had no camp or place to go into. In
the rain, the next day, we put up some
poles O. forks and covered them with mena-
| cia leaves. and these constituted our sl.el-
ter. II continued 10 rain for about two
months. 1t would rain for an hour and
then the sun would come out hot on us.
We were not allowed IN stop for rain, but
kept on in mud and slush. l was sOoD
taken with fevers, which would lay me up
for a day and leave me very weak tho
next day. When the fever was on me
l could not eat, but the following day ! al
ways had a ravenous appetite. They issued
meal tickets tO the wofkmen when meals
were ready, and we could get nothing u
eat without a ticket. / wen. to the time
keeper who gave out the meal tickets and
asked for . ticket. lie looked over the lis:
! Of those who had worked the day previous
md said, You did not work Yesterday
10 / was sick l answered. Well, said
he, we feed no one here except those who
work. Get out OF here and 20 TO work aud
We will feed YOU was unabis TO go 10
work and / had to 20 ~ the thickets and
get soIMe fruit to stay my hunger until |
could rccuperate enough 10 go 70 work. l
worked twenty-five days and had done
gil. 90 worth Of station work the days When
I wa
UNABLE TO L IN A Pull. DAY..
Y --. A. at-Al-A. A"l a.l-aUl hsO
hox | stood when he told that my passage
was $3.50; that my board Was $3.50 per
week: and that l was then indebted TO the
company SI.5O. l told him / thought he
Was mistaken and asked him for all item.
lied statement. He said 4 will give you
an itemized statement Then turning TO a
drawer he took out q pistol and presenting
it to me said 4 will give You an itemized
account, with this / soon afterward in
company with six others procured "A small
sail boat and in the night we escaped and
made orr way to Belize. British Honduras.
From there We were sent hOine in the
same ship we went over in. OF the l69
who went over with me there were
not more than ninety left when l escaped.
For a time they died At the rate Of seven o.
eight a day. Two companions OF mine died
aud were stripped of their clothing and
buried without collins in a nude state, aud
within an hour / saw their clothing dis
played in the cOmmisSary for sale. Men
VINO were unable to work and not sick in
bed were forced by soldiers 20 go 20 work.
and when on the works il they refused to
labor they were arrested OF some trivial
charge and placed in stocks. Very
FEW AMERICANS WE'RE PLACEDIN STOCKS,
but Germans were often thus punished.
A number of men ran away and attempted
10 escape. but they had charges put against
them and the bare-footed soldiers arrested
them as conyicts and brought them back.
when heavy fines were put against them in
every case. Soma of the men appealed 10
Il. Sarg. American Consul at Livingston.
lbout thine miles from where we were M
work. lie said he could do nothing for us.
The Consul at British Honduras. in company
With some ladies, heard Of our condition
and he came over Ia see for himself. After
yards he reported the matter, and the Uni.
al States man-Of-w Swaiara went over
md brought the Americans away. l had
eft, however, before th,ir arrival. and only
card this from some of the boys who came
,ver on her and who are now on charity in
New Orleans. Ny feet have been swollen
.ver since l worked In the rain last fall. and
; do not think 1 will ever regain my health.
did not get = dime or a stitch Of clothing
or my WORK while there"