The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-21
AFRICA STILL FAR OFF.
ATLANTIS DELUDED BLACKS NOT
YET HOPELESS S, HOWEVER

They Are Suspicious Of the Whites and
Are Keeping Their own Counsel-A
LIE ter From the Secretary Of the
Congo Company Wauamaker May
Get After It.
ATLANTA. Ga, Jan. 20.-The Journal is
In receipt Of q letter from Secretary Clay
ton, of the United States and Congo
National Emigration Steamship Company,
which throws more light on the exodus
movement than any Communication yet
received here. Writing from Washington,
Clayton admits that there is not the
slightest prospect Of the negroes being trans
ported to Africa for 81 apiece, either this
year or next. and he adds that the Congo
company never authorized its agent Peek 70
advertise. The secretary presents the whole
matter in a new and exceedingly far away
light A short quotation from his letter
will serve to show how idiohcAlly prema-
ture was the action Of the 400 strange negroes
now gathered here in leaving their homes,
first selling out bag and baggage. and how
unfortunately remote is the prospect Of
their ever gaining their destination.
THE LITTER
81 never understood that one dollar was
TO pay the absolute passage to Africa says
the secretary. They were to pay 81 as
guarantee of their good intentions, the dol
lar to be accredited to their passage, minus 10
cents for incidental expenses. Judge K ).
Sharin of this city was to receive a subsidy
from the company, or IN other words secure
a subsidy on each dollar put in by applicants
TO cover the remainder Of the passage
money. He was also to receive by subsidy
the $50 600 needed TO starta the scheme.
He was also TO sell the stock of the company
in 500 shares, the money TO go in bank and
TO be used in transporting society members
TO Africa. All the money thus realized is
in bank to-day, as far as am aware. This
is no delusion being prscticed, and just as
soon as the subsidy is raised, or $4,000, the
people will sail.n The writer then goes on
TO insist, what nobody ever doubted, that
the dollars in the meantime are being ex-
ceedingly well taken care Of
THE DELUDED NEGRoES
The crowd Of blacks who have focked
here from all quarters are packed in
crowded cabins In what is known as the
Devils Elbow adjacent to "Hells Half
Acre. In one small tenement alone sixty
negroes are reported TO be Quartered. A
large proportion OF the would-be emigrants
are women and children. Their supplies
are almost exhausted. ard as there seems
not the slightest prospect of their ever get
ting any nearer their destination, the police
of the city look for trouble, and numerous
recruits for the penitentiary camps. Since
coming here the negroes have done nothing
but hang around corners, except Sunday
night, when they got into row at Schel's
hall, their headquarters, and attempted to
mob those who ventured to express distrusJ
Of the African movement.
To-day was the time set for departure,
yet none have left. They have evidently
been instructed by their beguilers not to
talk, and little of what their hopes may be
can be gotten out OF them.
LIABLE TO PROSECUTION.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2O-The action of
the colonization company organized by col
ored men in this city, by which colored
people were promised cheap transportation to
Africa, has been brought to the attention
Of the postoffice department.. The Post
master General has asked the
opinion of Judge Tyner, assistant
attorney general for the department, as to
whether or not the postal laws Of tho United
States have been violated. That officer
upon hasty examination Of the matter ex-
pressed the opinion that some of the parties
engaged in the scheme could be prosecuted
under the statute which forbids the use of
the mails for fraudulent purposes