Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-03-13
Worse Than Siberia
AWFUL PICTURE DRAWN By WHITE SLAVES
IN A WEST VIRGINIA CAMP.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
Seven Bohemlaus who were sent from
an employment agency in Greenwich
street to labor on the railroad near Po-
cahoutas coal mines, in Vest Virginia,
have written a letter to a Bohemian
newspaper in this city that is like a
chapter from the Blacklist records OF
slavery. They arrived, with immigrants
of several other nationaltes, at Elkton,
w. Va in the latter part of November un
der the impression that they were TO re-
ceiye 81. 20 a day and an allowance of s.
month for board. They signed a paper
which was not read to them, but which
bound them, they afterward found oit, to
servitude.
1--WE were put on train at Norfolk
after our arrival from New York;" the
letter reads, land taken to Pocahontas.-
After leaving the train we were told that
we would have to travel oae day on foot
aud that we would have to leave our
trunks behind Instead of travelling one
day, we travelled three. Tho cold was
severe, and most of our shoes gave way
so we we're almost barefooted. At Pc
cahontas, we were joined by two young
men who rode mules and were heavily
armed. The agent carried pistol in hi;
hand. They compelled us at the point o.
their weapons to wade through icy water
Those WHO objected were hit On the heat
What happened to us after we reached
our destination is so dreadful that it may
seem incredible to you. We are helpless
here, as we are watched and guarded like
prisoners. We did not get our trunks I'M
| ill month after we got here, and oul
bodies were covered with vermin. The
food is always the same-bitter black
coffee and bacon three times "a day.
Whether man is Ill or not it makes nc
difference to our masters. He must 60 to
work, and when he is not able to work he
is fogged until he is black and blue, and
told that he has slgned the contract and
must abide by it. We have received no
money, and when we ask for it we are
told that we owe $15 for railroad fare and
81 for board. At the store we are charged
double for what we get, so that some OF
as bave debts amounting to S35. Our
labor is in vain, hard as it is; we are
hungry, and our nights are sleepless be-
cause of the cold and dirt. We eat break
fast at IN the morning and go immedi-
ately to our WORK, which goes far into the
night.
1.-TWO men tried to escape on January
18th. One was Russian Jew and the
other a Pole. They were caught and
brought back. For punishment they
were compelled to wade in water mp to
their waists, and draw large boats after
them. After this their coats were taken
of, and they were whipped until they
bagged on their knees for mercy. At
night they were chained together so they
could not escape. When we asked about
our trunks and received an unsatisiac-
tory answer we refused TO work. We
were confronted with pistols, and told
that We would be shot down like dogs IN
less VIC resumed work.
ave have been sold like slaves. Is
there no help OF, if we could flee from
here aud save others from similar fate !!
Perhaps this letter may be published. and
through Providence, we may yet be saved.
We sign ourselves, very respectfully,
civilian HOFFMAN,
JOSEPH LANCER,
81. LANCER,
81. p. MAKER,
"MIKE HRANYo,
"J. NRAZ,
81. GERRY.
"Our address is ElkhOrn, Mcdowell
county, West Va, care OF ). Bowel, Pur-
cells Camp (No. ~"
The Roanoke Times prints a refutatlon
of the charges made of cruelty to Hun
ga1ian laborers by contractors on the
Ohio extension of the Norfolk and Yves
tern Railroad. The investigation shows
exactly the contrary from what has been
charged. The men are well paid for the
class of work they do, and fare as well as
the average laborer anywhere.