The Washington times., 1894-06-03
THEY WANTED TRANSLATION.
And the Fool Ticket Agent Refused to Give
1t to Them.


And the Fool Ticket Agent Refused to Give
1t to Them.
In 1887 and 1888 there was large emigra-
ton Of negroes, also the poor and ignorant
class of white people, from Alabama and east
Mississippi to Arkansas. These people in
many instances gave up good and comfort
able homes to seek the Eldorado in Arkansas.
They would send ahead in some cases trusty
man to investigate the glowing reports which
were circulated everywhere in the country
east OF the Tombigbee river OF the great ad-
vantages offered for settlers. These handbills
stated transportation would be furnished all
families who were unable TO buy their tickets,
promising everything which the widest imaS-
ination could picture or fancy desire. Free
lands were offered to all who were able to
pay their own expenses. The distribution of
this literature, as can easily be understood,
created a panic among the negroes, and thou
sands left their homes and friends for this land
of promise. Those who were sent out as ad-
vance guards returned with confirmation OF
the Munchausen stories which had been told.
II seemed at one time as if every negro along
the Tombigbee had determined to 20. There
were cases where the poor things sold all they
possessed at any price they could get. Hun
dreds of families sacrificed everything for
tickets to Arkansas.
Some strangs things occurred characteristic
Of the negro which cannot be appreciated ex-
cept by southern people, who have lived
among them all their lives. Among the great
throng which crowded the Illinois Central
station at Aberdeen, Miss, determined TO
move. were families of women and children
whose effects consisted OF old dirty quilts.
pots, skillets, large washtubs (made by saw
ing in half coal-oil barreD, five or six
chickens tied together. several old chests
pronounced chists) without tops, two or
three shuck horse collars, few old trace
chains, a water bucket, and five or six dogs,
with chains around them large enough to
hold an elephant. This plunder was brought
to the depot and thrown on the platform. ali
loose and tunbled together, where 1t would
remain in some cases week or more. or
until the crowd would eat all the rations they
left home with.
A party Of this kind. consisting of o very
old and feeble man, ten women. and thirty or
forty children. all walked into the waiting
room and stood for an hour or so. Finally a
large woman as black as 'Erebus" approached
the ticket window and placed her left elbow
on the casing, her jaw resting on her hand,
and looking up at an angle of sixty degrees,
said:
II wants translation
The agent asked her
"Where 90 you want transportation to?"
Without moving her hand, but casting the
most contemptuous look at the agent, said:
"Where do wants translation"
eyes, said the agent.
''Wal. den, 1 dun wants translation to Kan
sas."
well, there are hundreds of places in
Kansas; what town in Kansas do you want
tickets top
With her heavy brow frowned down, and
an expression which she felt sure would an
initiate the agent. she said:
"What town in Kansas does want tickets?"
eyes" said the agent; ''where do YOU want
to go? must know before 1 can make out a
ticket"
II doan want no ticket. I wants trans
tation.''
VERY well; transportation, then; where do
you want to so tor
II dun told you; We wants to go to Kan
sas.'
"Yes, understand that; but you must
name particular place in Kansas before
can give you transportation.
She threw her head back and shut her eyes,
closed her teeth tightly. drew back her big,
thick lips, and shot stream OF snuff amber
entirely out the door, and with an air OF
gusto dnequaled by any minstrel, yelled out:
"Ar-Kansas."
''Well, there are great many towns in Ar
kansas also" said the agent. DO you not
understand that Kansas and Arkansas are
states. and that there are towns in those
states, like Aberdeen and West Point are
towns in Mississippi?'
She hesitated few minutes and then began
to discuss the matter with her crowd. Finally
she returned to the window and said:
1--WE wants translation to go to the same
place where Uncle Bill went
The agent. seeing it was impossible to sell
the tickets. told her she would have to find
out where she wanted to go before he would
spend any more time with her. She raised
her hands high in the air and said:
''Fokses, haint l done tole you deesh ERE
white folks wanter guine ter give US dat
transtation?'
And with that she marched out with all her
crowd, and resumed their seats on the back
platform of the freight depot.