The morning call., 1894-03-28

under the laws of California, and called
The Central and South American and
Oriental Commercial Company" Among
the gentlemen be talked into the scheme
were the men bers of the real estate firm of
SweetZer. Briggs & Co., who had Offices in
the DOnoh0e building. Mr.. Edmunds was
kind, ne took the whole firm in, and in
cluded many OF its friends, with the under
standing OF course that they had cash.
Frank A. SweetZer was appointed divi-
sion superintendent of Central America,
and Mr.. Briggs was told to look out for
the Aslatie station. Contracts were EN-
tered into with the Consul here of Japan
empowering Edmunds to enter into con-
tract with the planters in the south to de-
liver as many JaDa ese az they wish ed to
pick their coffee on their plantations. a
vrssel-ioad was t. be considered $50 men
and " men, and the company was to re-
ceive from the planters 500 per head for
them. The company in return was TO pay
the japanese 81 per head in japan, aud If
the Government could not keep its con-
tract II was to forfeit $4,000 TO the CON-
pany.
The contracts. therefore, were a GER
taintY, but 10 money was in sight for the
running expenses, and II was necessary
that the division superintendent" should
go to Central America.
Two young Englishmen, Thomas and
HerDert Beyervitt, who were friends Of
SweetZer, were induced to part with about
$500. Both young men had been working
in the interior Of The State and coming 10
this city they had fallen in with Sweater,
who had unfolded to them his brilliant
scheme Of becoming suddenly rich out Of
the modern slave trade.
About this time Ii. Sanderson Edmunds,
the president Of the company. became in
volved in a slight difficulty with the Law
for having too many wives. He had to
leave the transaction of all coolie contract
labor business to his fellow directors.
Mr. SweetZer, however. was equal TO the
occasion. On the 18th of last November
SweetZer. Thomas BeVerVitt and man by
the name of Charlton took passage on the
Pacific Mail steamer City Of Sydney for
San BenitO. Mexico.
Bevervitt and Charlton advanced all the
money necessary for the tickets. and some
S150 for current expenses IN travelling
after their arrival. to SweetZer.
Bevrrvitt and Charlton nave just arrived
from Guatemala by the last mail steamer
and to CALL representative the former
at his house on Sixth street. last night re-
lated his experience.
I'VE soon found cut after we had been
but short time there that Sweetzer was
not acting square with us.
''We went from San Benito the port to
Tapachula. in Southern Mexico. the heart
OF the coffee district. On our arrival we
sent out notices and called a meeting of
coffee-panieTs, and SweetZer laid the
scheme before them, but the only con tract
we could get was one for 10000, which
would not clear the expense of hiring a
steamer to bring the japanese over there
The contracts were all pr nted in Ed
munds' name. and SweeiZer wanted Charl-
ton 10 pass himself off as Edmunds. and
in case we obtained any contracts to forge
his name to them.
'Thls Charlton refused to do and we
had a good deal of dispute over the
matter. The planters there and also in
the northern part of Guatemala had i'm
ported about 1900 South Sea Islanders
from the Gilbert Islands, the time the
steamer Moniserrat, under Captain Black
burn, took them there. and they did not
want any more foreign labor. They were
afraid also that the Japs would not keep
their contract, as previous 10 this they
mad imported a few and they had run
away. saying the wages Of SIS per month
and board themselves were not enough,
ana the contract time, three years, was
too long.
oweetzer got into trouble in Tapachula
oVeI morse with an American negro
calied ben Thompson. As SweetZer had
all the money We had 20 all get ont ON foot
as we conlo, by night. and get over int,
Guatemala. We went to sav.raI nIanes
tneIe I'D tne nciJhern pant of the republic,
10 the coHee district, to get contracts, but
could obtain no encouragement and yvhan
we arrived in San Marcos. ON the Wv n
the capital, SweetZer, who had Ali our
money, deserted US and left word for ne r.
look out for ourselves, and went back in
the interior TO work for a whue man who
was building some houses,
There we were in strange countrv
without money, friends, and far from
nome. andswlthout being able to speak the
language. WIG
Il could get no satisfaction from tho
Government officials to have Swee,zaT
brought back and so / sold what littla
Jewelry had aud my friend and myself
managed 10 get TO Guatemala City. from