The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-02
THEY PAWN THE DRESSES.
The Sea Island Sufferers Have to be
Paid to Unload Their Supplies.

Salo TO unload Ihelr supplies.
Those who know anything about the
situation are complaining Of the farce of
feeding and clothing the negroes on the
sea Islands of the coast Of South Caro-
lima, who might have been sufferers just
after the storm, but who have had ample
opportunity within the last seven months
to make provision for themselves.
Many Of them could have easily found
employment, it is said, had il not been for
efforts in their behalf, some of which
have had in them more Of fanaticism than
of charity. The efforts in behalf OF the
suffering population there were I'M
doubtedly noble and great deal of good
was accomplished when it was needed.
Some Of the officers Of the revenue cut
tiers, which have been engaged in the
work of carrying supplies 10 these ne
groes, are making complaints about the
manner in which the thing is being kept
up and the way in which it has been con-
Quoted. Most Of the people there have
had ample opportunity TO secure work
somew here, but as long as the supplies
continue to come and they can be fed and
clothed without cost, il is needless to
say that any work can be expected from
the negro.
Among the incidents which may give
peculiar facts. On nearly every occasion
when supplies have been carried over to
the islands and other points where the
rayages of the storm were felt, the
same negroes to whom the supplies were
sent, have absolutely refused to unload
them unless they were paid to do 50.
The officers on the cutters have had to
pay them too, before they could get the
cargo discharged
A lot Of houSa buil la in0 m tarials on1 srv,-
plies for the so-called island sufferers were
carried over to Beaufort last year, where
they remained nearly four months before
they were touched. AS long as the food
and clothing hold out and as long as they
continue to pour in no work will be got
ten out Of the negroes there. The far
mers in that section, it is said, have en-
deavored time and again within the last
two months TO get some of the men on
these islands to 90 to work and
till the soil preparatory to spring
planting. 1t is of little use, however, for
as long as there is living to be had with
out labor, the labor is not forthcoming
Some kind-he8 rted ladies in northern
cities, who have listened to the stories of
the suferings of these people, have sent
them down their cast-Off silk dresses. and
other garments, which those who were
fortunate enough to come in possession of
them Immediately took to the pawn-shop.
There is q nobleness in the charity
which prompted people from all parts of
the country to send supplies to these peo-
pie when their homes were wrecked and
their farms devastated But to keep it
up when the farmers are in need Of labor
and cannot get it because the fine feeding
of the negroes continues, would seem that
they are in ignorance of the true condi-
tions surrounding these people This in
formation comes from a gentleman who
has been to the scene of these distri0u-
tons and who is in position to speak of
the situation as il exists. There may be
some, he says, whose loss was so COM
plete that they are still needy but this
does not warrant TIL distribution of sup
plies among those who are now able TO
make living for themselves Just as soon
as they are put in position where they
will have to work.