The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-13
NrGRO cOLONIsTs ~ lrENICO.
Why They Fled From the Plantations and
Mnrr In--nch In tho Df-rrt.

II
CITY or MEXICO, AUG. I2-At the
request of the American Legation at this
cap.taI. Juan Lamedo. president Of the
Tlahuilno Agricultural and Colonization
COMPANY. mas made the first complete
official statement regarding the troubles
of his company with the negroes sent into
Mexico from the United States. The
statement is as follows.
"1ho initial shipment OF negro labor,
which arrived in Tlahuiiio about one
year ago. was composed of about sixty
colonists. with their families. They
proved themselves 10 be- thorough and
expert colton-p planters and al-around
agricultural hands.
I'm Justice 10 them. IL must bee said
that they have proved themselves thor
oughly competent in their avocations and
are the only ones that remain on the
plantation since the exodus began. few
weeks since. The first batch of colo
nists We're brought in through the IN
strumeutality OF Mr. Ellis. a cOlored
man. holding a concession from the Nexi-
can Government for the Introduction Of
200 negroes from the United states. and
il was under the provisions Of this grant
that the blacks were taken TO TlahuililO.
"The result was That, instead OF ac-
quirlng skilled cotiOn-planters. as was The
case with respect 20 the first consign-
mcnt. bootblacks aud other undesirable
clements. were shipped by the wholesale
10 the plantation. which. as was natural
to suppose. was not a very prosperous oc-
cupati0u for them.
Coupled with this fact the source Of
real trouble made its appearance 300 ihe
form ola disease tharclused AN enlarge
mcnt of the knee among the negroes. ine
maladv uyariaDlc resulting fatally lnsu-
gated as by one mind. fifty settlers size
nined their intentions 20 return 10 their
Southern homes In the United States and
nothing would deter them. The district
where they were coioni2ed was 40 "a con-
siderable distance from the railroad, there
being no intermediate villages. Instead
of striking out for the North. they headed
for the West. which is entirely devoid OF
vegetation. andevery appearance u civil
lizaticn
"The result WIS that before Mr.. Far
gas. our administrator. could proceed 10
their rescue. amply provided with pro-
visions and water. four had perished from
starvation. This band of fleeing negroes
was cycrhauled by MIR. Fargas. and nFe
mounted Mozos. who were heavily armed.
after DAYS of travelling The negroes.
thinking that Mr.. Fargas had overtaken
thcm for the purpose of compelling them
20 return 20 the plantation assailed the
marty OF rescuers with knives. The at
tack was finally brought 20 finish
through the NozOs lassOng a number OF
the c0l0nists-a proceeding that seemingly
had the effect Of filling them with awe.
The negroes We're thcreupon brought back
10 the plantation. instructed as 20 the
points of the compass, and allowed 10
depart. well provided with rau0ns and
water.
"Thon followed a series OF inconvenien-
ces and drawbacks THAI created discofd
among the remainder Of the colonists
many of whom followed tn the footsteps
of the first band resulting in the almost
complete abandonment of Tlahuililo.
'rhe experiment has cost tae company
s-a)rl. and unless the cotton they plant
Cd covering an area OF 5000 acres. can
be successfully picked. the concern VIII
lose "a large sum. The negroes viii bee
shipped back 20 their homes IN the
United States az The expense OF the
I .4fnr4uT."