The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-03-27
TO THE DARK CONTINENT.
the i.miSrants.

SAVANNAH. March 2O.-The steam
ship Horsa. with 200 Liberian emf
grants. sailed from Savannah this af-
tenoon. Five thousand negroes gath
cred on the wharves and cheered the
vessel as it passed down the river
Knots of negroes began gatherln" III
the vicinity of the dock, where the
steamer was lying, early this morning.
The number kept increasing, and at
noon several thousand were packed III
the streets and lanes and covered the
roofs Of the buildings forseveral blocks.
The effort by Rev G.. S. Smith, sec
retary Of the Sunday School Union of
the African Methodist Church. who
has been endeavoring to prevent the
clearance of the vessel, on the ground
that she was nos properly equipped.
failed to accomplish anything The
accommodations of the Horsa COM
piled fully with the law and the vessel
passed a thorough inspection by the
custom officials
Shortly after noon the gates to the
wharf where the emigrants were wait
ing were opened. and the negroes went
aboard. 1t was a curious procession.
ranging in age from the baby in arms.
to the old man tottering on the verge
of the grave. The women came first,
and made strange contrasts. One with
a checked apron and sun bonnet was
followed by jauntily dressed girl of
more tender years, with gaudy plumed
hat and brightribbons. Some carried
valises, others buckets, others tins full
of small articles. After the women
came the men, some with shot suns
and rifles, and others with assorted
luggage. All were sent into the stern
OF the vessel and grouped together in
order that a picture of the vessel might
be taken. The count was 202, of which
80 were children and seven infants.
The clearance papers put the number
at 1877.
Over 400 trunks and boxes were
taken as baggage. In the boxes are
agricultural implements, fire arms,
ammunition, houshold utensils and
supplies, clothing, etc. The party will
probably be the best equipped that has
ever left America for the dark conti-
nent. Since their arrival in Savannah
they have spent probably 81, SCOT So,
900 laying in stores. Tneer majority of
the negroes appear to be still quite well
supplied with money. The is proba-
bly, not a man in the party but who
has sufficient to provide subsistence for
some time after landing in Liberia.
Supplied as they are, there is no dan
ger of this party starving to death or
otherwise suffering if there is any pos
sibility Of making living at all in
the land to which they are going.
When .he vessels lines were cast off
there was cheer from the crowd on
the wharves and the emigrants sang
their parting song: I'm Going Home
to Africa's Shores" The refrain was
taken up by :hose on the shore. The
singing was kept up until the vessel
passed the city the crowds following
along the wharves shouting good-byes.
From the negroes gathered on the
crowded deck Of the steamship came
back answering shouts from men and
women, while the color bearer of the
party, a sturdy negro of small dimen-
sions, violently waved large Ameri-
can flag that will be displayed as the
Horsa enters the harAor of Monrovia.
The Horsa expects to reach Monrovia |
about April l, and afer landing the
emigrants will endeav9r to secure a !
return cargo. The party is accompa-
MED by E. B. Cuttinghan secretary of |
the International Migration Society, !
R. G. Truesdale and J. G. Manchester, |
and w. NJ. Simpson, ageat of the |
charterers. The missionary cause is
represented by four colored ministers,
who 60 provided with funds K build a
church in Monrovia.