The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-08-21
Lassoed the Negroes.

a City of Mexico special to the
New York Herald, says: By request
of the American Legation of this
capital Juan Lamedo. president of
the Tlahuilio Agricultural and Colo
nization Company, has made the first
complete statement of an official
nature regarding the troubles of his
company with the large shipments
of negroes made in Mexico from the
United States.
The declaration has been dispatch
ed to the Department of State.
Washington, aud it is as follows:
..The initial shipment of negro
labor arrived in Tlahuilio about one
year ago and was composed of about
sixty coloaists with their families
They proved themselves to be thor
ough aud expert cotton planters and
all around agricultural hands. In
Justice to them it must be said that
they have proved themselves thor
oughly competent in their avocatlons,
and are the only ones that remain or
the plantation since the exodus be-
gen a few weeks since.
..The first batch of colonists was
brought in through the instrumen-
tality Of MIR. Ellis. colored man
holding concession from the Mexl-
can government for the introduction
of two thousand negroes from the
United States, and it was under the
provisions Of this grant that the
blacks were taken to TlahuiIio. The
result was &hat instead of acquiring
skilled cotton planters, as was the
case with respect to the first con-
signment, bootblacks and others un-
desirable were shipped by the whole
sale to the plantation, which. as was
natural, was not very prosperous
occupation for them
Occupied with this fact the source
of real trouble made It's appearance
in the form of disease that caused
an engagement of the knee among
the negroes, the malady invariably
resulting fatally. 1nstigated as by
one mind, fifty settlers signifed their
intention to return to their Southern
homes in the United States, and
nothing would deter them. The
district where they were colonized
was at a considerable distance from
the rai!rod, there being no interme-
diate villages
Instead of striking out to the
north, they headed for the west,
which is entirely void of vegetation
and every semblance of civilization
"a desert. as it were The result
vas that before Mr.. Fargus. the ad-
ministrator, could proceed to their
rescue, amply supplied with provis-
ions and water, four had pershed
from starvation
This band of fleeing negroes was
overhauled by Mr. Fargus and five
mounted Mozos, who were heavily
armed, after days of travelling. The
negroes, thinking that Mr.. Fargas
had osertaken them for the purpose
of compelling them to return to the
plantation, assailed the party of res
cuers with knives
1.The attack was finally brought to
a finish through the Mozos lossoing a
number of the colonists, proceeding
that seemingly had the effect Of fill
ing them with awe The negroes
were theyeupon brought back to the
plantation, instructed as to the points
of the compass and allowed to de-
part, we'll provided with ratiops and
water
Then followed series of incon-
veniences and drawbacks that Gre
ated discord among the remainder Of
the colonists, many Of whom tol-
lowed the footsteps of the first band.
1.-The experiment has cost the COM
pany S5OO,000, and unless the cot
ton they planted, covering an area Of
IS. 900 acres, can be successfully pick
ed, the concern will lose large sum
The negroes will be shipped back to
their homes in the United States a.
the expense Of the company.