The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-30
THE NEGROES IN MExIco.
hofflpie >ufferings of the Deluded Coli
onists-Iseturning Home.

onists-iieturning Home.
~: Louis. July "a special 10 the Re
pgolic from Cludad Pornrio Dlaz. aIex!co
says. one hundred and seveaty negro
eoionists arrived this morning from Mex
leo IN box car. Quarantine officers have
isolated them in cars under guard. where
they VIII be held until all danger is past
Consul Sparks has wired FOR more rafions.
as several hundred more are expected 10
arrive OF the 700 who passed through
Torreon last February 20 make their
fortunes through the aid OF a COLOMBIA
ton company. Nearly 400 az them
starved. half NAKED and diseased. have
been campsd for the past few days near
Torreon Another such miserable. hun
CRY. barefooted lot would be hard 20 find
They tell a pltiful story Of deception.
They were assured that the place was en-
a railroad: that each would have a good
house TO live In, FIVE acres OF land TO culti-
vate their own vegetables. etc. and plen-
~ OF game. and all were given a blank
contract which was 10 guarantee them
half the crop OF sixty acres which each
was 10 take care OF, nifty in cotton and
ten In corn.
After they arrived they vainly tried to
get the contracts signed. but IL seems the
contracts were never signed or fulfilled.
The houses were miserable adObes. The
water was vile. and filled many with a
species of malaria and swelling Of the
limbs The death rate averaged five
week. and nearly a hundred died. owing
10 the water and lack OF medicine and
medical attention. Finally the negroes
were told that the company said they. the
negroes. had no interest In the crop, bur
that the company would pay them ~
cents a day. This was done for about
two weeks. when II was cut Go 81 cents a
day II they were sick they received
nothing and. If what they say is true.
many are crying for something TO eat,
The manager about this time. 1t Is
alleged told them the company had brok-
en- his contract. and ne could do nothing
and advised them TO git This. after
planting and raising one OF the finest
crops of cotton ever grown In the state Of
Durango They left. Many Of them had
to sell all their personal effects. They
were received with sympathy by the pop
uIation OF rorreon. and the sick We're at
tended 10 and the hungry fed while there
Many could have secured work but for the
unfortunate appearance Of the scourge
The patients are expected 10 recover. and
the Mexican international railway Is haul
ing them free 10 this place.
Washington city. July 2e.-Thanks 20
the good offices of T. NJ Johnson. general
manager Of the Mexican Central railroad
the negroes OF the Tahulalila colony who
States from Mexico have been saved from
starvation. United states Consul Sparks
has telegraphed the state department
from Pfedras Negras. Mexico, that Mr.
johnson is feeding these negroes AT his
own expense and that all Is going Well
now. The Eagle Pass officials have quar-
antiued forty-slx Of the negroes at that
toint. where the consul had landed them
TWENTY-FIVE of them are sick IN Mexico
with smallpox, eight seriously. ard the
local Mexican authorities there have be
enr,,e alarmed and declare they cannot
tax, care of them any longer The mem
hers Of the marty who are not sick. mum
harins, In were expected 70 reach PtefiraS
Naeras Yesterday The president has also
,aken stems 10 relieve the distress OF tho
,,oiontsts REGARDING the case as one 81
great emergency, involving the lives or
Ac,eri~au citizens. he has directed that
tha var department issue rations ~ them
a,s instructions were teleEraphed the
military authorities ar san Antonio Tex,
~ forward Immediately $50 rations &c
Trnstaa states Consul Sparks at Piedras
Netsras II Is believed they have alreta,
reached him and are being distributed
=, rouis. July a. A special To Inc Ike
,.,,li,,. from, Eagle Pass. Tex saws. guar
srttna Offcer Evans has declared small
~ has broken eut among the l's neNf"
snlnnists that arrived yesterday from Tor
-, rhcs., negroes were never permit
"a IN -, TO Eagle Pass. hut we're held ou
,he switch in the car in which they came
rhev we're today transported touf t1iivS
above. where they arc quarantlne''-