The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-12
LOST IN A WILDERNESS
Wrong Direction Taken in an
Attempt to Return to
This Country.
DEATHS FROM STARVATION.
A Party of Rescuers Attacked With
Knives by the Famished
Colonists.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Aug. IA special
from the City of Mexico to morning
paper says:
By request of the American legation OF
this capital Juan Lameno, president OF
the Tlahuililo Agricultural and COLOMBIA
ton Company, has made the first COM
plete statement of an official nature re-
garding the troubles of his company with
the large shipments of negroes made into
Mexico from the United States The
declaration has been dispatched to the
Department of State at Washington and is
as follows:
The initial shipment of negro labor ar
rived in Tlahuililo about one year ago and
was composed of about sixty colonists
with their families. They proved them
selves to be thorough and expert cotton
planters and all-around agriculturist
hands. In justice to them it must be said
that they have proved themselves thor
oughly competent in their work, and are
the only ones that remain on the plantation
since the exodus began few weeks since.
The first batch of colonists were brought
in through the instrumentality of Mr..
Ellis, colored man holding a concession
from the Mexican Government for the in
PRODUCTION of 1000 negroes from the United
States. and 1T was under the provisions of
this grant that the blacks were taken to
Tlahuililo. The result was that instead of
acquiring skilled cotton planters, as was
the case with respect to the first consign-
ment, bootbiacks and other undesirable
elements were shipped by the wholesale to
hn rAlo fati H., nj
pose, was not very prosperous for them.
Coupled with this fact, the source of real
trouble made its appearance in the form of
disease that caused an enlargement of
the knee among the negroes, the malady
invariably resulting fatally. Instigated as
if by one mind, fifty settlers signifed their
intentions 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 railroad, there being no interme-
date villages. Instead of striking out for
the north they headed for the west, which
is entirely devoid of vegetation and every
semblance of civilization. The result was
that before Mr.. Fargas, our administrator,
could proceed to their rescue, amply sup
piled with provisions and water, four had
persisted from starvation. This band of
fleeing negroes was overhauled by Mr..
Fargas and five mounted Mozos, who were
heavily armed.
After days of incessant travelling the
negroes, thinking that Mr.. Fargas had
overtaken them for the purpose of COM
polling them to return to the plantation,
assailed the party of rescuers with knives.
The attack was finally brought to finish
through the Mozos lassoing number of
the colonists, proceeding that seemingly
had the effect of filling them with awe.
The negroes were thereupon brought back
to the plantation, instructed as to the
points of the compass and allowed to de-
part, well provided with rations and water.
Then followed series of inconvenience
and drawbacks that created discord among
the remainder of the colonists, many of
whom followed the footsteps of the first
band, resulting in the almost complete
abandonment of Tlahuililo. The expert
ment has cost the company $5O0,000, and
unless the cotton they planted, covering an
area of $1,000 acres, can be successfully
picked, the concern will lose large sum.
The negroes will all be shipped back to
their homes in the United States at the ex-
pense of the company.