The record-union., 1895-08-12
NEGRO CoLoNIsrs IN MEx1Co.
OficIai Statement of the Troubles in
the Tlahuililo District.

Of1ciai Statement of the Troubles in
the Tlahuiiilo District.
ST. LOUIS (Mo.), Aug. IA report
from the City OF Mexico says: By request
of the American Legation OF this Capital,
Juan Lamedo, President of the Tlahuilio
Agricultural and Colonization Company,
has made the first complete statement OF
an official nature regarding the troubles
of his company with the large shipments
of negroes made into Mexico from the
United states. The declaration hss been
dispatched TO the Department OF state aE
Washington. and is as follows:
The initial shipment OF negro labor
arrived in IIahuililo about one year ago.
and was composed Of about sixty colo
nists with their families. They proved
themselves TO be thorough and expert
cotton planter sand all around agrlcuit-
uralist hands. III justice 10 them, il must
be said that they have proved them-
selves thoroughly competent in their
work, and are the only ones that remain
on the plantation since the exodus began
q few weeks since.
THE first batch of oolonists were
brought iii through the insLrumentality
OF Mr.. Ellis. a colCred man, holding a
concession from the Mexican Govern
mont for the introduction of > 900 negroes
the provisions OF this grant that the
blacks were taken to Tlahulilo. The re-
suit was that instead of acquiring skilled
cotton planters, as wGs the case With re-
spect to the first consignment, bootblacks
and other undesirable clements we're
shipped by the wholesale TO the planta-
ton, which, aS was natural TO suppose,
was not very prosperous for them.
Coupled with this fact, the source Of
real trouble made its appearance in tho
form OF disease that caused an enlarge
ment of the knee among the negroes
The malady Invariably resulted fatally.
Instigated as il by one mind, fifty settlers
slgnitied their intentions 20 return to
their Southern homes in the United
States. aud nothing would deter them.
The district where they were colon
lied was at considerable distance froIu
the railway, there being no inter-
mediate villages. Instead OF striking out
to the north they headed for the west,
which is entirely devoid of vegetation
aud every sembIance of civilization,
desert as it we're. The result was that be-
fore Mr.. Fargas, our administrator, could
proceed to their rescue, amply supplied
with pro DIVISIONS and water, four had per-
iShed from starvation.
This band OF fleeing negroes was over
hauled by Mr.. targas and five mounted
Mozos, who were heavily armed. After
;,
thinking that MIR. Fargas had overtaken
them for the purpose of compelling them
to return to the plantation, assailed the
party Of rescuers with knives. The at
tack was finally brought to a finish
through the Mozos lassoing number OF
the coionists, q proceeding that seemingly
had the effect OF filling tnem with awe.
The negroes were thereupon brought
back to the plantation, instructed as to
the points of the compass and allowed to
depart, well provisioped.
Then followed a series of incenve-
niences and wbacks that created dis
cord among the remainder of the colo
nists, many OF whom followed the foot
steps of the first band, resulting in the
almost complete abandonment of Tiahui-
lilo. The experiment has cost the COM
pany $500. .000 and unless the cotton they
planted. covering ar area OF $4,000 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 expense of the COM
pany."