The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-08-29
THE NEGRO CoLoNIsT.
what President L.amedo Has to Say
About the Trouble.


The, Two Republics of the CITY O
Mexico prints the following statement O.
the Tlahaulilio Colony company, and i
is doubtless correct:
The initial shipment of negro labo,
arrived in Tlahualilo about one year ago.
said Mr.. Llamedo. 1T was composed o.
about 60 co.onists with the families
They proved themselves to be thorough
and expert cotton planters and all-arounG
agricuaturist hands. In justice to then
IT must be said that they have proved
themselves thoroughly competent in theil
avocations. and are the only ones tina,
remain on the plantations since the
exodus began few weeks since. The
hrst batch of colonists We're brought in
through the fundamentally of a Mr.
Eiils. a colored man holding a conces-
SION from the Mexican government for
tne introduction of 10000 negroes from
the United States, and it was under the
provisions Of this grant that the blacks
We're taken to Nahualilo. However
Ellls ayarice in accommodating a fortune
eoodler imam was reasonable to suppose
prompted him to make large consign-
inents OIL labor to the Tlahualilo. The re-
SUIT was that instead of acquiring skilled
respect to the first consignment boot
blacks and other undesirable elements
We're shipped by the wholesale TO
the, plantation, which as was NAT
urai 10 suppose, was not very pro-
pltlous place for them. Coupled with
this fact the first source of real trouble
made its appearance in the form of n dis
ease that caused an enlargement of the
Knee among the negroes, the malady in
varlably resulting fatally. Instigated as
II by one mind, so settlers signified their
intentions to return to their Southern
MONIES IN the United States, and nothing
wVuid deter them from their intentions.
AS the district which they were colo
Mzlng was at a considerable distance from
the railroad track and there were no
intermediate villages, instead of striking
out 10 the north they headed for the west.
which Is entirely devoid of vegetation
ana every conceivable semblance of ciyili-
cation, desert as it were. The result
was thai before Mr. Fargas. our admin
lstrator could proceed to their rescue
amply supplied with provisions and water
four had already persisted from starva-
uon., This band of fleeing negroes was
overhauled by Mr. Fargas and five
hiVNVS, WIN were neuVlly arm
ed, after days of incessant travelling.
The negroes thinking that Mr.. Fargas
had overtaken them for the purpose of
compelling them to return to the planta-
tion assailed the party of rescuers with
knives. The attack was finally brought
to a finish through the mozos iassoing a
number of the colonists, a proceeding that
seemingly had the effect of filling them
with awe. The negroes were thereupon
brought back to the plantation whence
they were instructed as to the points of
the compass and allowed to depart well
provided with rations and water.
Then followed a series of inconveni-
ences and drawbacks that created dis
cord among the remainder of the colonists
who followed the footsteps of the first
band, resulting in the almost complete
abandonment Of Tlahualilo.
"The experiment has cost the COM
pany 100000, and unless the cotton they
planted, covering an area of $4,000
acres can be successfully picked, the con-
Germ will lose large sum.
"The negroes will all be shipped back
to their homes in the United States at the
expense of the company.