San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-09-06
ONLY A FEW RETURNED
GILBERT ISLANDERS ENTICBD A.
WAY AND STARVED.
Thought They We're Going to Paradise,
But in Reality We're Going Into
Slavery.
By Special Wire to Sunday Light.

|
San Francisco, Sept. 5.-The bark
Helen w. Almy bore a pathetic tale
when she sailed in through the Gold
en- Gate. She brought the news that
of the $50 Gilbert Islanders inveigled
to go to Guatemala in 1892, to labor
on the plantation of Eugene Disable,
under contract for four years, only
pa were now alive. OF these but 272
were returned to their native land,
the Island of Butaritari, the majority
of them broken down in health. The
others, % in number, found it to be
their inclination to remain in Central
America. This ends the infamous
| Guatemalan slave deal of 1892.
The details of the "blackbirding" eX-
petition are still fresh in the minds of
the American public. 1t was conceived
by Capt. Blackburn, of the Montser-
rat, who two years ago, met death at
sea. Knowing there was a big de-
mand for cheap labor to clear land
for coffee planting in Guatemala, he
conferred with Disable, a large land
holder in the Central American, re-
public, who was much taken with the
idea of profiting off the ignorance of
the dusky islanders, and authorized
Blackburn to contract with 1000 of
them, agreeing to pay Sc a month for
the labor of the men and $4 month
for the labor of the women, besides
finding their food, for a term of four
years. Blackburn's task was an easy
one. He first won the two kings who
reign in the Gilbert Islands over to
his side, and their Endorsement of his
scheme made it acceptable in the eyes
of the natives. There was a perfect
rush of the latter to sign contracts to
go anywhere and do any kind of la
Dor at any price Blackburn would
name. Stories of new sights they
would see in a land so much more
advanced than theirs were circulated
about, and so enthusiastic did the is
landers become who had signed away
their liberty that they could hardly
wait until the day when they would
be put away over the sea, while those
who had failed to secure foreign con-
tracts felt that they were unfortunate
in having missed grand opportunity.
Four hundred of the islanders who
were to experience, hardships I'm,
known among the slaves of the south
of this country before the civil war,
left their native homes on the Monser-
rat; 220 of them were carried on the
bark Helen w. Almy, and go were
borne on the brig Tahiti. The Mon
serrat and Almy landed their cargoes
safely at San Jose de Guatemala, but
the Tahiti, while lying off the port
awaiting signals to land from the Mon
serrat, was struck by gale that cap
sized her, and every soul ON board
was drowned, including Captain Er,
ricson and his crew.
The $40 islanders who got ashore
alive entered upon the life of the
slave in all essentials. They worked
long hours under driving masters, were
fed on the commonest food, not al
ways in sufficient quantity, and were
taxed heavily for everything they en-
joyed above the most meager fare.
AS before stated, but 254 of them pos
sessed the constitutions which ena.
bled them to cling to life through the
four years of their servitude. Many
died of fever, while others were work
ed to death. The survivors, when
theri time had expired, had no savings
ings. The 200 day wage that was
paid the males, and the 13c which
the females received for their drudg-
cry had proved barely enough to keep
them free from debt.
The Almy was chartered to return
the laborers who lived through this
four years of hardship to the Gilbert
Islands. Some of them We're picked
up at San Jose de Guatemala and the
others at San Benito. All expressed
themselves as heartily sick of the Del
Monte plantation Of Eugene Disable
and the transports of joy into which
the freed slaves were thrown by the
sight Of the shores of Butaritari and
their friends and relatives awaiting
them there brought tears to the eyes
Of more than one of the Almy's able
seamen.
DIDSnuUD