The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-26
READY TO GO TO AFRICA.
THE LAURADA TO CARRY $50 PAS
sENGERs TO LIBERIA.

A Train Load With go Western Ne
grOes arrived Last NiEht-AbOut
100 More 10 Join Them-They Are
Seeking a Country where Hard
Times Are Unknown and the
White Man Does Not Rule-Thc
Laurada Expected In This Morn
ing and VIII sail Tomorrow.
VIII Garry Cargo as Well as Pas
SenEers.
The second instaIlment Of Liberian emil
grants arrived in Savannah last night
They came down from Atlanta in spe-
cial train over the Central railroad
There were five coaches and two bag
gage cars. and there appeared to be about
go negroes on the train. The majority
came from the west, Arkansas being
most largely represented. Some were
from Oklahoma and there were a number
from Tennessee and Mississippi. 1t was
dark when the train rolled in and the
emigrants were very quiet. They obeyed
instructions and remained in the cars I'M
til arrangements were made for their ac-
oommodation for the night. Treasurer
Howard of the International Migration
Society, which is engaged in the business
of Transporting the negroes to Liberia,
had arranged with five colored boarding
houses to take care of the negroes until
their transfer to the ship. Each board
ing house accommodated one carload.
A Morning News reporter was at the
depot when the train came in and talked
with several of the negroes. They did
not have much TO say. but seemed thor
oughly well satisfied with their prospects
for the future in Liberia. Times were
hard, they said where they came from
and they wanted to go 70 a country where
they could work for themselves and be
their own bosses. There seemed to be
quite a number from Forest City, Ark.
They left home Sunday afternoon, they
said, and had been travelling steadily
since. They looked tired out with their
long trip, and no doubt were. after riding
fifty hours without a chance to lie down
to sleep The crowd seemed pretty we'll
divided between male and female, and
there were a number of children along.
The steamship Laurada, which is to take
the party TO Liberia, LETT Phllaqelphla
Feb. 20 and passed out of Delaware Break
water Sunday. She is expected to arrive
here this morning. The Laurada is a larger
ship than the Horsa, which carried the
former party, and is said TO be better
equipped. She has accommodations for
over 400 passengers and a large amount
of freight.
d. ]. Flummer, president of the Inter
national Migration Society, arrived here
with tie party last night and will ac-
company the emigrants to Liberia, He
will be accompanied by his private secre-
Moines, Ia and w. X Roberts, a news
paper man of Washington, d. G.
President Blummer said to Morning
News reporter that he expects the Lau-
rada will carry about $50 emigrants. Be
sides those who arrived last night there
are number already here waiting for the
steamer, and there will be quite a party
of Savannah negroes, he said, who will
make the trip.
It was March 10, nearly year ago.
when the Horsa sailed from Savannah
with the first shipload of emigrants for
Liberia sent out by the emigration compa-
ny. Secretary Howard said that there had
been a longer interval between the two
trips than he had expected. but that SAIL
ings will be more frequent hereafter
The society had something over 1000
members then" he said. Now we have
1852, and our numbers are still growing.
We will soon reach 10000 at the present
rate. The society is on a solid founda-
ton. The attacks of those who have an
tagonized US for reasons best known to
themselves have only helped to advertise
II. The people Of Savannah certainly have
no reason 10 antag OniZe IL. zach party Of
emigrants that comes through here leaves
behind IL a large amount Of money This
party viii spend not less than s. 900 with
t4tE AlrANAAa4lAS mere 4NE supplies OIL all
sorts
Messrs. Howard and Flummer were ask
90 about the statements made by DR.. Nc
Kane, the colored physician who left Sa-
Vannah for Liberia several months ago.
and who has recently returned to Savan-
nah with dolOrous story of the hardship
and suffering undergone by the emigrants
who left here on the Horsa. McKane.
they said, left here with the expectation
OF securing a lucrative position in Libe-
ria and becoming prominent man in the
country. He was disappointed in both.
and IS now prejudiced against the coun-
try.
There was a good deal of politics in
Mckane's failure to succeed in Liberia -
said Mr.. Howard, There are two par
ties there, the republicans and the leag-
uers- McKane Joined in with the leaguers
and took an active part in politics When
ms party was defeated the other crowd
made it so hot for him that he had to
leave the country. That is his story in a
nutshell"
''McKane is a native Liberian," said
he went around with me among
the negroes and told them what
a fine country Liberia was, that
he was born and raised there and
knew all about 1t. The negroes were much
impressed with his statements. 1t is rath-
er queer that he should be singing a diff
ferent song now
If the Laurada arrives to-day, as she
DOUBTLESS will, all arrangements will be
made for her departure tomorrow.