The sun., 1897-12-01
SOUTH CAROLINA SLAVES.
Philadelphia Man Tells Of Their
Horrible Suferings.
THEY ARE HUNTED BY DOGS.
Fugitives From Slavery and STAR
walton Escape Through
Swamps Swarming
With Snakes.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 3O-IIarry c. Ed
wards, the only one Of the four Philadel-
phians shipped to the phosphate mines
of Johns Islands, near Charleston, $. G.,
who succeeded in escaping and in reach
ing this city, arrived here today. He
brings with him story OF alleged brutal
treatment at the mines and of thrilling
escape from what he calls "white
slavery"
Edwards declares that on November 4
he, together with Edward Quinn, Archie
Hines and James Sheppard, all OF this
city, were shipped by all employment
agency to Johns Island. They were
told that their fare was to be $S, and that
it was to be taken out of their wages,
which would amount to between $l2 and
Sl5 week. The agent states that, al
though he shipped the men, he did so
believing they were to be treated as he
represented to them they would be.
When we got to Johns Island, which
is sixteen miles from Charleston, said
Edwards, we were met by a lot of color
ed men, who said, Don't go over there;
they'll beat and starve you. But we an
swered, Well, Wen find out those things
for ourselves.
We did. Johns Island is really not
an island at all, for u little railroad runs
to it through neck OF land from the
mainland As soon as we got there we
were told that our fare was SIG, and
that board was to be 81 week.
Our wages amounted to sixty cents q
day. We had to dig the rocky phos-
phate all day long, working in ditch
eight and one-half feet wide, sixteen feet
long and from six to ten feet deep. Our
beds were on the ground, with a covering
made of an old quilt stuck on the top Of
four poles. We got cornmeal crackers
and cheese to cat, and instead Of getting
money for working, merely got an order
for food Armed guards with Winchcs-
tiers watched us, and there were four big
dogs, with great spotted hides, to keep
us at the mines. There were tiity-eight
men of us, most of them Italians, Huns
and Poles.
"Io stay there was to die, and so got
up a plan to make a break and get away.
The manager of the mines belongs in
this city. He carries on the work by
contract. On the l2th Of this month, as
he was leading us to the mines from our
sleeping quarters, gave the signal, and
the four of us all made break for the
swamp. The guards came after us and
the dogs, too. Hines and Sheppard
were caught and dragged back, and the
poor fellows are there yet 1t is for their
sake that l make the story public.
"We lay in the swamp from four
o'clock in the afternoon until six O'Clock
the next evening. In tramping about in
the water and mud, often up to our
waists, we came across the cabin of an
old colored woman, and after giving her
every cent we had and all our tobacco
she supplied us with little cornmeal
and roast sweet potatoes.
ut was awful tramping about in the
swamp. We were wet all the time. 1t was
dismal and we stepped into snakes right
and left. The weather was quite chilly,
however, and the snakes were dormant
and did us no harm. The guards were
on the little railroad and we could not
come out on it, SO we tramped about
thirteen miles through the swamp and
then got out on the roads, walking all the
way to Savannah, 1O1 miles. Along the
route people fed us here and there, when
we told our story, and we occasionally
got rides on freight trains. On one OF
these rides, at a place called Denmark,
Quinn fell under the train and had a leg
cut off. He is now in hospital down
South.
"At Savannah the Mayor and others
interested themselves in me and supplied
me with food and lodging. United
States Commissioner Lewis, of Savannah,
took new pair OF shoes from his feet
and gave them to me. In those shoes /
have tramped more than 200 miles.
"From Savannah | resumed my tramp
and got as far as Columbia. There adj
ditional assistance was given and | finally
reached Lynchburg, Va, from where |
came by train, being supplied with a pa.
by railroad agent"
Edwards exhibited several letters
signed by the Mayors of Savannah, Col
umbia and other cities, setting forth that
his case was one worthy of aid.
Lady MilliaS Diving,