New-York tribune., 1901-07-07
PARTY OF sOUTHERNERs ADRIFT.
JUST BACK FROM SOUTH AFRICA, WHERE
THEY HAD GONE WITH CAR
GOES OF MULES

Fifty poor whites" from Louisiana and Texas
have adr1ft in this city for the last two days.
without money and without friends. They tried to
make BOTH but the attempt discouragng
that thirty-fve of them begged the price of ferry
tickets Jersey City and started 'tramping' back
to the South where one can be poor and still have
friends. They reckon" that New-York is a purity
hard row of stumps."
The were landed at the Battery Friday
morning shortly after the British steamer Elerc
reached the harbor from Durham. South Africa
They out mule tenders in British trans
ports that are carrying Texas fed beasts
there. They expected to be sent back 10 New
Orleans, but there steamers ready to sail
for that port. They were bundled on the Elleric
and given a glowing story of what they might ex-
pect IN this city.
"NewYork is the greatest town in the world
the mule contractor told them. and the statement
is true. you live there without working.
which is also true far as some persons are con-
cerned. THE city will provide you with lodgings
and meals. and streetcar tickets 10 the points OF
interest. You have seen the Statue of Lib
erty the Brooklyn Bridge. the skyscrapers. One
does not begin to live until he has New-York.
This is your great chance. and advise you to
take it,
The men decided come TO New-York when the
contractor assured them that the city would give
them railroad tickets back to New-Orleans. They
landed in high spirits. and went to the City Hall
after having duly contemplated the wonders at the
lower end of the island.
"Where those streetcar tickets?" they de-
manded of a clerk in the Mayors office.
What tickets?" asked the clerk. who
spectfu because he thought they good Tam
many voters.
They told us in South Africa that the city gave
visitors free streetcar tickets the sights"
said George Miller. the spokesman for the fifty.
They should have given them to you in South
Africa, them said the clerk. I'VE have
here"
They tried get the Mayor to deal out meal and
bunk tickets. but the city was just out of such
things. They were not discouraged and went after
the president of the borough. and then the Of
fee of the Controller. watchman finally got
them out Of the building by threatening TO put
them to work
did without any noontime meal. Five of them de
oided to become SAILORS and & went of with board
Of them thought of the British Consulate, and the
Their tale Of Woe was quickly % told but the Consul
could do nothing for them They had not been
They saw the sign of the seamen's Free Legal
some kind. and told their hard luck story to Clark
n Abbott George Miller did the telling assist
and George @ o Hey all of WHOM whom come a from ey NeW
Orleans. The others stood around like prisoners
9tis We left New-orleans early early in April on the
sad Smith to @ m 6r trap 10
Durham, South Africa, and were to be brought back
the money Was all spent @ Ra n night h Ut It costs
heap for drinks in Sin in africa Then they persuaded
want you to send us home"
We want to go home!" echoed the crowd.
Mr. Abbott took them to the rooms of the Sea-
mans Friend Society where DR.. Stitt provided
them woth food He offered to get them work. but
the southerners were IN considerable doubt as to
we don't want to work. they finally announced.
I'VE want TO get back down South, where you
don't have TO work.
Friday night they spread newspapers the wet
grass in Battery Park. They stretched their long,
lank frames upon the papers and slept soundly.
Their snores Ike kept the Batter policeman from from
more disgusted than ever, and more anxious
to get home
"If we could only get over to Jersey" they
walled. Then could bum way back to
Louisiana"
There thirty five who were willing leave
here II their ferry fare paid. The money was
raised and a string of tickets handed TO the
leader. They said they expected TO have little
trouble getting to New-Oreans. Half of the partv
will claim be Boer soldiers and tell South Afri-
can stories TO sympathetic housewives The other
half will be Galveston food victims on their way
ba ok the ruined city.