The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-13
PARTY OF souTHERNERs ADRIFr.
From south Africa, Where They Had
Gone with CarSoes of Mules.
From the New York Tribune.

Gone with CarSOes of Mules.
From the New York Tribune
Fifty poor whites" from Louisiana and
Texas have been adrift in this city for the
last two days. without money and with
out friends. They tried to make both,
but the attempt was so discouraging that
thrty-hve OF them begged the price of
ferry tickets to Jersey City and started
| 'tramping" back to the South, where
one can be poor and still have friends.
| They reckon" that New York is ''pur-
! ty hard row of stumps."
The men were landed at the Battery
Friday morning, shortly after the British
steamer Elleric reached the harbor from
Durham, South Africa. They went out
as mule tenders in British transports that
are carrying Texas corn-fed beasts there.
| They expected to be sent back to New
| Orleans. but there were no steamers
ready to sail for that port. They were
bundled on the Elleric and given a glow
ing story of what they might expect in
this city.
New York is the greatest town in the
world" the mule contractor told them,
and the statement is true You can live
there without working" which is also
true, so far as some persons are con-
cerned. THE city will provide you with
lodgings and meals. and street car tickets
to the points of interest. You have never
seen the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn
bridge, the skyscrapers One does not be-
gin to live until he has seen New York.
| This is your chance, and / advise you to
take it,"
The men decided to come to New York
when the contractor assured them THAI
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 won
ders at the lower end of the island.
Where are those street car tickets?'
they demanded OF a clerk in the Mayors
office
What tickets?" asked the clerk, who
was ressectful because he thought they
were good Tammany voters.
They told us in South Africa that the
city gave visitors free street car tickets
to see the sights" said George Miller,
| the spokesman for the fifty.
They should have given them to you
in South Africa, then" said the clerk.
I'VE have none here"
They tried to 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 pres
ident of the borough, and then to the Of
! flee of the controller. Waterman fin
/
threatening to put them to work.
| They found their way back to Battery
Park and did without any noontime meal.
/ Five of them decided 40 become sailors,
! and went off with boarding house keep
| err Then there were forty-five. One of
| them thought of the British consulate,
and the forty-five swooped down on Sir
! Percy Sanderson Their tale of woe was
| quickly told, but the consul could do Moth
ing for them. They had not been dis
| charged from a British vessel at this
port.
| They saw the sign of the Seamen's Free
| Legal Aid Society at No State street.
They wanted aid of some kind; and told
| their hard luck story to Clark Fl. Abbott.
George Miller did the telling. assisted by
| Otto Drigg, f. NJ. Hopkins, Richard Dun
ply and George Holly, all of whom come
| from New Orleans. The others stood
around like prisoners waiting for sem
tence in a police court.
I'VE left New Orleans early in April
on the steamers South America and
Anglo-Australia." said Smith. I'VE were
to get SIS for the trip to Durham, South
Africa, and were to be brought back to
New Orleans We were paid off at Dur
ban. and the money was all spent in a
night. 1t costs heap for drinks in
Africa. Then they persuaded us to come
to New York. instead of New Orleans.
Now we are here and can get nothing to
eat. We want you to send us home"
I'VE want to go homer echoed the
crowd.
Mr. Abbott took them to the rooms OF
the Seaman's Friend Society. where DR..
Sttt provided them with food. He offered
to get them work. but the Southerners
were in considerable doubt as to whether
they wanted to work.
I'VE 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
on the wet grass in Battery Park They
stretched their long. lsnk frames upon
the papers and slept soundly. Their
snores kept the Battery policeman from
snoozing on his beat. Yesterday morning
they were more Disguised than ever. and
more anxious to get home.
"If we could only get over to Jersey"
they walled. Then we could bum our
way back to louisiana"
There were thirty-five who were will
ing to leave here If their ferry fare was
paid. The money was raised, and a string
of tickets was handed to the leader. They
said they expected to have little trouble
getting to New Orleans Half of the
party will claim to be Boer soldiers aud
tell South African stories to sympathetic
housewives The other half will be Gal
weston flood victims on their way back
to the ruined city.