The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-19
\ FEN. SAMUEL PEARSON, well Z. known In New Orleans as the
 e representative of the Boer gov-


 M representative of the Boer gov- ernment in the city during the South African war, spent yesterday here en route from Mexico to New York, where he intends going on business connected with the colonization of some of his coun- trymen this side of the Atlantic. General Pearson's object in stopping here was merely to visit some of his old friends for few hours and his intention was to proceed to New York last night. This plan was not carried out on account of an invitation from Mayor F. M. Welch of Alexandria to visit the city and the surrounding country.
 Mayor Welch saw General Pearson on the street and extended to him cordial invitation to visit Rapides parish. As he had until the 18th to reach New York, General Pearson consented to pay flying visit to the prosperous Louisiana town. He will go from there to New York, where he will confer with Boer leaders on the colonization plan upon which he has been working.
 General Pearson left New Orleans short ly after peace was declared in South Africa last fall. It was his intention to go direct to South Africa, where he has a family, and where before the war, he had considerable commercial interests. Upon arriving in New York, however, he received an invitation from the officials of the Santa Fe railroad to travel over that system and inspect lands with view to bringing Boer colonies to this country. Applying to the London war office for a passport to South Africa, General Pearson accepted the companys invitation, intending to spend the time waiting for the passport in accommodating facts which might prove of valuable in- terest to such Boers as might wish to come in colonies to the United States.
 General Pearson made the trip over the railroad system and returned to New York. Arriving there, he learned to his disappointment that the British war office
 fused to give him passport to his na- tive land. The reason for the refusal was not given, but 1t may be supposed that the British government was prompted to it's action by the vigorous part taken by General Pearson in this country in his attempt to cripple the British by prevent ing the shipment of mules from this port to South Africa. It will be remembered that General Pearson wrote to President Roosevelt in regard to this matter, ana that the President referred his letter to Governor Heard, who, upon investigation, sided with General Pearson and recom- mended that the shipment of mules be discontinued. His work In this connec- ton attracted the attention or the entire country, and 1t is supposed that this tact was responsible for his being prevented from re-entering South Africa after the British conquest
 When he learned that he could not re- turn home. General Pearson went to Eng land. and then to Holland, where he conferred with the Boer leaders. Last October he returned to America to carry ont plans he had formulated regarding Boer colonization in this country. In New York he conferred with prominent Boers and financial men, with the result that company was formed having for its object the bringing of Boers to America. This company is composed of influential Boers, who expect to be able to bring Boers to this country, and of two large banking concerns of New York, which will fur nish the funds necessary for carrying out the plans.
 After perfecting these preliminaries, General Pearson left New York to look over certain lands thought to be suit able for colonization in Mexico and Texas About the middle of December he went to Tampico, Mexico, and from there ne start ed on January to ride overland north ward over the land which had been offered to the Boers. General Pearson rode about 400 miles to the neighborhood of Pesca- derita. and then over to Victoria, where he boarded the train and started back to New York to make a report of what he saw to the company of Boers and financiers in New York. Together with members of the company he will return about the 2srd inst. to make another in-