The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-09
MISSIONARY To
CONGO FREE STATE
REV. L. C. VASS IN SAVANNAH.
LOOKING AFTER NEW VESSEL FOR
CARRYING SUPPLIES.

just q Year Ago the Steamer Sam
ueI LapsIey sank In Congo and
VIII Be Replaced by Larger ves-
seI-AwfuI Slavery by King OF
belgium, Acting by Consent of
Powers-Natives Are Negroes of
Lowest Type.
Rev. l.. c. Vass. late of the Presby-
terrain mission in the Congo Free
state, reached Savannah yesterday
morning, and is the guest OF Rev. DIR.
w. p. McCorkle. In the afternoon he
addressed the Ladies' Missionary So
ciety of the First Presbyterian Church
on the subject of missions.
Mr.. Vass was in command of the
steamboat Samuel Lapsley, which
sank in the Congo river year ago.
The vessel was purchased with money
raised by the Presbyterian children.
The sum of $4,000 has been raised by
the children for new vessel and
while in this country Mr.. Vass will
contract for a new steamer, longer and
broader than the one destroyed. He
will have charge of the fund for the
new vessel.
When the Lapsley sank it carried
with it Rev. Mr.. Slaymker of Alexan-
dria, Va, and twenty-three natives to
watery grave. Mr.. Vass. Mr.. Mar
tin and forty natives were saved
Europeans and Americans cannot
live on the rough food which sufflces
for the natives of the Congo Free
state, and hence require a great deal
of canned goods. There are no beasts
of burden, hence transportation by
water is imperative. BY reason of the
hostility of the government of the
Congo Free state, considerable diff
Guilty is experienced in getting car
goes up the river.
People TrOdden Down.
1.-THE government Is under control of
Leopold, King of Belgium" said Mr..
Vass, having been assigned to him
by agreement of the Powers, including
the United States. The people are trod-
den down and grossly oppressed by
King Leopold, and the missionaries
take sides with the people. This in
censes the government party and ven
geance is visited on the missionaries
in whatever way they dare.
Under the terms of the arrange
ment with Leopold, he was to break UP
the Arabian slave trade. He has re-
placed the system by an organized
slavery that has never been produced
before. They are enslaved on the cof-
fee and rubber plantations.
Forty hours per month was to be
given by each man as a tribute to the
government. Practically they have to
work for thirty days per month, and
get no pay for It.
Negroes of Low Type.
1.-THE natives are negroes of the low
est type, such as were brought over
to this country as slaves. In fact the
mouth of the Congo river was the prin-
cipal shipping point to this country.
Formal protest has been made by
| England regarding the treatment OF
the natives, and only the war in the
! East retards the prompt curbing OF
| Leopold. An Investigation will nc
doubt be made which Is really an inves-
tigation.
1T have been In the Congo state for
| five years, having returned a few
months ago. The climate is malArial
and three years is generally the time
allowed for a continuous stay. One
of the purposes of my visit to this
country is to arrange for the new ves-
sci. which will be nearly three times
the capacity of the old one."
Mr.. Vass will return to Savannah
and will preach Sunday morning al
the First Presbyterian Church, and at
at church to be selected. He will
give a detailed account of his work
and of the conditions in the Congo Free
State. He is a native Of North Caro-
lima.