The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-15
. PROMOTER IN ABYSSINIA.
The Only Negro Who Ever Invaded
Wall Street Holds a Business Inter-
view With the King Of Abyssinia.
(From the Worlds work.)

view With the King Of Abyssinia.
(From the Worlds Work.)
"And, now, may God bless you and
bring you and yours safe in health and
peace to your home. and also con re-
| turn you to me and my court"
Thus ended the farewell letter OF
| Menelik IL, king of Abyssinia, to Will
liam II. Ellis. a promoter of Wall
| street. New York. who visited Abys
sinia three months ago.
Mr.. Ellis went to see Menelik as he
would dash away to look at planta-
tions in Mexico or mines in Arizona,
because there seemed to be a field thera
for profit. Abyssinia looked prohis-
ing. The country needed a bank. a
mint. more railroads, and many otner
things. So Mr.. Ellis packed up pans
for the First National Bank of Ahys-
sinia. a specimen coins STRUCK of for
a circulating medium. filled notebooks
with commercial statistics. ordered a
$500 Mexican saddle made of elaD-
crate workmanship, and had jew
el-studdied revolvers and cunning me
chanical devices built to order as pres
ents for the African king. Thus equip
ed. he marched on h stronghold OF
Menelik with a caravan 200 strong. He
returned, announcing that the expedi-
IlOu Hdu LII many ways DcCh We
worth while.
This American promoter has been
known for several as the only
negro who ever invaded Wall street.
His elaborate suite of offices is in the
Drexel building, just above the Offices
of J. P. Morgan & Company. He was
born in a cabin on a little Texas farm.
and as a boy worked on the angeS of
the OConnor Brothers, the foremost
cattle kings" of the Southwest
Later employment with a leather n
hide merchant of San Antonio o him
on business trips into Mexico. At that
time cotton W of Texas were
selling almoS no product in Mexico,
because they were timid about pay
ments and credit across the border.
Yet the price of cotton in Mexico was
almost double that of the home mar
ket. Ellis was able to sell cotton in
Mexico and to secure pay for it. anc
I'm that way laid aside a tidy sum o.
several thousand dollars.
After several ventures OF varying
fortune, this indomitable negro became
a real-estate operator. Eight years
ago he came to New York as a broke
AS business agent of the estate of
Hotchkiss, who invented the Hotchkiss
gun and as president of the New York
& Winchester Water Company, which
the Ramapo Company of past notOrI-
ETY. once attempted to acquire. he has
been involved since then in important
business enterprises.
The Abyssinian project is not a fan
ciful one. Another will be sent out
this year. The first began with i
meeting between Ellis and Prince Ras
Makonnen in London at the time of
the coronation of King Edward. The
Abyssinian became interested in the
intelligent and aggressive promoter. a
man of his own colore who talked big
things in a big way. The American
was invited to visit the kingdom and
meet Menelik. He began to investigate
the commercial possibility of such a
visit. He found that the United States
manufacture 120 articles for which 4
demand existed or might be created in
the most enlightened and progressive
territory OF Africa. He went to Abys-
sinia accordingly to study details.
He invaded the country like n great
man come to confer with a brother.
The news OF the intended journey Of
Consul General Skinner. who followed
Mr. Ellis into Abyssinia. caused him
to hasten his expedition. I'm order that
he might gain prestige by arriving first
arriving after the official visitor.
King Menelik received the promoter
with unusual cordially as the first
dark-skinned pilgrim who. coming In
him from white civilization. could talk
learnedly Of their common descent
from the glorious line Of the monarchs
OF Ethiopia. The two men became
friends and the promoter unfolded his
plans for advancing civilization among
the Abyssinians. He found two own
together exporting nearly $4,000 Goa
worth of goods a year n importing
81, 600, 600 worth. The meagre currency
in use wa sthe minted dollar Of Maria
Theresa, a relic of the eighteenth ren-
fury. Commonly bales of cloth and
bags Of salt are used for currency.
Mr.. Ellis found the telephone in use
extensively in Abyssinfa. The invite
ton for his first audience with the
king reached him in the form of The
following note from a court Official.
Dear Sir-I am advised by telephone
from the palace that his majesty will
receive you today at four o'clock If
your health will permit you to CO."
The letter Of farewell contained also
the following passage. which express
the friendship and esteem inspired of
this meeting:
Peace be with you. AS in love and
friendship o have come from Amer
lea to visit me and my kingdom, and
how earnestly you Ave told me how
all nations already live in love and
peace and independence. with which
spirit l heartily agree. And you have
old me Of the greatness and ~grandness
Of your kingdom. and how it loves
Christianity and independence.
For all this truth I and my chiefs and
subjects thank you. So that
country and me we will accept yolI in
love. Our aims are one-Cnristiautty
and independence"
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