The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-11
THE FOUNDER OF LIBERIA

nority, but they formed one of the ele- ments in the Liberian agitation.
 By act of Congress on March B. 1S19 the President was empowered to create an agency in Africa for the purpose of pro- viding an asylum for such Africans as should be liberated by our ships of war from vessels seized for violation of the law suppressing the traffic in slaves.
 The government decided to send out the ship of war Cyane and the transport Elizabeth with mechanics and laborers unGer two agents for the purpose of breaking ground for the reception of lib- er9ted slaves. On January 8, 1920, having previously been in the service of the colonization society. Bacon received from President Monroe the commission making him the head of the proposed expedi- ton.
 Thirty-nine families, comprehending SS individuals of both sexes and varying ages, made up the company designated hv the society for the pioneer work of establishing settlement Bacon, before departing, wrote that he had little hope of seeing any of his family again.
 The expedition started from the North river, near the Battery. Great crowds collected as the time for the authorization drew near and would have pressed to the river bank, off which lay the Elizabeth, waiting for the min ister and his followers. Fearing catastrophe. if this were permitted. Ra con, by a ruse, allowed his party to board the vessel unknown to the pop ulace, meanwhile exhorting them to re- strain the curiosity aroused by the most unusual expedition of the day
 Another agent, John F. Bankson, was associated with Bacon In the manage ment of the expedition for the govern ment while Dr. Samuel A. Crozer a ph ysician, represented the colonization society. On February 6, 1920, the Eliz- abeth cleared port. After encounter ing two storms, one of which threat ened the expedition with disaster and caused the vessel to spring a leak only with difficulty checked, she entered her ob jective port, the harbor of Free town, on March g, 1S20
 Great difficulty was experienced in finding not only a place of settlement, but even one of debarkation. The nego- tiations were with one Kizzel, an Af rican of some power the coast, who owned a small settlement on the island of Sherbro. Arrangements were made to take up a temporary occupation of part of his land, pending negotiations with the natives, which Klzzel prom ised to further for permanent tract
 A species of African fever appeared among the members of the little band of settlers Soon 25 of the party were brought down with it. crozer. the only medical man in the party, was taken i'll and died, leaving the party without a physician.
 The fever was of bilious nature, attended by delirium. Breaking under the labors he had assumed, Bacon pres ently discovered symptoms of the mai ady in himself. Briefer and briefer en- tries in the journal that he faithfully kept traced its progress from then on
 The enthusiast had gone forth prepared to die. Not long before his death he wrote home: 'Is 1t asked, do l yet say 'colonize Africa?' I reply yes. l count ed the cost of engaging in this service before I left America. I came to these shores to die; and anything better than death Is better than 1 expect"
 A man of great physical strength and a veteran officer of the war of 1872, Ba- con resisted the ravages of the fever longer than others had. In the hope that the American invalds might be saved the captain of q small English vessel on the coast was besought to transfer them to Sierra Leone. He refused to carry any others, but agreed to take Bacon
 It was arranged that Bacon should board this vessel the following morning. He was rowed out to where it lay, only to see its crew weigh anchor, make sail and put off, evidently repenting the bar gain to take him along.
 For a mile Bacons rowboat tried to overhaul the vessel, which was proceed ing under a sluggish breeze The eHort was watched from her deck; more sail was set and further pursuit made futile. Bacon. in dying state and unable to return, found asylum in the home Of Capt William Randle. superintendent or an English coast station neaf by Al most robbed of the power of speech by the violence of his fever, he accepted gratefully the care of the superintend- ent's family. But the remedies they ad- ministered had come too late to save him. He died few days after reaching this shelter.
 Bankson and others of the party sur