New-York tribune., 1922-01-10
African Uplift
Negroes Fail to
Find Their Ship
Their Passage Is Paid for
De Luxe Trip, but Agency
Seems to Exist Only to
Keep Delaying Departure
Prospectus Promised Par
ticipation in tn 9 Political
Renaissance of Ethiopia

Dozens of cultured African Ameri-
.aus who believe in the broadening IN
fuencc Of travel and the emancipation
Of the Dark Continent are sojourning
in our city. They arrived here en-
route TO Dahar Senegal and Timbuctoo
a month ago and appear to be exceed
srgly annoyed at being detained here,
ior their chief activities at present arc
watching their dreams OF the sunny
fountains and the golden sands vanish
kR in the mists of the Never Never
Land and wondering who got the S4o5
.-hic'i each of them claims 20 have paid
for an ideal winter cruise to the
hsunts Of his forefathers.
Apparently the money is circulating
a. furious rate between bishop. two
doctors of divinity. q banker, three
Dhysiciane, two social workers and d
couple of business men. all of African
descent. 1t Is circulating so fast that
r night and day pursuit which three
OF the would be travellers have carried
out for the last three weeks has not
vet brought any OF the trio within
sight OF the missing funds.
Appeal to Government
They appealed yesterday to the Fed
.ral government for help, telling their
story to Assistant United States Dis
tr;ct Attorneys James c. Thomas il.
snS James Blake. As the tourist
agAncy, in whose hands they say they
placed the money for the cruise is a
Philadelphia concern. they were told
10 iile ( complaint in that city. It is
negro organization.
The three most active in the quest
Of the vanished $495 are college grad
yates and men OF prominence III their
native towns OF Indianapolis aud
Dallas They were first interested i'll
the trip by a prospectus sent out last
sprirs. the opening words OF which
announced that il Africa is to be saved
Il must be through the efforts of the
American negro. schooled in Western
arts. sciences and religion.
"Who knows but what the members
% this winter cruise party may not
turn out TO be Gods vanguard for the
awakening Of the Dark Continent and
the richting Of all the wrongs of our
brothers in the homeland?" the pros
pectus went on.
Lid Of Imaginations
The imaginations of the trio were
fred and they promptly sent the re-
CURED passage money. Their chief
worry was lest they be refused adnis-
sion to the party, tor the circular def
nitely stated that membership would be
| limited to 125 preachers, 70 doctors,
| lawyers and teachers, 50 professional
| men, 40 farmers, 25 business men and )
! explorer and miner ogist~.
| To their great Joy their money was
| taken. however. and they were in
I formed that the philanthropic expedi-
| ton would sail December on pala-
tial steamer chartered for the journey.
De luxe cabins, swimming pools, spa
cious promenades, French cuisine-all
the comforts of modern ocean travel
we're promised, and they were told what
!; equipment would be needed for great
tour which would involve camel trips
into the desert. receptions at every
port, motor rides and river trips, beside
careful scientific investigation Of the
condition Of the natives under French.
British. Portuguese and republican gov
ernment
They Are Going, Anyhow
his last. OF course. was to be the
most importan. feature of the cruise.
Lecturers were 20 give preliminary
survey OF the matter on the ocean voy-
age over, and every facility for study
vas to be offered by the governments
OF the various colonies at which calls
were to be made
Late in November a notice was sent
out that the date OF sailing had been
put OIL week, so the excursionists did
not arrive here until Decemher IN They
we're met with the announcement that
teiegrams explaining the need of q
iurshet delay already had been sent to
,Helr home addresses, and since then
Ihey nave received many reassuranccs,
but little effective action.
me active trio are going to Africa
11llyaow, they announced yesterday.
iney shnk the idea a good one, even if
'aelr nrst attempt to carry it out has
rot been too happy.