"They sent out two first-class tugs and a number of highly-paid men; they ought to have hired negro laborers at the spot.

The surf is often bad, they could only work when it was calm, and while they were doing nothing, wages mounted up.

So did their bills for the coal they must bring from Sierra Leone, where coal is expensive.

Then they were bothered by fever and were forced to send men home.

They saw the contract would not pay and let it go.