The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-17 00:00:00

THE NEI

ICTION,

The subjoined account of the outbreak is gathered
from an extra to the Colonial Standard of Oct. 24 :
On Saturday, the 7th October, 1865, a court of
petty sessions was held at Morant Bay. Whilst the
business was being proceeded with a great noise
aros in the court-house, which increased to such a
pitch as to compel a temporary suspension of the
proceedings. The justices ordered the party mak-
ing the disturbance to be brought before them, upon
which one Charles Geoghegan (a head rioter) left
the court-house, followed by the police, who cap-
tured him on the steps. He was immediately rescued
by one Paul Bogle and several other persons, who
had large bludgeons in their hands, and was taken
into the Market-square, where some 150 more per-
sons joined them, also with sticks. The police were
severely beaten, and had to retire back to the court-
house without their prisoner. On Monday, the 9th,
the court of petty sessions again meeting and pro-
ceeding with the business, a man named Lewis Dick
was tried for a trespass on Middleton plantation,
adjoining Stony Gut.
As soon as the case of trespass was called some
150 persons, the same who rescued Groghegan, en-
tered the court-house with sticks. The magistrates
convicted Lewis Dick on his own plea of guilty.
Paul Bogle immediately came forward and told the
man not to pay any fine, to appeal, which he did,
and entered into the necessary recognisance. War-
rants were now issued against Paul Bogle and 27
others for riot and assault on the Saturday. On the
police going to Paul Bogle's house and attempting
to arrest him, a horn sounded, and about 300 per-
sons, armed with deadly weapons, made their
appearance from Paul Bogle's chapel and a cane-
piece near to his house. Three policemen and one
constable were placed in custody and taken into
Paul Bogle's house, where they were threatened that
unless they took an oath to forsake the white and
brown people and join their assailants, they would
be immediately put to death.. Fearing that Paul
Bogle would carry out his threats, they took the oath,
which oath was administered by Paul Bogle. The
police did not return until the following day
(Tuesday).
What had taken place at the execution of the
warrants was communicated to his Honour the
Custos (Baron von Ketelholdt), who had just re-
turned to the parish. The police further stated
bat the people were gathering in great numbers at
Stony Gut, and that when they left there were over
six hundred persons under arms ; that shells were
blowing in every direction ; and that they were in-
formed-the people intended coming to Morant Bay
on the following day (Wednesday). Oh this in-
formation the Custos went off to the volunteers at
Bath, and also to the governor, requesting that
troops might be despatched without delay, as he
feored a rebellion. The despatch was not received
by his Excellency the Governor until eight o'clock
the next day (Wednesday). On that day, at Mo-
rant Bay, the vestry met and proceeded with their
business. About four o'clock p.m., drums were
heard, and after this the rebels made their appear-
ance. The volunteers—eighteen in number—were
drawn up in line before the Court-house. The
Custos, who stood on the steps, exhorted the people
—some 600—armed with deadly weapons—not to
enter the square, and stated that if
.they had any
grievance to complain of to say so, and it should
receive redress. They, however, persisted in comiing
into.the square, upon which the Custos read the
Riot Act. By this time the mob had come within
a few yards of the volunteers, and sent a volley of
stones at them. Captain Hitchins then gave orders
to fire. The most murderous attacks were made on
every one coming within reach of the rebels. The
volunteers being overpowered took refuge in the
Court-house, were the Custos, magistracy, Clergy,
and other gentlemen were. Finding that these had
thus taken shelter, the negroes smashed the win-
dows to atoms, firing continually into the Court-
house, when the volunteers returned their fire, doing
good service. About half-past five o'clock the
Couse was fired. The Custos then put out a flag
of truce by advice of the clerk of the peace. The
rioters asked what it meant, and were answered
peace. They said they did not want peace, they
wanted war. A second flag of truce was put out,
with no better effect, the rebels crying out, "*War,
war." On the roof of the Court-house falling in,
the Custos and other gentlemen burst open the
doors, and ran down the steps, the rebels attacking
them in every direction.
A cry was raised that the steamer was in sight,
and eager eyes were turned towards the place where
she was supposed to be, but only to be averted again
in disappointment. Mr. Arthur Cooke and Mr.
Walton, who attempted to escape through a window,
were both killed; all the rest took refuge in the
house at the fort, when it was ascertained that seve-
ral volunteers had fallen. The late Custos then

asked if any one would go out and speak to the
mob. None ventured to do so ; and whilst they
. were consulting the roof was discovered to be on fire.

At the suggestion of the Rev. Mr. Hersch(l, a prayer
was being offered, when the shot came pouring in
through the window. The Custos, a child of Mr.
Inspector Alberga, and the Hon. Mr. Georges were
wounded. Mr. Herschel then bandaged the wound
of Mr. Georges with his clerical necktie. The

burning roof fell in, and the inmates were compelled
to rush out. Mr. M'Cormick was chopped to pieces
on one of the guns at the steps of the court-house.
The Custos was armed with a sword which he took

up. Each endeavoured to save himself. The mob
cried " Now we have the Baron, kill him," and loud
shouts announced that the deed bad been done. Dr.
Gerard was called on to come out, the mob protest-
ing that they would save him. Mr. M'Pherson and
another concealed themselves, but were soon disco-
vered and assaulted. Mr. APPherson is since dead.
The unfortunate victims were killed in detail under
circumstances of great atrocity. Dr. Gerard was
discovered, and he came forth, Mr. Ratty clinging
to him. The latter was, however, torn away and
cut down. Capt. Hitchins, who had behaved with
undaunted bravery, was seriously wounded at last,
and, faint with the loss of blood, threw his arms
around Dr. Gerard's neck, and was despatched in
that position. After Mr. Alberga was butchered,
the mob were about to murder his already wounded
child, when some woman interfered and saved the
poor innocent. Mr. C. A. Price was murdered al-
most at the same time with Mr. Alberga, notwith-
standing the efforts made by one Wm. Donaldson
to save him. After a series of most eccentric acts,
stealing nearly everything in the way of valuables and
money from some houses, and sparing others, taking
the watches and money of the murdered persons,
and saving some and despoiling others, the mob
retired from the town a little before the Wolverine
hove in sight. The volunteers behaved with the
greatest gallantry, and sold their lives dearly. Am-
munition failing, they were nearly all destroyed, the
very few survivors having been most dangerously
wounded. Mr. Herschel's tongue was cut out, and

the fingers of the Baron's hand were cut off, the

murderers observing that they would write no more
lies to the Queen. The Clerk of the Peace concealed
himself beneath the pillars of Dr. Gerard's dispen-

RarY, and so saved himself. The conduct of the mob

was marked with cruelties only paralleled in the
histo
New Zealand warfare. They abstained
from liquor, but it was well ascertained that they
partook of a mixture of ruin and gunpowder the
day previous to their butchery. The mob came from
an eastward direction, having gone a circuit, appa-
rently to surprise and capture the police station,
with the aims and ammunition in it. This manceuvre
proved successful. They took
possession
of the arms,
and holding them aloft and throwing them up fran-
tically in exultation at the capture,
toapt this they advanced
towards the court house.
time the fol-
lowing had been killed :—Volunteers—aptain E.
Hitchins, Serg. Hall, Serg. Reid, Priv.
. Gilroy,
Priv. Wm. Harrison, and Priv. Putty, Civilians—
Baron 1
Baron von Ketelboldt, the Rev Victor
Herschel,
Thos.
Mr. John Walton, J.P. Mr. Wm. Cooke, r
M'Cormack, Mr. C. A. Price, J.P., Arr. A.
Brown, Mr. Inspector Alberga. The volunteers
wounded were—Mr. Richard Harrison (danger-
ously), Privates Curry, Good, F. Ross, Ratty, and
Joseph Williams. The civilians wounded were
Hon. W. P. Georges, Mr. Duncan M'Pherson,
ci
v Mr. Augustus Warington, Mr. Brooks Cooke,
mr .
Win. Gray, Mr. Miztosh, Mr.