The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-02
he Origin and Particulars OF the Late
Negro insurrection IN the DahisEa West In
dta Islands.

. he Origin and Particulars OF the Late
Negro lnsurxection IN the DaAisIa West In
dia Islands.
Our correspondent at ST. Thomas, has
furnished US with full, and evidently a
faithful account Of the recent troubles among the
slaves al st. Croix. The letter confirms all the
statements we have already published, concern
ing the troubles, while it contradicts paragraph
which appeared in some of the papers, denying
that any serious difficulty existed among the in
habitants of that place. II viii be read with in
teIest.
ST. THOMAS, July 10, 1913.
Thinking that the late instruction in neighbor
ing island, St Croix among the slaves, would prove
highly interesting to number Of people the United
States herewith transmit to YOU for publication, an
account with some few remarks which can be relied
On the NOR ming Of the 4th inst we were all aston
ished by the intelligence that the slaves in st Crox
were in open insurrecton that they had been in pos
session OF West End where they had pulled down the
police Office stripped the coat and epauettes from the
Judge, (Andresen and completely sacked the prem
SEES of merchant VIM Moore whose loss is estimated
at 600 $50 000 The insurgents sent for Govern
or General Won schOlton, who came down to them
was Immediately granted by him through fear when
they left West End. On the first alarm, the militia
sembled at Bass End, EAST End) and posted cannon
at the outlets Of the town. About p NJ, very large
number Of blacks were approaching the town. by the
peasy shes on their
heads but they still continued to advance. Lieut.
Adam McCutchin, who was in command at the Eng.
lish Church, fired field piece among them loaded
with grape, which killed three four, and wounded a
number This dispersed them at once and they did
not again make their appearance that night. These
the occurrences ofthe Sd inst.
The vessel that brought the over here brought
Sd inst, proclaming the slaves in the Danish West
India Islands Internationally free, which was posted
up at the corners of the streets at p on the 4h
here On the 9th, an aid Of the Governor General
came to ask assistance the St. Croix militia be-
ing nearly exhausted from being under for forty
eight hours; the blacks in possession of the
try, burning, plunderng, and destroying; and had
made continual attempts to enter Basin but had al
ways been repused that the terror of the
was excessive, and most Of the combatants,
men and children, had sought safety on board the
vessels in port Within hour after the receipt Of
free coored their way to St Croix; and
the Governor here, requested Of the agent of the
troops from St. Johns Porto Rico, which was prompt
ly granted. The steamer arrived at st. Croix with
GOO Spanish troops, that were immediately furnished
by the Captain General Of Porto Rico. Previous to
their arrival however, attachments of militia and re-
gulars had gone into the country from Basin and
West End, and captured many prisoners. 1t appears
that greater part of the blacks had quietly remained
on the Estates and protested their willingness to to
necessary arrangements for their pay, &C.
The conduct Of Gov. General Peter Won Scholton
caused the greatest dissatisfaction in those who
were not opposed to emancipation 1t destroys all
curity for having yielded to force the commune
ty will be exposed to the same, when the blacks have
The Gov. General reprmanded Lieut. McCutchin
for his conduct, which noble think; and at last
the government was actually and virtually taken from
him, and placed in the hands of persons "a pro-
yisona government) composed of the highest officials
in the island They Immediately proclaimed martial
law and marched the troops into the country, which
resulted above stated. The people are much ex-
cited in ST. Crox and it is reported that the nvest
cations now going on are tending to prove that the
outbreak was planned and countenanced by persons
whose duty was to maintain order and not excite
beilioni and some think even that the Gov. General
"a fba vUh 10 not mill olv
as he has great grudge against the planters and has
been working their destruction for a long time
number Of the negroes have already been
shot, who were the ringeaders and more will share the
same fate
: singular feature in this business is, that not
single white has been injured.
All this goes to prove that very little frmness in
quietly while, now, numbers of these poor deluded
creatures must suffer the extreme penalty Of the law
It must be maddening to those interested to reflect
that the want of decision and nerve in should
have ruined that beautiful island; for even should
quiet be restored which doubt not will be the case,
still the feeling of security gone and the always diff
fcult task Of maintaining order among newly manu-
mitted people, will bea rendered doubly so by the cir
liberty.
Our Governor, Oxholm, called over by the new
provisional government, and placed at its head and
as he is man of sound, discreet judgment, prompt
and energetic in action he will, trust, maintain
order.
by doubling the night guard and swearing in almost
all the previously free male nhabita nts special
stables nifty OF whom nightly troll the streets heavily
armed everything has remained quiet do appre-
bend any disturbance as the large majority Of the
whites and free colored (who have property will put
down at once attempt at insurrectionthe leaders
treated with shot, sc.
Business is very dull our warehouses are full Of
American goods, and no sales. Flour $ell meal $2k
pork $11 and 50; beef $40 and So rice 81. The re.
cent large failures in Porto Rico have diminished
Adence very much with us, and have withdrawn all
credits from that island Exchange on U. S. 8 per
cent. discount. W.
From the Boston Traveller, July 81
The following extracts from a number of letters
received by merchant of this city, from his cor
respondent at St. Thomas, will give good idea Of
the recent insure conary movements in the Danish
West India Islands,
ST. THOMAS, July 7, 184S.
On the I'd inst. the schooner Vigiiant brought the
unfortunate that the negroes in St. Crox had
voted, and that the Governor General had been COM
PEELED the day previous to proclaim their freedom
the 4th inst On the 9Th inst the schooner again
and brought news that the negroes had joined them
and all property both in town country and assist
ance was demanded for this place. Eighty volunteers
despatched to Porto Rico to obtain aid from the Span
ish government.
The of such terrifying nature that we trem-
bled for the safety of our ST. Croix friends The
groes had possession Of West End Town, and all
munication was stopped from town to town. The fe-
males and children crowded in the vessels in the
barber, and great many had arrived here. We have
seen st. Croix enveoped in flames every night During
M 'ne OF 81 CrG was at
This they have taken dictated by fear and they are
getting worse and worse One of the backies who had
assumed the title Of general sent him message, pro-
missing him his protection and that he would send
few Of his aids to escort him board any vessel in
which he might choose, to take his departure.
The attempts Of the Governor to save the town of
from being sacked at the expense of the
country, has been condemned by all parties. Several
Of the principal men waited the Governor and in
formed him that they would not submit to his foolish
course of proceeding; upon which the Governor told
them to do as they liked upon their responsibility
ards
Nelly and Major Table, and they Immediately left the
town with two hundred in search of the negroes
The news from St Croix Is related here with a suf
cheney Of extras and the result Is that every one
fearful Of their lives particularly many of the
goes in the country have refused to work and
termned to enter the town On estates the own