The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-10-22
DAILY PRESS.
Saturday Morning, 0c.ob.r. %, 1870.
CORTLAND

IHE REVOLUTION IN MARTfNIoUE.-Mar-
Unique, as most people have forgotten since
their geography lessons, is one of the West
India islands, belonging to the Windward
group which stretches from the larger islands
down to the South American coast, and di-
vides the eastern end of the Caribbean sea
from the Atlantic ocean. This particular is
land is about thirty miles long and half as
broad, and its capital is Port de France. The
colonists beard the news of Sedan ON the 21st.
and the governor, though good Bonapartist
of two years experience in his Office, immedi-
ately proclaimed Martinique as the possession
of the Republic of France. But the blacks in
the eastern portion wanted a republic of Mar
Unique, and on the following day rose in in
sunection. The leaders of the movement are
all of the same famiy-an old negro planter,
who has had many difficulties with the French
authorities about matters criminal as well as
political, and his nine sous. The principal
deeds of the revolted blacks have consisted in
firing the mills and buildings OF sugar planta-
tions, and when my informant, says the World
correspondent, left st. Pierre, twenty eight.
plantations had thus been laid waste. Only
three of the owners and overseers had, how
ever, been killed, and they because of endeav-
ors to resist the work of destruction OF the
blacks Only private plantations, the prop
critics OF whites and light-colored mulattoes,
have been attacked, the large mills belonging
to wealthy associations, and which manly
grind canes purchased by the weight from the
small planters generally negroes, having all
been spared, although half a dozen or more
have been at the mercy OF the revolted men.
The leaders declare that these mills are TO be-
long 10 the republic of Martinique. The re-
volt found the governor of the island unpos-
Sessed OF military forces, so that its sO-called
army numbered 30 0 to 5000 men, but few,
however, armed with guns, the great mass
having only pipes or cane knives. In regular
troops, gendarmerie, and armed police, the
governor was able to muster for action less than
4O0 men; he called upon the people tor volun-
teeis, and In reSponse some 600 men, mostly
whites, have been furnished and armed, ST.
Pierre for its share supplying over 200 men.
The first engagement and first victory Tor the
French had occurred some twelve miles from
the plantation on which the revolt started,
French captain with detachment of GU men
surprising some 100 negroes while they were
plasne. The captain was killed, and this
so angered his men that they were not salts
fled with having killed and wounded dozen
negroes, but in further revenge shot all the
prisoners they had taken, 2S in number. OH
er encounters had taken tplace, and fully 100
negroes had been killed to half a dozen
Frencnmen. The revolt will be soon conquer
od, provided the west and south do not sus-
tain it. In the environs of St. Pierre, which
is in the wesl, the negroes are nearly all more
or less dissatisfied with French rule, and the
same is said to be the case with the negroes
OF the south, should the revot then snrea,l
to the whole island, as it well may, there is,
for sure, no telling how it will terminate,
France at present being unaole to send troops
to the island.