, 1885-06-03
years of his life In India and thoroughly
understands the nature of the people. Of

is anything but conducive to it's prosperity,
but at the same time mObs must be taught
TO obey the law, even though that expert
ence is dearly bought. There can be no
question that if the Coolies had contented
themselves with celebrating their festival
in a quiet and orderly way, 10 one would
have interfered with them, but they had
determined on marching III a body TO San
Fernando, Notwithstanding they were mott
fed that orders had been given that the
professions would not be allowed to do SO.
Here, then, WAS a square defiance Of the
law, and the authorities We're perfectly
justified in taking prompt measures to
compel obedience. 1t will not be ncceS-
sary for us to say that His Excellency
thoroughly investigated the matter i'll all
its aspects, and that if any injustice or
cruelty had been practiS' ID towards the
coolies which would have i'll any way war
ranted or even palliated their conduct, he
would have exposed and denounced II, but
there was none, as the following extracts
from the report concluSively show =
The requisition to fire was, no doubt,
given direct to the Sergeant by the MagiS
trate, and | conceive that, under the Cir
cumstances, the Sergeant was j~ustiti' ii in
complying. The Sergean', who had served
i'll the West Indian regiments. seems to
have given the order to fire with GOODNESS,
and to nave checked firing as soon us it
was prudent to do so. The evidence OF
Major BowleS is satisfactory as t. the
necessity for firing, and us to the steadineSS
of the small party of police under the some
what trying circumstance of men not much
used to firearms having to check HE
advance of a very large body of excited
men who, coming on with considerable
tumult, were close upon them. There
seems to have been no excessive firing,
and, considering that the fire WIS with
breech leaders, and that there was much
noise, it is not wonderful TINT some tive
carbineS we're discharged after he ser cant
had ordered the "cpaSe fire" The prnceS-
sion having been stopped, exerlionS were
at once made to provide aid to The persons
who had been shot.
I am of opinion that, under the circum.
stances shown, it was juStifiable to fire,
and that the police behaved with Steadi-
ness. Captain Baker has been in the army,
and has seen field service III Africa. He
has been, for eight years, at The head OF
the police in Trinidad, and is an officer OF
great reputed coolntSs. 1t is to be recol-
lected that the firing was by desire OF the
Magistrate, and though | should be sorry
10 SdA UuhG iii Ol1CcI III CpIIildIlh ~ flOOI'o
or armed police is always bound at once to
fire when ordered by IL Magistrate if he
does not think that circumstances warrant
his firing, still, in this case, there seems to
have been no option but 10 comply with
the desire of the Magistrate.
It has been urged that a bayonct charge
would rave been sufficient, but | am Of
opinion that "a bayonet charge Ivy a few
men ON a large concoursc Of eXclted people
might lave failed. and have led IN the
police being Overp0wered, especially as
they can hardly have been trained to such
charges, and many people were understood
to be i'll the rear ready to take advantage
Of any mishap to the police. The same
s remark applies to the party under Sergeant
McCOllins.
No doubt it is in accordance with regula-
lions in the army that when troops have
to fire, the effect of a discharge by one or
two files may be tried il. the first instance,
and before any general firing takes place
but / I'm not prepared TO say that such
consideration was practicable on the part
of the police OH this occasion; and, indeed,
it is in evidence, that the first vollry OF IA
shots fred by the party under Sergeant
McCOllins did not. check thu advance OF
Coolies, while Captain Bakers party only
fred 10 shots in all. 1t is, no doubt, just
possible hat he fire Of one or two files of
each party might have had the same effect
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