New-York tribune., 1889-10-18
THE NAVASSA RIOT.
WHAT THE NEGROES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT
CnEY DECLARE THAT THEY ONLY REVoLrhD
AGAINST SYSTEMATIC INHUMANITY AND
SLAVERY, THOROUGH 1NvEsTI-
CATION IN PROGRESS.

SLAVEEY-A THOROUGH lNNfolh
CATION IN PROGRESS.
tnoM An OCCASIONAL cORREsPoNDEN9 OF THE TRBUSE-l
Navassa Island, Oct SIT would DO difcuit ul'ng
nowadays TO convince good American ciuEen thai
form OF slavery st!l existed territory supervised
by Americans Yot. If the statements OF the negroes
are to be credited regarding the riot which occurred
Mt Nayassa Island September Ia system has existed
there almost approaching slavery. Navassa Is a
small island OF volcanic origin two miles long, Off the
west OF Hay at the southwest entrance OF the
Mndward Passage. II Is composed OF limestone rock
and iron pyres. the crcvices of which are filed with
gusno The island has been claimed by Hayt and
seyeral other countries but for thirty years has
been held by an American company, who have worked
st for guanO This company have their factories ior
preparing the gusno fertilizer at Baltimore. Nd
The men employed by tho company are hired IN
Baltimore and agree 10 labor on the Island for heen
months, and are not allowed 70 leave before their
time IS fully served These men, TO the number oil
a36 are ali negroes and are uEdcr the direct charge
Of twelve white men and q superintendent IL was,
the negroes say, owing TO the cruees practised Dy
the twelve bosses they are called mat
the riot OF September ID occurred
Tho mon state that they overworked, poorly
fec aud frequently punished and that tneir con-
dihon became much worse after the death OF superh-
tendent Upton, from dysentery, few days DeIore
the riot They finally struck and refused to WORK 0"
September Ia They state that during the same ai'"r
noon they were all called in front OF the bosses
quarters and deliberately fred upon several OF them
receiving wounds about tho head and lower eAtrchcS
The negroes became inf,Tated and drove the "Ni'c
men hack into their quarters with rocks. After the
white mon had taken refuge in the house. the negroes
continued to pelt the house with rocks ana s'ohes
Failing to dislodge them by this means they com.
menccd throwing dynamite cartridges which they had
taken from the days supply for blasting inc dyha
mite AZ length produced the desired effect, and the
whites fed from the rear of the house only
20 fall into the hands OF the negroes inv"
of the whites, Foster, the sorekeeper; MacMaho"
of the whites, Foster, the storekeeper, NacMsho"'
carbos; and Fields, shpbulder were Killed. trying
10 escape Shea the wharf boss succeeded IN reach'
ing the cliffs and jumped over, intending to swim
20 a vessel lying of the shore, but was drowned
in the attempt The remaining whlu~ Weie |hoiI
prisoners and placed in the house The deaHls Vi
the four whites completely sobered the iniu1aieo
negroes and no further violence was ohereo' lho
remaininc whites were allowed TO 60 and come as
they pleased from fear kept inside their quarters.
In the meantime the ship that had been loaahs AZ
the island carried the news to Jamaica ana u'e
English eunboat Forward was sent to hVeSusaV'
the matter until an American manofwar couu W
summoned The Forward or her arrival hhuihs
that IL had no authority TO interfere in the matter
offered to take the remaining whites to Jamaica an
offer which eagerly accepted. DE- shlm' van
Marsh Ruby Rourke, Jones and jacobson were 'ncu
taken on board and carried to jamaica Before sai'-
ina the man Marsh jumped overDoard ana was
drowned. -
The Galena, with Admiral Cherardi. arrived OH
tie island on the morning Oh the 4th lns'' "iu O"
Investigation at once begun inc surgeons "a
the ship were ashore 20 look out TOT the "o"''
and other officers were instructed TO make inquiries
among the men. I picked out bright, mtcIhgeh'
neqro and asked him to tell me what led TO the
trouble between the men and the bO' ses' lie 'oi"
me that of late they had been only half fed ana W're
made 20 work when they were not able TO- II theS
fell exhausted or fantmg, they were thrown mo
tbe ian and triced up by the wrists, tLelr lee1
bcinr ciasped in a sort OF vice stocks From time
IN time the ropes were tightened, causing the most
lntrnse agony, Men have been len thus Suspen"'N
for hours at time. My informant, mere houci"s
INV expression of incredulity, asked me to follow
him. which ! did He led the way to small!
h,,,d,,C neac he cliffs and throwing open Tie d0or,
notoned me 20 enter ] found myself In Shlaii
room lighted BY barred window several lee' HUN
the floor Through the beams overhead an IRON rou
passed and Immediately under IL, "a tehei 10 'no
soor by clcass were movable panks pierced WIN
holes large enough to fit mans ankles Se'' Vi
ron.s ~ <sed over the rod their long ENDS gomS
through hole, in the side of the building anu oei9
fastened 10 clsats the outside 1be sloiV 0hN'
NJ the ropes, which hung over the Nu' "oio PiO
vidgu with clasps 70 tit the wrists MY cohp'hio"
,xnlained TO me that a man would he lasehco Az
,hs .,oeks the clasps adjusted 10 his wilsts' anu
tension made OH the rope outside until he was sueche"
uhe rome was then made. fast to the ciea' ann INC
victim allowed 10 remain until his Pelsc0u'oi s~
ht 10 release him =, .u,oD,
.our great grievance, however, said my Ihoinh""''
,s bc car track We are obliged TO walk two miles on
narrow iron rail IN bare feet pushing III "0''
Of US a car carrying two tons OF foch CpVn ., -
vesngarion | found his statement 10 DC aosoiu'o'
correct A small, naTow-gauge ROAD runs from 'ie
landing Mace or yard to The diggings where 'ne
anosnbs,e and euano are obtained. distance OF TWO
miles This road is fitted with single line ol pdiin nm
between the rails 1t takes three men 10 run two
mairivg on the rails After walking on THIS ran M
for little distance the feet become sli S'~ nY time
iahe 10 Slip OFF and be injured; in iSct ~ Is os h
rommon occurrence. young lad Ies III ,i ,ho way o
pdb paIb her9 wI undoubtedly prove fatal. found that
the men unanimous IN Gohoemhh.us NH nnn nS have
frequently imploed the company 70 ra caob G rs and
OF plankiug along the outer anS Sl9e seripq dea
ear, however. always met their complaints. oo ~,
% te D. HHn .. with the exception of an hour in tas h
middle of the day and receive on on t5e Saed syGte 70 psS
mon, and %,I Sn' fS% each hhes Day they are laid
in ahe hospital besides losing their pay .,r Insy ney
day TSsq hSsa IN Of ia ans anS a%cS ey ay
buy it at he eompany store and pay M ibe meT
Raye absolutely nothing coming 20 them %d,sG %he.
he term Of service Is e 9e bmnE h running
the sides and through The centre; we. nIens s
and unhealthy place All Letters IN Sent Her st they
NAV be examined by the bosses. SO that no com ON
nlaints can reach their friends, The ABOVE an
much more learned by talking amons
The men, who agreed among thomseNe =
I'm everything. except In the HaHor ot
ratIons some thought the food was good Others not
The provisions sent by the company are certainty
exceilent II Is well known that the men sent ou
10 work here q rough set, counting among thell
number many convicts and Jail birds but TINS II ne
wsy instdes the treatment 10 which they have been
subiecfed The men are behaving well, but are
ali anxious TO return home. The balconies and ho0r'
of the officers quarters shattered In places wher
the dynamite struck, but otherwise little damage has
been done. ,- - l.,
Every effort Is now being made to discover the in
diyidusls who hilled the four whites. and the crime
bas een pretty well fixed upon certain persons WHO
~ tbe Droper time will be arrested and sent 10 TIT
tinted States for trial. The company's brig Romance
s,"svod on the eth inst but not allowed 10 hob
any communication with the shore The brig brough
AM tbt now M he eysninl