Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-10-11
THE NAVASSA RIOTS.
How the Infatuated Insurgents
Butchered Four Men.
A Desperate but Losing Battle
With the Rioters.

The following particulars of the riot which
occurred at the Island of Navassa, in the Car
ribean Sea, have been received:
The negroes arose in instruction and
killed four officers Of the Navassa Phosphate
Company-Thomas n. Foster, Joseph Fales,
James Mahon and William T. Shea
Mr.. Roby was first assaulted He was
hit on the head with clubs until left for dead
in rock hole under a pile of boards He
was at once removed to the house and after
having thirty stitches sewed in his scalp,
took part in battle with the blacks. He is
at present doing well
AT noon the men congreeated in front Of
the superintendent house and refused to
work. When Mr.. Jones attempted to arrest
one of the ringleaders and take from him a
pistol which had been snatched from Mr.
ROby while unconscious, he was knocked
down, and in few seconds a bowling mob
surrounded him. He managed to get to the
house, where the other officers had sought
shelter running the gauntlet of vOlleys of
rocks and other missiles We took refuge,
said Acting Superintendent Smith in an upper
story and opened fire on the mob which
was now throwing stones against and into
the house from every direction, as well as
shooting at any one nf us who happened tc
show himself.
The battle had lasted about three hours
when we were startled by the explosion of
dynamite bomb, which they had thrown on
the lower porch. This was soon followed by
another, until there was a continual roar of
exploding dynamite. These bombs were 90.
ing OFF around and through the house. on the
porch and in the rooms ad Joining the one in
which we had sought shelter. The colored
people were behind cars drawn up in front OF
the house, and the trees, tanks and many
buildings near by afforded them protection
from our occasional shots We had but
couple Of rounds of ammunition left which
we were preserving for closer quarters, which
We knew must inevitably come.
shortly after o'clock P. NJ, they broke
INTO the magazine, and got a fresh supply of
dynamite. By this time the explosions OF
dynamite had become so frequent and unin-
terrupted and knowing it was their inten.
ton to blow us into eternity, we decided tC
leave the house and endeaVOr to reach the of
fcers' quarter and make another stand, but
we hadn't gotten twenty feet away before
they saw us and attacked US from every di.
rectiOn with axes, knives rocks, razOrs and
clubs, at the same time uttering fendiSh
yells.
Each man was soon Ovnrtaken and dis
armed. Mr.. Foster was the first to drop his
weapon-a slnall-calibre rifle. He was al
once butchered with knives and other muir.
'lerOus weapons. Nh Joseph Fales was the
next victim, and was chopped to pieces with
an axe after he had surrendered his weapon
Poor Bill Shea, when last SEEM was within
few feet of the cliffs, with number OF
negroes in hot pursuit, one of whom was fir
ing at him with a revolver. His body has
never been found We suppose that after
killing him they threw him Overheard
'EhOSe of us whose lives were spared owe
them to the intervention Of friendly negroes,
who hid us i'll little building until the ex-
citement had somewhat subsidized and while
the others were engaged in lOOting the build
lngs and Selling all property owned by the
officers The mob did not even spare the trunk
and other possessions of our dead superin-
tendent, who was Of their best friends.
About O'Clock P. NJ. some negroes came
to the building in which we were hiding and
told us to come up to the mess house and get
some supper, and that we should not be
harmed while going to and fro. We had not
gone thirty feet before one of the devils
known as George S. Key placed revolver
within few inches of James MahOn'S face
and fired and as he fell shot him through the
heart.
The brig AmOrette was here at the
time, but it blew so hard that we could not
communicate with the captain until Sunday
evening. | wrote him note requesting him
to run over to Kingston, Jamaica, and tell
the American Consul to send us aid, but he
had discharged nearly all his ballast and
could not sail until the wind abated, which
was not until Monday evening.
Five days after Her Majesty's ship For
ward came to our assistance under orders to
remain until relieved by the arrival of the
United States steamer Galena. We heard
nothing of the Galena whatever. When last
heard from she was at Hayti.' Truly, each
of US, thorough Americans as we are, can
sincerely exclaim God save the Queen The
Engishmen have taken us abroad and
treated us royalty and as honored guests.
We are hourly expecting the Galena. We
owe our lives to the prompt arrival of the
Forward. Great credit is due William Heu-
son, the colored Minister of Navassa, but for
whose intercessiOn i'll our behalf not one of
us would be alive to tell the tale
The object of attacking Mr.. Ruby in the
diggings was to remove him in order to Sc
cure possession Of dynamite and his revolver
Mr.. Samuel Murch was severely hurt by
being struck with rocks on the back of the
head. Mr.. Harry Jones was injured about
the face with rocks and bruised about the
body. Mr.. H. n Vail was shot accidentally
through the feshy part of his right leg. All
of the survivors have shown the fortitude OF
OF o. n ,,,ca,l k:,S cs..Scd :.