Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-11
THE NAVASSA RIOT.
Two Accounts of the Trouble
On the Island.
Six OF THE WHITES ARRIVE HOME.

Bisoks-Re-cue by II. NJ. 5. Forward
and Royal Treatment by the Britishers
A Negro Laborer Puts Matters In -
Different Light, Somewhst-The Men
Brutality Treated Until They RevoIted-
whites DO the First shooting.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 1.-THE British
steamship Dorian, which has just arrived
mere from Kingston, Jamaica, brings six OF
the officers Of the Navassa Phosphate COM
pany, who were recently attacked by negro
employees ON the island OF Savassa. They
we're taken of the island by the British man.
of-wAr Forward and taken to Kingston,
where they were transferred to the Dorian
Their names are c. ID. Smith, NJ. d. W.
Roby, II. A. Jones, IL n. Vail, John
O'Rourke and John jacobson They have
with them three negroes who were friendly
and who helped save their lives
Very Hard Crew.
MIR. Roby was the first man attacked by
the rioters, and he was terribly beaten His
recovery Is due to his remarkably strong
physique. Mr.. Jones was also nearly dubbed
to death DIR. Smith says they had no warn
ing Of the outbreak The 1877 negroes en-
plOyed In the phosphate mines we're all sent
from Baltimore Many OF them we're ship
hands who had been arrested for assertion
and other offenses, and instead Of being put
IN Jail were sent to Navassa by the United
Ssates shipping commits 'ioner They were a
bard set, always up to mischief.
Bombarded with Dynamite.
DIR. Smith says: "The building we took
refuge in was a mere shell, affording no pro-
killed by the dynamite bombs is that the
missiles fell on the piazza instead of under
us There were eleven OF us whites. When
we had to abandon the shelter for fear of be-
ing blown up we made rush Some of us
had been badly injured. As we ran the
blacks closed in on us, using knives, clubs,
and revolvers Thomas ~ Foster, Joseph
Fales, and W illiam Shea were struck down
and butcbered. Foster was the superin-
tendent The rest OF us reached "A small
house, where we hid for safety Meanwhile
the negroes pilaged the superintendent
house, where we had first taken refuge.
BIoodthirsty Deed.
"The shooting of james Malone was one
of the most bloodthirsty acts OF the day.
The negroes came TO our hiding place and
promised us safety from attack il we came
to supper. We came out and found that
some of the darkies were disposed to inter
cede for us. We marched along in Indian
fled, when ole of the villainous blacks.
known as George ;. Key, stopped and fired
revolver within SIX inches of Mahone's
face, the ball going through his cheek As
he fell the fiend fired another bullet into
Mahone's back, which pierced the heart
With the smoke curling from the weapon,
Key then stepped up TO Jones and said: Il
If laI lot f,lR 81 =
time had come. but if it had been the ne
gros intention To shoot Jones something
caused him TO hesitate and the mans life was
spared
Saved by an English Brig.
THE English brig Armorette was lying off
the coast, but heavy storms We're pre- vail
ing, and we had no means of communicating
with her. /, however, got a note to the cap
tain, and he sailed to Jamaica and sent the
Bri ish n-of- war to our assistance. When
the vessel came TO the island the negroes
were thoroughly frightened A part of
them were still thirsting TO finish the job by
killing those who had survived.
"a. ". - Forward Talks Business.
"The captain OF the Forward got his Cat
ling guns ready for service, and threatened
to shell the island un ess every man OF us
was turned over IN safety. We we're taken
on board the vessel on Thursday after being
in imminent peril Of our lives since the pre-
Y Gus Saturday, when the instruction took
place. As we assembled the-Steps up the side
of the vessel the officers paid Us the compli-
ment Of hanging tue American flag over the
side
The Unfortunates Royalty Treated.
ave were treated royalty by the officers
of the n-of- war. They took US to TO King
-.
and entertained as il we were distinguished
people, and put safely on board the steamer
Dorian, destined for this port. We have
been treated like princes from the moment
of our Rescue by the English cruiser There
was only one sad accident to mar the joy Of
our Rescue Samuel March, one of our men
who had his head frightfully cut and bruised,
died on the Forward on the way to ia
maIca.n