Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-03
MANASSAS RLOODY RIOr.
Four Killed, Many Wounded saved
NV n Iirstiah 1Inn.Of.Var.

BALTIMORE, Oct, 1.-The american prints
letter sent to the Navagsa Phosphate
Company by Its officers giving descrip-
ton OF the riot. 1t says:
On the morning of the I4th instant, the
negroes arose In instruction, and killed
four oIlce,s. as follows: Thomas n. Foster,
Joseph Eala5, james Mahon and William Il.
Shea. We are az loss to know why the
negroes took the steps they did, and had
no warning or intimatlon of such thing.
MIR. Roby was first assaulted IN the dig
Giugs aud hit on the head with clubs until
lei, Tor dead.
That battle lasted about three hours,
with an occasional negro wounded, when
we were startled Ivy the explosion OF a
dynamite bomb, whlcn they had thrown on
the lower porch. This was soon followed
by another, until there was continual roar
OF dynamite. We had but n couple Of
rounds Of ammunition left, which we We're
preserving for closer quarters, which We
knew must inevitably come.
shortly after p m., they broke Into the
dynamite magazine and got fresh supply
OF dynamite. BY this time the explosions
OF dynamite had become 80 frequent and
uninterrupted, and knowing 1t was their
Intention to blow us into eternity, we
decided to leave the house and endeavor
TO reach the officers quarter and make
another stand, but We had not gotten 20
us from every direction with axes, knives,
rocks, razors and clubs, at the same time
uttering hendlsh yells that u Uomanche
Indian would have enyied.
Each man was soon overtaken and dis
armed. Mr. Foster was the first to drop
his weapon-a small cat riffs. He was i'm
mediately butchered with knives and other
murderous weapons. Mr., 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
seen, WINS within a few feet OF the cliffs,
with number OF negroes In hot pursuit,
one OF whom was firing at him with
revolver. HIS body has never been found.
We suppose, after killing him, they threw
him overheard.
Those OF us whose lives were spared owe
our lives to the Intervention OF friendly
negroes, who hid us IN little building
Until the excitement had somewhat SUBJ
sided and while they were engaged In
looting, rubbing and plliaging the build
ings and all property owned by the Ulcers
was being rifed. About p. m. some
negroes came to our building, in which we
We're 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 proceeded over 80
feet before one OF the devils, known as
George 3. Key, placed revolver within
few inches OF james Mahon's face and fired
and then shot him through the heart after
he fell.
The brig Amorette was here at the time,
but 1t blew so hard that we could not com.
muntcate with the captain until Sunday
evening. l wrote him note. requesting
him to run over to Kingston, jamaica, and
request the American consul to send US aid, ,
but he lad discharged nearly all OF his
ballast, aud could not sail until the wind
abated, which was not until Monday even
ing.
On the goth instant. H. NJ. 8. Forward, a
British men-of.war, came TO our assistance.
under orders to remain until relieved by
the United States steamer Galena. We hear
nothing OF the Galana whatever. When last
heard from she was at Hayti. Truly, each
Of u.s. thorough Americans 90 we are, can
sincerely exclaim, God save the queen
They have taken US aboard and treated us
royalty: treated US as honored guests. We
are hourly expecting the Ga!ena. We
owe our lives TO the prompt arrival OF II.
NJ. s. Forward. Great credit IL due William
Heuson, the negro preacher OF Navassa,
but for whose intercession In our behalf
not enc OF us would be alive to tell the tale.