The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-10-16
TEE NAVASSA RIOTS.
How the Infuriated 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:
1.-THE negroes arose in insurrection and
killed four officers of the Navassa Phosphate
Co,npany-Thomas N Foster, Joseph Fales,
James Mahon and William T. Shea.
mir. Roby was first assaulted. he was
hit on the head with clubs until left for dead
in rock hole under pile of boards. He
was at once removed to the house, and after
having thirty stitches sewed in his scalp,
took part III battle with the blacks. He is
at present doing we'll.
"At noon the men congregated in front OF
the superintendent's 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 MIR.
Roby while unconscious, he was knocked
down, and in a few seconds 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 Of us who happened to
show himself.
1.-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 continual roar Of
exploding dynamite. These bombs were go
ing off around and through the house, on the
porch and in the rooms adjoining 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 q
couple Of rounds Of ammunition left, which
we were preserving for closer quarters, which
we knew must inevitably come.
Shortly after 4 o'clock p NJ, they broke
dynamite. By this time the explosions Of
terrupted, and knowing it was their inten-
tion to blow US into eternity, we decided to
leave thehouse 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, razols and
clubs, at the same time uttering fendish
yells.
each man was soon overtaken and dis
armed. Mr.. Foster was the first to drop his
weapon-a small-calibre rifle. He was at
derous 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, was within q
few feet of the cliffs, with a 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.
"'Those Of us whose lives were spared owe
them to the intervention of friendly negroes,
who hid us III little building until the ex-
citement had somewhat subsidized and while
the others were engaged i'll looting the build
officers The mob did not oven spare the trunk
and other possessions of our dead superin-
tendent, who was one of their best friends.
'!About o'clock P. III. 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 over thirty feet before one of the devils,
known as George S. Key, placed O revolver
within few inches OF James Mahon's face
and fired, and as he fell shot him through the
heart.
'sThe brig Amorette was here at the
time, but it blew so hard that We could not
communicate with the captain until Sunday
evening. I 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 ana
could not sail until the wind abated, which
was not until Monday evening.
Give 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 e1claim God save the Queen The
Englishmen 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 in our behalf not one of
us would be alive to tell the tale.
1.-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 OH 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 8hy part of his right leg. All
of the survivors have shown the fortitude OF
veterans. Of course all work has ceased"