The Portland daily press., 1889-10-02
THE BATTLE OF NAVASSA ISLAND.
Four Officers Killed During the
Recent Race Trouble There.
White Men Use the superintendent's
House as a Fort.
Their stronghold Bombarded with
voIIeys Of Dynamite Bombs.

BALTIMORE, Md, October 1.-The follow
ing particulars of the riot at Nayassa on the
morning of the 14th ult. have been received
by the Navassa Phosphate Company from
Superintendent DR.. Smith: ION the MORN
ing of the 18th the negroes arose In insurrec-
tion and killed four officers. as follows;
Thomas N. Foster, Joseph Fales. James
Mahon and VIM. T. Shea. We are at loss
to know why the negroes took the steps they
did, and had no warning or intimation OF
such thing. Mr.. Roby was first assaulted
In the dIggings and hit on the head with
clubs until left for dead. At noon the men
congregated In front Of the superintendenfs
house and refused to work. When Mr..
Jones, by my direction, attempted TO arrest
one OF the ringleaders and take pistol from
him which had been taken from Mr.. R0by
while unconscious, he was knocked down,
and In a few seconds o howling mob sur
rounded him. He managed to get 70 the
house, where the other officers had sought
shelter through volleys Of rocks and other
missiles hurled at him. We took refuge In
the upper story OF the superintendents
house and opened fire on the mob, which
was now throwing stones against and into
shooting at any one Of us who happened TO
be seen by them. That battle lasted about
three hours with an occasional negro
wounded, when we were startled by the ex-
plosion Of dynamite bomb, which they had
thrown on the lower porch. This was soon
followed by another. until there was a con-
tinual roar OF dynamite These bombs were
exploded around and through the house, on
the porches and In the rooms adjoining the
one in which we had sought shelter. The
negroes 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 a
couple Of rounds of ammunition left. which
we were preserving for closer quarters,
which we knew must inevitably come. Short
ly after A D. m. they broke into the dynamite
magazine and got fresh supply OF dynamite.
BY this time the explosions OF dynamite had
become so frequent and uninterrupted. and
knowing IL was their intention TO blow US In
TO eternity. we decided to leave the house
and endeavor to reach the oficers' quarters
and make another stand, but we had not got
ten 20 feet away before they saw us and at
tackled from another direction with axes,
knives, rocks, razors and clubs, and at the
same time utterlng fiendish yells. Each man
was soon overtaken and disarmed. Mr.. fos-
ter was the first to drop his weapon, q small
cat rifle. He was at once 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, was within few feet OF the
cliffs, with number OF negroes In hot pur-
suit, one of whom was firing at him with
revolver. His body has never been found
Those of us who were spared owe our lives
TO the intervention of friendly negroes, who
hid US in little building until the excite
ment had somewhat subsidized and while they
were engaged In looting. robblng and pillag-
Ing the buildings and all property owned by
the officers was being rified. About p. m.
some negroes came TO our building In which
We were hiding and told us to come up to
-. and
that we should not be harmed while going To
and fro. We had not proceeded ovet 80 feet
before one Of the hends named Key placed
revolver within a few inches OF James
Mahou's face and fired, and then shot him
through the heart after he felt
The brig Amorette was here at the tiule.
| but II blew so hard that We could not COM
| municate 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 had discharged nearly all Of his
\ ballast and could not sail until the wind
| abated, which was not until Monday even
Ing. On the 10th inst. the British man-of-
war Forward came TO our assistance under
orders to remain until relieved BY the United
States steamer Galena. We hear nothing Of
the Galena whatever. When last heard from
she was Mt Hayti Truly each of US,
eerely exclaim: God save tho Queen. Tbs
Englishmen have taken US aboard and
treated us royalty, and we owe our lives to
the prompt arrival Of the Forward. Great
credit Is due William HeusOn, the negro
preacher Of Navassa, but for whose inter
cession In our behalf not one OF us would be
alive to tell the tale.
The object OF attacking Mr.. Roby at the
diggings was to remove him In order TO get
possession of dynamite and reyolvers. Mr.
Samuel Merch was severely hurt by being
struck with rocks on the back OF the head.
Mr.. Harry Jones was injured about the face
III. ~ Vail was shot accidentally through
the right leg. or course, all work has