River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-10-17
euTcHEREp BY BLACKS.

Survivors Tell the Story of the Insurrec-
ti0n ON the Island of acknowledgement
Negroes Attempt the determination OF
the Nhites-Four of the Latter Killed.
With siassacre Staring Them in the
Face, Those still Remaining Are Saved
by British war-Ship.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct 1l.-Dr C. d. Smith,
c. W. ROXY, II. A. Jones' II. y. Vail, John
O'ROurke and John jacobson, survivors of
the negro uprising on the island of Ma
vassa, arrived here Wednesday night on the
British steamer Dorian, accompanied by
three of the friendly negroes who saved
their lives.
c. W. Roby is an elderly man OF robust
physique, who was the first one of the Of
fcers OF the company assaulted by the
rioters. He was brutality hit on the
head with clubs and left for dead
in ditch where the negroes were working
az the time. He has thirty stitches in
his scalp where it was torn open by the
blows. The fact that he is alive seems al
most miracle. II. A Jones has his face
Scared with cuts and bruises, and his
scalp has likewise been sewed up in many
places. He is a young man about b.
whose people hive in Baltimore He was
attacked By the rioters while attempting to
arrest one of the ringleaders under orders
from DR.. Smith He was knocked down by
the mob and stamped upon, kicked and
beaten and nearly dubbed to death DR..
Smith in giving his account OF the riot,
said:
1--WE had no warning Of the outbreak what
ever; We did not even suspect II. There
are i37 darllies employed, n the phos-
phate mines, and they were al sent
there from the city OF Baltimore. The
worst element OF them were ship hands.
who had been arrested for desertiOn and
other orenses and sent there by the United
States Shipping Commissioner. The house
We took refuge IN when the attack was made
was no protection whatever from bullets
The doors were only made OF mosquito net
ting, AID TIE walls a mere she'll
OF III boards. Before we got into the
houss fired into the mob that had Jones on
the ground and hit one OF them. They con-
cealed themselves behind trees and stones,
on them The dynamite bombs they
threw weighed a pound apiece. There were
eleven of us, comprising the white
officers Of the phosphate company. When we
were compelled to abandon our shelter 10
escape being blown "a pieces by the blasting
cartridges we made rush, but the
blacks gathered around US and closed in
upon us, using knives, clubs and revolvers.
The men who fell were Thomas N Fos-
ter, Joseph Fales and William t. Shea
The blacks literally butchered them with
knives and clubs Mr.. Foster was the super
intendent. We reached 4 small house, in
which we hid for safety for the time, and in the
interval the negroes ransacled ana pillaged
the superintendents house, in which we first
took shelter.
"Tha shooting Of James Mahcne was one of
the most bloodthirsty acts OF the day. The ne
groes came TO our hidlngplace and promised us
safety from attack If We came to supper. We
came out and found that some OF the darl5ies
were disposed to intercede for us. We marched
along in Ind an file, when Que OF the villainOus
blacks knows as George s Key stopped
and fired a revolver within six inches OF
Mahone's face, the ball going THROUGH
his cheek. AS he FELL the hend fred
which pierced his heart. With the smoke
curling from the barrel of the weapon Key
then stepped up to Jones and said: / settled
that - Jones felt that his time had come,
but II it had been the negro's intention TO
shoot Jones, something caused him to hesitate
and the mans life was spared.
The British br e AmOrette was lying Of the
coast l got note TO the captain and he
sailed 10 Jamaica and sent the British mau-of
war to our assistance. The captain of the
Forward got his Calling guns ready
for service and threatened to she'll the
island unless every man OF US was turned
over in safety. We were taken aboard
the vessel or Thursday after being in immi
nent perl of our lives since the previous Satur-
day, when the insurreeton took place. AS we
assembled the steps up the side OF the vessel the
officers paid US the compliment OF hanging the
American flag over the side. We were treated
royalty by the officers OF the man-Jfwar."