The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-11
SURVIVORS OF THE NAyASSA RIOT.
Rescued by British Ship and Landed in Phil
adelphia-Details of the Butchery.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 10.-The British
steamship Dorian. which has just arrived
here 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 Navassa. They
were taken off the island by the British
man-of-war Forward and taken to Kingston.
where they were transferred to the Dorian.
Their names are c. d. Smith. NJ. D.; c. w.
Robig. II. A. Jones, II. n. Vail, John
O'Rourke and John jacobson. They have
with them three negroes who were friendly
and who helped save their lives. Mr.. Ro-
big 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 almost dubbed
TO death. DIR. Smith says they had
no warning of the outbreak. The
mines were all sent from Baltimore. Many
OF them were ship hands who had been ar
rested for desertIon and other otfenses. and
instead of being put in Jail were sent to
Navassa by the United States shipping
commissioners: They were hard set; al
ways up to mischief.
DIR. Smith says: "The building we took
refuge in was a mere shell, affording no
protection, and the only reason we were
not killed by dynamite bombs is that the
missi!lSs fell on the piazza instead of under
us. There were eleven of us whites. When
we had to abandon the shelter for fear of
being blown up we made rush. Some of
us had been badly injured. As we ran the
blacks closed in on u.s. using knives, clubs
Tas a9d ons wa hGmas sse. JSsDs
struck down and butchered. Foster
was the superintendent. The rest of
us reached small house where
we hid for safety. Meanwhile, the negroes
pillaged the superintendent's house. where
we had taken refuge first. The shooting OF
James Malone was one of the most blood
thirsty acts of the day. The negroes came
to our hiding-place and promised us safety
from attack If we came to supper. We
came out and found that some of the men
marched along in Indian file, when one of
the villainous blacks. known as George s.
Key. stopped and fred revolver within
six inches of MahOne's face. the ball going
another bullet into Mahone's back. which
pierced his heart. With the smoke curling
from the barrel of the weapon. Key then
stepped up to Jones and said: i settled
that - Jones felt that his time had
come, but, if it had been the negro's inten-
tiOn to shoot Jones, something caused him
to hesitate. and the mans life was spared.
1.-The English brig ArmOrette was lying
off the coast, but heavy storms we1e pre-
vailing, and we had no means of cOmmuni-
cdtluk WIFI ucI uOWctcT. SOb d Hotc W
the captain, and he sailed to Jamaica
and sent the British man-Of-war to our as
sistance. When the vessel came to the
island the negroes were thoroughly fright
ened. A part of them were still thirsting
to finish the job by killing those of us who
had survived. The captain of the Forward
got his Calling guns ready for service and
threatened to shell the island unless every
man of us was turned over in safety. We
were taken OH board the vessel on Qhurs-
day. after being in imminent peril
of onr lives sincethe previous Sat
urday, when the insurrectiOn 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-0f-war. They took
us to Kingston. where we were taken to q
clubhouse and entertained as II we were
distinguished people, and put safely aboard
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 jamaica"
The accounts Of Mr.. Roby and MIR. Jones
were in the same vein as that of DR.. Smith.
The survivors left by rail this afternoon for
Baltimore, the headquartersoft the Nayassa
Phosphate Company.
A Jamaica newspaper was received at
Baltimore to-day, giving the black mans
side of the story. IL differs little from the
one already published.