New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-02
BUTCHERED BY NEGROES
FOUR AMERICANS CRUELTY KILLED IN THE
NAVASSA RIOTS.
ASSAULTED WITH ROCKS, CLUBS, AXES, KNIVES
AND DYNAMITE-REsCUED AFTER FOUR
DAYS PERIL BY BRITISH
MAN.OF-wAl


Baltimore, Oct 1.-The following particulars OF the
riot at Navesss September IA have been received
by the Navassa Phosphate Company from tho acting
superintendent Dr. d. C. Smith:
"On the morning Of the 18th the negroes arose in
Instruction and killed four officers. as follows:
Thomas y. Foster. Joseph Falcs, James Mahon and
William I. Shea. We are at loss TO know why the
negroes took the steps they did, and had no warning
or intmation OF such a thing. Mr.. Roby was first
assaulted IN the dlgglngs and hlt on the head with
clubs until left for dead. He found In rockhole
under lot Of boards. He was removed to the house
and part in the battle with the blacks after hav
ing thirty stitches taken in his scalp lie IS al pres
ent doing well. At noon the men cong1egated IN
front of the superintendent house. and refused TO
work. When Mr.. Jones, by my direction, atenptu
to arrest one Of the ringeaders and take pistol from
him. he was knocked down, and in a few seconds a
bowling mob surrounded him. He managed 10 get Z"
the house. where other officers had sought shelter
through volleys Of rocks and other missiles huried at
him. We took refuge in the upper story oi inc
superlntendents house, and opened fire on the MOD
which was throwing stones against and INTO the
house from every direction as we'll shooting at any
one of us who happened to be seen by them
"That battle lasted about three hours, win an oc-
casonal negro wounded, when were startled Dy
the explosion of a dynamite bomb, which they had
thrown on the lower porch This was soon followed Oy
another until there a continual roar OF dynamite
'h''''
buildings near, which afforded them protection from
our occasional shots We had but couple OF rounds
Of ammunition loft, which we were preserving for
closer quarters, which knew must inevitably
shortly after p m. they broke into the dyna-
mite magazine and got fresh supply OF dyhsnlo'
BY this time the explosions of dynamite had become
so frequent and uninterrupted, and knowing II was
their intention TO blow us into eternity we decided 10
leave the house and endeavOr to reach the OIL
GERS quarter and make another stahd' uu'
we hadn't got twenty feet away before they
saw u.s. and attacked US from every direcuoh
with axes knives, rocks, razors AMI cubs' al 'he sso
time uttering fendish yells that oohah'"o i'Nia"
would have cnvicd. .
"Fach man was soon overtaken and dsarmed Mr.
Foster was the first TO drop his wcapon-a small cat
rife He was at butcherod with knives ana o'her
munerous weapons Joseph Fales was inc heAC
victim and was chopped 10 pieces with an axe alcr
he had surrendered his weapon Poor BIZ Shea when
last SEEM was within few feet of the cliffs with
number of negroes in hot pursuit. One OF them was
firing at him with revolver. His body has never
been found
"Th6ee Of US whose lives spared owe our lives
10 the Intervention Of friendly negroes, who hid lis IN
a littlnAuiding until the excitement had somewhat
sibsidedI land lille they were engaged in robbng ana
pillacing the building About O'Clock some negroes
came TO the building in which we were hiding and
told us 10 come up to the mcss-house and get some
supper declaring that should not be harmed While
going TO and fro We had not proceeded over thirty
feet before one OF the devils, known as George =
Key placed a revolver within few Inches OF James
Mahon's face and fired, and then shot him through
the heart after he foil
"The brig Amorette here at the time, but IL
blew so hard that we could not communicate with
the captain until Sunday evening l wrote him
note requesting him TO run Kingston, Jamaica,
and request the American Consul 10 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 evening On September 90 Her MaIesty's
shin Forward a British man-ofwar, came to our
assistance under orders to remain until relieved by
the United states ship Galena We hear nothing OF
al Hayu. Truly, each of though Americans as
are. sincerely eXclalm God save the Queen
treated honored guests We are hourly expect
ing the GaleIa. We lives TO the prompt |
arrival Of the Forward Great credit Is due William
HeuSOn the negro preacher OF NavasSa. but for whose
interceSslon in our behalf not one Of us would be
alive TO tell the tale.
The object of attacking Mr.. Rnby in the digging
dynamite and HIS revolver. samuel March was severely
hurt by being struck with rocks on the back of The
rocks and bruised about the body. H. " Vail was |
shot accidentally through the eshy part Of his right
leg. All Of the survivors have shown the forttude
OF veterans. or course all work has ceased"
Navassa is small island IT, the Caribbean Sea. |
situated between Hayt and Jamaica, and about $50
miles from Kingston The island Is under no par |
ticular jurisdiction. but IS regarded under the
protection of tho United States. The Navassa Guano
Company, Of Ncw-York. has owned the island since
1854 There the company has employed the 100
men sent from Baltimore, ooored laborers and white
officers
THEIR SCHEME MAPPED OUT.