New-York tribune., 1891-05-15
BTRIKE AT NAvASSA ISLAND.
THE MARINES OF THE KEARsARGE LANDED
TO PREVENT RIoTING.
FEARS OF MURDERoUs DISORDERS SIMILAR TO
THOSE OF 1sso-BRuTAL TREATMENT Ex-
PERIENCED BY THE woRKMEN-THE
COMPANY. FAILING TO SEND
MEN HOME ACCORDING
TO CONTRACT.


MEN HOME ACCORDING
TO coSrRAcr. ~
Navassa, May AIN the days Of Pirate Kidd ana
Morgan the Buccaneer the islands of the Car1DDeah
Sea the favore resorts OF marooncrs ana scents
were there eDacted that have been staple incoeh's
IN yellow-covered fction since our earliest reihem-
brance but In these days, when the good people oi
Philadelphia are sending petitions TO the Car OF All
he Russias praying for amelioration OF the conu'oh
m the Siberian oonviets. IL Is snrprise 10 US 7"
stumble over insignificant little island In the Gar
lbbean Sea where occasionally the pet torments OF
the buccaneers are rcsortcd to to enforce ihe ohe-
sided contracts the Navassa Phosphate Company
makes with its unhappy and unfortunate employees
The day before the North Atlantic Squadron were TO
have sailed from PortauP Prince, homeward-bound Ad-
mra Ghersr received orders TO send one of his ships
TO Navassa Island to Investigate an alleged outrage
which had been perpetraed by the Navassa Phosphate
Company on one of its employees, which had been COM
planned OF and reported 10 President harrison
Pursuant to these orders, the Kearsarge was detailed
for this duty, and proceeding from Poau-Pr1nce I'M
r,edatey arrived at the Island Of Savassa on April
90. s s e. 81
The case Of abuse and iIl-treatmeDt which
mad been brought TO the notice Of the Prcsl-
dent was that Of Frederick Carter, VINO
had signed with the Navassa Phosphate Company on
September S, 1880, contract for fifteen months eu
ployment which included the forfeiture Of wages Tor
failing 10 obey the orders and instructions of the COM
pany or refusal any time TO labor and release OF
the company fpm" any and all liability Tor any injury
arising from accident from the acts OF any officer OF
employe on the Island of Navassa.' He claims that
he only hired out" for six months, but that on his
arrival at Navassa he was told that he had signed for
Fifteen months.
When his fifteen months expired he asked to be sent
home but The company persistently refused to send
him home and Carter finally procured letter to DO
written to President Harrison, the result OF which was
the interposition of the Kearsarge.
To Commander Elmer the officers of the Navassa
Island explained that there had been no means OF
transporting Carter North since his time expired; but
In view Of the fact that the Atlas Line of steamers call
there twice a month, and that the companys own
steamer sailed from Navassa for baltimore SIX weeks
after the expiration OF Carters contract the excuse
was thought not well grounded. The result OF Con
mander Elmer's investigation was that he onereo !"
take Carter North in the Kearsarge If he wished TO 90
to Key West
Although the officers Of the Navassa Phosphate Com
pany reported everything quiet on the island they wee
evidently misnformed il Is very evident that there
has been much dissatisfaction there for long tme' ho'
only among the black employees, but among the white
subordinates This dissatisfaction eliminated In srihe
on the morning Of April 90 and 140 Of the ls9 colored
employees on the island refused 10 go to work and DC
manded to be sent North.
Nearly, II not quite all of them, claim 70 nave
signed the contracts under misapprchenslon, not
only length Of service but the character oI
the employment. Some who were shipped by ship
ping brokers claim to have been shanghaied'
An appeal was made TO Commander Elmer who ap-
pointed board consisting of Lieutenant Commander
Charles Beiknap, Surgeon John X. Waggener ana Lieu
tenant John H. shpiey to receive the statements OF tho
strikers" and to adjust the difficulty, if possible The
board also ordered to report to Commander Elmer
the result Of their investigations.
Although have not been able to secure a copy OF
the report it is generally understood, and uncon
board also ordered 10 report to Commander Elmer
have severely censured the Navassa Phosphate CON-
pany In the official reports The strike is not ended
the men having that they will do more work
on the Island of Navassa as, by refusing to go to
work on the morning Of April 30 they forfeited all the
wages due them they afford to remain idle
The special legislation by which the Island Of Ma
vassa is virtually ship, wheron mutiny is a crime.
places these men In peculiar posidon-but as this
fact seems well known TO them, their position must
have foundation, and they daim only an invest
cation and justice There be doubt in the mind Of
any who has been shore here that the employees
badly treated. Officers Of the Kearsage have been
shown swollen cbafed and bruised legs, the result OF
having been ain the stocks.' The laborers tell OF
having been triced up by the thumbs" punishment.
They are not allowed any weapon, not even knife
Ind fork with which TO eat. while the bos;es,"
skeepersa or officers" all carry loaded revolvers at
Ill times.
The origin of the trouble lies, think, in the fact
fhat Navassa In effect penal settlement for
the State of Maryland. Ii is so no longer, However
and there now cOnvicts the island. The
system of government-the " rules, regulations and
lawsn-has not been changed 10 meet the new con-
ditions.
The Officers the island lay the entire RESPONSE
bilty on the COMPANY and claim that they have nlt
gated many Of the "Fules" the company have sent
down. and several OF the subordinate officers requested
to be taken BY the Kcarsage claiming that there
would be repetition OF the riots and massacre Of two
years ago as soon as the KearsMge departed. This
view being also held by Mr.. Everett. the superln
tendent, Commander Elmer decided to dsembark the
marine guard under Lieutenant G. T. Bates, y. g.
H Co. and leave them ashore for the protection OF the
lives and property the island while the Kearsarge
sailed TO the nearest telegraph station to consult the
Navy Department and 10 ask instructions.
Every one here thinks that IL is useless to expect
any action in the matter from the Navassa Phosphate
Company inasmuch they seemingly have failed TO
profit by the death OF six Of their officers in the
Eavassa riots Of 1850. The Kesrsasge can not be ex
pected to remain at Navassa TO keep order for the
Eavassa Company and the only hope OF relief either
10 the Navassa strikers" and "ocers' the officers
AID crew OF the Kearsarge lies In prompt and decisive
kct,on by the National Government.
Assistant Superintendent r. J. Perry: Of the Navassa
phosphate Company took passage the Kearsarge TO
jamaica whence he VIII proceed 10 the United States
by the most direct route 10 confer with the company
the situation.
THE SORROWS OF AN EX-oUEEY
~ Once leave Servia