Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-05-16
IsLAsp OF aAvAssA.


ISLAND OF NAvAssA, West Inliss, May
IA -This island. the only foreign posses-
sion we own, 10 in . fefmsnt. One hun
dred and atty labofers in the phosphate
beds are on . strike. and demand 10 b r.
turned to the United States. The sitaation
is grave one. and only the presencs Of
the man-of.vsf Kssrsasgs has prevented
an outbreak which might have bssn q
sequel to the bloody events which took
place here in September. 1889.
The keafsafge arrived here April -
from Port au Prince, in obedience 70 ordeas
from Admiral Gheradi. Who had been 20
pecially directed by President Harrison.
through the secretary Of the navy. 10 send
one Of the vessels Of his squadron to this
place to make certain Investigations and re-
port thereon to him. It seems that one Of
the iaborers here, . black man, by name
Fred Carter, wrote letter TO the Presider.
complaining that he was practically . slave
here, ~ he was detained beyond the term
Of his contract. and that the authorities
would not permit him to leave. The COM
msnding officer Of the Ksafsargc was
ordered to ascertain the truth about this
matter Of CATERS detention and TO inves.
tgste and report upon the general condi-
tion Of sifairs here.
The day Of the ships arrival vas spent In
such irquiry as vas required. Carter's &C
cusstions were found to be true. The only
excuse offered for his detention was that
rome Of the company's 3 vessels had touched
here since his contract had expired, in Jan.
nary. and there was 70 authority to send
him home In any other vessel at the COM
psny's expense. He will be taken to the
United States in the Keafsargs.
The relation Of Navsssa to the
United States 10 rather . peculiar one.
Congress, by act Of Aug. Is, 1856, pro.
vided (Revised Statutes, United States,
section 55,0):
whenever any citizen Of the United
States discosers deposit Of guano on any
leland, rock or key, not within the lawful
Jurisdiction Of any other government, and
net occupied by the citizens Of any other
government, and takes peaceable possession
thereof, snd occupies the same, such island,
rock or key may, at the discretion Of the
President, be considered % appertaining TO
the United States"
The same act (Rsvised Statutes. section
5576) provides:
"All acts done and odensss or crimes
committed on any such leland, lock, or key,
by persons who may land thereon. or in the
waters adjacent thereto, shall be deemed
committed on the high seas, on board
merchant ship or vefsel belonging TO the
United States, and shall be punished &C.
cording TO the laws Of the United States
relatipg to such ships or vessels and offenses
on the high seas, which laws, for the puf-
pose aforesaid, are extended over such
islsnis, rocks, and keys"
The validity Of this act has recently been
affirmed in the case Of the rioters who COM
mi,ied the murders here in September,
1889. and who, when tried before the United
Ststes District Court for murder, set up a
plea of want of Jurisdiction on the part Of
the United States, which WAS overruled,
and three of the accused were found guilty
Of murder in the first degree, and this find.
ing wac. on appeal, sustained by the United
States Supreme Court
A recital of the conditions Of government
and management here will convince any
one that il 10 high time that the Upited
States authorities looked into the doings Of
the company that owns this leland and
operates the phos phate beds. and that some
measures be taken to correct a state of
Al airs little short of scandalous.
This island at Nsvssss is in the Csrib.
bean sea, south Of the Wiudward Passage
between Caba and Hayti and some SO miles
west Of the long outstre,ching southern
ger Of the latter island. The rich rock
is found in pockets and ia load
ed by lighters into vessels anchored in the
open sea to leaward and southwest Of Ns-
vAssa. The company is represented here
by superintendent and seventeen white
suoordinates who hold the higher positions
and have under their charge lS9 lsborers.
all black. who are recruited in the United
States, msinly in Baltimore. The island
is of small extent and barren. No amuse-
ment offers itself and none is provided by
the company though strongly recommend
ed. The compsny's store is like all such
establishments and the goods supplied are
{ thsrged to the mems accounts. 1t 10 easy
to see that what with the general shiftless-
ness Of the black race, the hospital charges,
lost time from imprisonment and
such other causes, the miserable So q
month is soon Consumed and II is rare that
tho laborer, discharged st the end OF his
time, has more than few dollars due him
on his return 70 Baltimore, if indeed, he
has anything. On the arrival Of the Kear.
sage the officials reported every thing quiet
and seemed to have no conception of the
volcano slumbeiing VI der their feet, and
which burst forth next morning. April 80,
in $50 men going on = strike, which, IL
seems, bad long been planned, unsupported
by the officers of the company in charge
here. The strikers refused to work and
demanded that they be cent home. The
position Of the phosphate company is rather
an embarrassing one. II has no power to
compel the men to work. There is no
plsce to send them, and they must be housed
and fed at the compapy's expense. The
strikers have been quiet, owing to the per-
sussive presence Of the guns Of the Kesr-
sage. There have been some threats, and
an assault ives made upon negro whom
the strikers suspected Of telling tales.
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