Weekly News. — 1890-09-18 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE JAMAICA MUTINY.  Details have been received of the inquiry into the tragedy which lately occurred at Apostles Battery, Jamaica, when Sergeant William White, of the Ist West India Regiment, a black man, was shot. The principal evidence was offered by Captain Norris, who was in command of the Western Detachment of the Ist West India Regiment, stationed at the Harbour Forts. He stated that on the morning of the 24th July, Sergeant-Major Hodgkinson reported to him that Sergeant White had refused to goon guarcl,and had declined to give up his sword, after being placed under arrest. Shortly afterwards it was reported to him that White had broken away from his escort, and passed the sentry, although challenged to stop. Witness called after White, and he replied, "I don't hear you," and he next saw him going at a great pace towards Fort Augusta. Witness wrote a letter to the sergeant in command there directing him to arrest White and bring him back 'under a strong escort. Subsequently witness was informed that White had taken with bins his rife and a large bag of ammunition, and that he had taken possession of the battery and fired several rounds. Witness procz,ded to the Apostles' Battery and ordered the men to fall-in with five rounds of ammunition each. He sent eight men under Corporal Allen, to arrest White, their orders being not to fire unless they were fired upon, and then to try and bit him in the arm or leg. Allen and his men went half-way up the hill and returned. Allen. called upon to explain, said that as they approached the battery Sergeant White ordered them to halt, or he would fire on them. Witness insisted on his orders being carried out, , and took charge if the men himself. When within 300 yards he called out, "Sergeant White, come i down here; I want to speak to you. Put down that rifle and come here." White, who was standing on the northern parapet, rifle in hand and having on his bag containing ammunition,muttered something , inaudible in reply, and sent a man down to say that if he (the captain) came without SergeantMajor Hodgkinson he would come down. Witness told the man to go back to Sergeant White and tell him that if he were sensibls he would lay down his rifle and give himself up, adding, "Tell him if he does not choose to do that and again fires on any of the men I shall have him shot. When the message reached White he appeared to crouch down as though about to fire, and the men, being panicstricken, bolted. Witness sent for more men and ammunition. He himself proceeded to Pert Royal, and, in the absence of Major Skinner, ordered 10 gunners and 10 sappers to get ready. Having accepted the services of Captain Brett, who was on the sick list, witness sent him to work his way round and climb the hill by the lazaretto and get at the battery. Witness left with a party of men in a steam launch and his own boat. As he approached he saw White walking up and down on the parapet watching them. Witness and six men worked their way towards the battery, and when they were within 400 yards White fired. Witness gave orders for his men to open upon him. Three men fired at him, but he hid himself, and soon afterwards replied with a shot which passed over the heads of those in the boat. White was under excellent cover, and subsequently discharged two shots in rapid succession. Someone called out, "There he is again," and they saw his head and shoulders against the sky line. Another shot, was fired and Sergeant White disappeared, the gunners calling out, "That knocked him over." They waited a bit, and a report was atterwards brought that he had , run down the embankment and taken to the hills. I Witness sent some of his men to hem him in, and the rest of them fell back to Port Henderson.—ln reply to the jury, Captain Norris said he had heard that White wished to shoot him (witness), and that in drinking his own health he had said that he intended to shoot him, then the Serjeant-Major, and afterwards commit suicide.—Captain Brett, B. 8., stated that his party was fired at from the battery by some one other than the deceased. Corporal Dawson was hit in the shceller.—The jur7 found that White was slain by a gunshot wound inflicted by a soldier who was acting in the due execution and discharge of his duty as a measure of necessity and in self-defence, and a rider was added recording the fact that Captain Norris exercised all the forbearance consistent with humanity and the due execution of his duty.  An Australian paper has burst out into Welsh poetry. Unfortunately it conies rather too late for this year's Eisteddfod. Perhaps it wil' for IWP Here it is:— •