THE OUTBREAK AT ST. CROIX.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 311, 4 January 1879, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE OUTBREAK AT ST. CROIX.

.* ? (From the Western Morning News, Oct. 28 ) By the arrival of the West India steamers Vandalia and Para at Plymouth on Saturday and yesterday, particulars are received of the riots at St. Croix. The island has an area of 100 square miles, a portion of which is successfully cultivated as lugar estates Threefourths of the population are negroes, employed on the estates and works. The present outbreak and destruction brought upon the majority of tiiose estates appears to have arisen from one of those strange and unaccountable vegaries that occasionally render tbe temper of negroes unreliable. The action taken in the present case exhibited reckless ferocity, and yet the majority ot their leaders were members ot Christian churches. On Ist Octobor a large body of the rioters entered the town of Frederlksted in the evening:, armed with cutlasses, the weapons used by them in cutting the canes, and stones, and attempted to capture the fort by which the town Is protected. The police, by whom it was held, fired blank cartridge with the view of dispersing the mob, but finding that demonstration ineffectual, contented them'elves with closing up the approaches to the fort. The rioters then attacked a rum shop, captured it and its contents, and subsequently set it on fire, that commencing their work of ruin. Fire succeeded fir*, until the greater part of the town was in flames. The rioters theu left the town for the country, and set fire to the standing cane pieces, the houses, and works of the estates right and left of then* line of march. So soon as the Fredericksted population reovored their first fright,' they proceeded to arm themselves. Patrols were formed, and several drunken rioters who had been rendered by debauch incapable of accompanying their followers were captured. A courier was despatched to Christiansted, where there were .<ome soldiers quartered, asking for immediate assistance, and a party of 25 and an officer were sent. They cleared the roads ea route, and on arriving at Fredericksted martial law was proclaimed, forbidding any three persons to stand talking together A larger detachment of soldiers and volunteers subsequently left Cbristiansted to disperse the rioters. The Governor, who led the troops, met no opposition worth mentioning. The French war vessel, tbe Baboudounais, and the British screw corvette Tourmaline, 13, Captain Boxer, arrived at Fredericksted on the 2nd inst. Stops were then taken to punish the rioters. Two soldiers who had been left with a waggon at Carlton were found with their esra cut off and their skulls fractured, but they, together with a Mr. Fontaine, were all the lives that were lost on the part of the authorities. About 50 rioter* had bsen thot down by the soldiers in their operation*, and SO more were shot by court-martial the whole .of the Captured rioters suffering the latter fate. Besides the damage done to Frederickated, out ¦of tha.4*tates on the island 43 had their works destroyed^nd crops ravaged; the remainder, .86, escaped devastation.