RIOTING ON ISLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1937, Page 7

RIOTING ON ISLAND

WHITE RESIDENTS FLEE

INCIDENT IN BAHAMAS. NASSAU, August 31. Five British constables have been sent from Nassau in response to \>i.e less calls for help to restore peace in the island of Great Inagua. This usual.s placid’, tropical isle, the most so.ituerl;, of the Bahamas, has been the s. cue o. rioting for six days.

One man has been killed and ill. island’s principal industry, the sa.l works, valued at Llb(),0()0, has been burned, also the radio slati m and ill. residence of Mr Dudley Arthur, the British Commissioner. Dining th ■ rioting Mr Arthur and 14 other white residents were forced to the lor their lives.

These lo men arrived at the vl'agc of Mavari in Cuba, and related how they had escaped the terror ol Hi native uprising oii.v to run the risk ol death by hunger and thirst in a s i.ing boat. An ironical development is that they are suspected by the rural Cuban police of being revolutionists bicausi of the arms they brought with them and they have been ordered to stall I their trial. All are United* State; citizens, except Mr Arthur.

They had five terrifying days at sea. without food. Their boat lost its ini dcr and the motor became i n vorkable. Pails were rigged from the reltrees clothing. Their iiidit was so precipitate that they failed to put food m water on board the sailing boat.