I have already stated that the French established their first settlement
in the island of Grenada in 1650. They found the island inhabited by
the Carib Indians, who, regarding the white men as beings superior in
goodness as well as intellect, gave them a cordial welcome, and treated
them with kindness and hospitality. The French, well pleased with their
reception, gave the cacique a few hatchets, knives, and beads, and a
barrel of brandy, and very coolly took possession of the island they
had thus purchased. Their conduct in this respect reminds one of the
language of the ill-treated Caliban to the proud Prospero:
"This island's mine, Which thou tak'st from me. When thou camest first,
Thou strok'dst and made much of me; wouldst give me Water with berries
in't; and teach me how To name the bigger light, and how the less, That
burn by day and night; and then I loved thee, And showed thee all the
qualities of the isle The fresh springs, brine pits, barren place and
fertile; Cursed be I that did so."
The remonstrances of the Caribs against the wrongs they were doomed
to suffer were as little heeded by the colonists as the complaints of
Caliban by Prospero. The French were resolute, powerful, and rapacious,
and treated the red men with inhumanity. The Indians, unable to contend
with their oppressors by open force, fled to their mountain fastnesses,
and commenced an obstinate predatory warfare upon the whites, murdering
without discrimination all whom they found defenceless. This led to a
bloody and protracted struggle for the mastery; and a reenforcement of
troops having been sent from France to aid the infant colony, it was
decided, after mature deliberation, that the most expeditious and
effectual mode of ending the war, and establishing peace on a permanent
basis, was TO EXTERMINATE THE CARIBS.
These original "lords of the soil" were accordingly driven from their
fastnesses, hunted by parties of soldiers, shot down like wild beasts
wherever found, until their number was reduced from thousands to about
one hundred. Bing cut off from the mountains by a military force, this
remnant of a powerful band fled to a promontory on the north part of the
island which overlooked the ocean, and, hard pressed by their civilized
foes, more than half their number leaped over the rocky precipice into
the sea which dashed against its base. The others were massacred.
This promontory has ever since been known as "Morne des Sauteurs," or
the "Hill of the Leapers." I have stood upon the extreme point of this
promontory, where I could look down some eighty or a hundred feet into
the raging abyss beneath, and listened to the mournful tradition as
detailed by one of the oldest inhabitants of the island. This is
only ONE of the vast catalogue of cruelties and wrongs that have been
inflicted on the Indians by the whites in constant succession, from the
first settlement of the New World to the present time.
The French, who were long in possession of the island of Grenada,
established on the plantations French customs, the French language, and
the Roman Catholic religion. When the island fell into the hands of the
English, although no organized plan was adopted to interfere with the
customs of the slaves, or change their language, the English failed in
acquiring the attachment of the negroes, who lamented the absence of
their French masters, and sighed for their return.
Early in the year 1795, during the French revolution, a plan was
conceived by some white men and five mulattoes, in Guadaloupe, who
were aware of the existence of this discontented feeling, to create an
insurrection among the slaves in Grenada, and take possession of the
island. Emissaries were sent among the plantations, who conferred with
the principal negroes, and secretly made arrangements for the work
they contemplated. In the month of August, two or three sloops, each
containing thirty or forty men, with a supply of arms and ammunition,
arrived in the harbor of La Baye, on the eastern side of the island.
The expedition was commanded by an active and intelligent mulatto named
Fedon, and landed in the night, captured the small fort which overlooked
the harbor, took possession of the town, murdered a number of the white
inhabitants, and plundered the houses and stores. Runners were employed
to convey the news to the different plantations, and the insurrection of
the slaves was complete.
Some of the white men of the plantations received secret intelligence of
the rising among the blacks, and lost no time in fleeing to a place of
safety; others remained unconscious of the approach of danger, and were
murdered. Deeds of cruelty were perpetrated on this occasion by the
negroes, a relation of which would chill the stoutest heart.
It unfortunately happened that when this insurrection broke out, the
acting governor with several members of the council, and some merchants
and planters of great respectability, were on a visit to the eastern
part of the island. As soon as they heard of the attack on La Baye, and
the progress of the insurrection, they left the quarters where they had
been hospitably entertained, and, accompanied by their host and some
other gentlemen, proceeded to the sea shore, and embarked in a sloop,
with the intention of proceeding to St. George, which was the seat of
government, and was strongly fortified and garrisoned.
As the sloop was passing the little village of Guayave, some negroes
appeared on the shore, bearing a flag of truce, and indicated by
expressive gestures a wish to hold a conference with the governor.
This functionary, not aware of the dreadful atrocities that had been
committed, and hoping that some means might be agreed upon to heal
the disturbances, imprudently ordered the vessel to be anchored in
the roadstead, and himself and a number of the most influential of his
friends went ashore in a boat, and were landed on the beach. A party
of armed blacks, who until that moment had been concealed, immediately
surrounded them, pinioned them, and marched them away. The boat was
seized by the negroes, and a party pushed off for the purpose of
boarding the sloop, and securing the remainder of the white men; but
they, having witnessed the capture of the governor and his companions,
suspected the object of this maneuver, cut the cable, and with a fine
breeze, distanced the boat which had started in pursuit, and proceeded
to St. George with the mournful news.
The rebel chief, Fedon, collected around him, as it were by a single tap
of the drum, an army of some thousands of blacks, and distributed among
them a considerable number of fire-arms. Others were armed with weapons
hastily prepared; and the great body of the insurgents, being desperate
men, stimulated by the hope of freedom and the desire of vengeance, with
leaders of ability and some military skill, the insurrection assumed a
formidable appearance.
Fedon took possession of Mount Quaqua, a high, steep, and somewhat bald
mountain in the interior, and there encamped with his army. The base of
the mountain was cultivated, and furnished excellent pasturage for the
many cattle which were driven thither from the various plantations to
furnish subsistence for his army. This place he fortified, determined to
make it his stronghold in case of adversity; and he went vigorously
to work in organizing and disciplining his army with a view to make an
attack on St. George before the government could receive reenforcements,
and thus get possession of the whole island.
The governor and his friends, and other prisoners, principally planters,
having been strictly confined for several days, and treated with many
indignities, were conveyed under a guard to the camp of the rebel
chieftain. Fedon caused them to be brought before him, and after
exulting over their capture, and heaping upon them insults and abuse,
ORDERED THEM TO BE SHOT. This sentence was executed on the following
day. Only one of the number escaped to tall the sad tale. This was Mr.
Bruce, a merchant residing at St. George, who had acted as attorney for
the Pearl plantations. When led out with others to be executed, a negro
whispered in his ear, "Massa, my capen tells me, shoot you! But I no
shoot you! Only make b'live. You stand up straight when I fire, you fall
to ground, and scream, and twist, all same as if you be dead!"
The deception was successful. The negro, whose name was Quamina, and
belonged to the Lower Pearl estate, was stationed opposite to Bruce. The
word was given. Bruce fell with the rest, and imitated to admiration the
agonies of a dying man; and Quamina, at the risk of his life, succeeded
in saving that of the white man. That night, he contrived to get him
outside the lines, conducted him on the road leading to St. George,
and left him. Mr. Bruce, after much fatigue and several hair-breadth
escapes, reached the town, being the only one among the prisoners
carried to the camp who escaped from the clutches of the monster.
I may as well state here, that after the insurrection was quelled, Mr.
Bruce manifested towards his preserver a grateful spirit. He wished to
give him his freedom, but Quamina, who was a negro of consequence on the
estate, refused to accept it. Quamina was elevated to the situation of
head-boiler; and Mr. Bruce every year made him a visit, gave him a sum
of money, clothing, and valuable presents for himself and wife.
The military forces in the island were not more than were needed to
occupy the forts and defences of St. George, where the white population
had fled, with the little property they could take with them on the
breaking out of the rebellion. Parties of insurgents, commanded by
chiefs appointed by Fedon, who exercised absolute power, had the range
of the rest of the island. The rebels made a desperate attempt to
capture St. George, but were repulsed with great loss.
Affairs remained in this condition for nearly a year, before any
efficient measures were adopted by the British authorities to regain
possession. At length General Abercrombie, with a large military power,
landed, and, joined by the regular forces in St. George, and some
companies of militia, succeeded in driving the insurgents from the
sea coast to the mountains. He then invested Mount Quaqua, cut off all
supplies from the army of Fedon, and compelled him to fight, surrender,
or starve. The insurgent chief, with some of the leaders of the
insurrection, and a portion of the rebels, attempted to cut their way
through the English army, and some of them succeeded, among whom was
Fedon. He proceeded to the sea coast, embarked in an open boat with
a few companions, and was probably drowned, as he was never heard of
afterwards.
The plantation negroes, generally, returned to the estates to which they
had been attached, and, with a few exceptions, were forgiven, and work
on the plantations was resumed. A number of the colored persons,
slaves and freemen, who were chieftains under Fedon, or had signalized
themselves by extraordinary acts of cruelty, were arrested and hanged.
One of the most efficient officers among the rebels was named Jack
Shadow. He was a free mulatto, a shrewd, intelligent creole, and
previous to the insurrection, had resided in the town of Guayave, and
exercised the trade of carpenter. With the assistance of his wife,
a mulatto, he also cultivated a garden, and contrived to gain a
comfortable living. When the insurrection, instigated by the French
revolutionists, broke out in the eastern part of the island, Jack
hastened to join the insurgents, and was cordially received by Fedon,
who intrusted him with an important mission, which he executed with such
adroitness as to gain the confidence of the chief, who appointed him
to a high command in the army. Jack was one of Fedon's most efficient
officers, and signalized himself by his bitter hatred to the whites, and
the zeal with which he abetted his chief in the horrid scenes of cruelty
that were enacted.
When the insurrection was quelled, Jack Shadow, although wounded, made
his escape, with some others of the most obnoxious rebels, to the woods
and mountains in the interior of the island. They endeavored to conceal
themselves from the pursuit of the whites, but in the course of one or
two years were all, with the exception of Jack, ferreted out and shot
when apprehended, or taken to jail, tried, and hanged.
Jack, however, remained in the mountains. A large reward was offered for
him, dead or alive; and parties of armed men often scoured the woods,
hoping to find his lair and shoot or capture the rebel chief. But though
it was known he was hid in a certain part of the island, he eluded all
endeavors to arrest him for ten or twelve years, and might perhaps have
died of old age, had he not been betrayed by his wife.
It was subsequently ascertained that Jack had erected a hut by the side
of a ledge of rocks, which was almost inaccessible to a stranger; and
this hut, being surrounded with bushes and undergrowth, and covered with
vines, could not be recognized as a habitation by any one unacquainted
with the fact. His wife, Marie, remained in her humble cottage in
Guayave, and, it appeared still cherished affection for her husband. He
was visited in the wilderness by Marie at certain times, and supplied
with necessaries and whatever she thought might conduce to his comfort
in that wretched abode. At his urgent request, she also furnished him,
occasionally, with a JUG OF RUM, with which to cheer his spirits and
solace his solitude. He gradually acquired an insatiable fondness for
spirituous drinks, and insisted on being supplied, even to the exclusion
of articles vastly more suitable to his condition.
The consequence of the indulgence of this habit was soon exhibited. He
became gloomy, sullen, and ferocious. He no longer treated his wife,
to whom he was so much indebted, and the only being with whom he
associated, with his wonted kindness and affection, but, when maddened
with liquor, often abused her. Marie bore this for a long time with
patience. She still sought his hiding-place at times, and bore him the
poisonous beverage, probably unconscious that she was thus indirectly
the cause of the changed conduct in her husband. He continued his ill
treatment, especially when under the influence of liquor, and after a
time the affection of Marie for her husband was extinguished. She began
to regard him as the fierce outlaw and murderer, who cherished no gentle
affections, but took pleasure in abusing the woman who held his life
in her hands, and had labored hard and risked much to screen him from
capture and cheer him in his concealment. Her visits became more seldom,
and the ill temper of her husband increased.
One night, Marie pursued her devious way to the mountains to furnish
Jack with the accustomed supplies. He snatched form her hand the liquor,
and took a deep draught. The poison did its work. He became excited, and
quarreled with his wife; and, roused to fury by her reproaches, struck
her with his hand, seized her by the shoulder and thrust her from the
hut, tumbling her over the ledge. Marie rose, groaning with pain, being
severely bruised. The cup of her indignation, which had long been
full, was now overflowing. She slowly returned to her home in Guayave,
brooding over schemes of revenge, and formed the determination to betray
her husband into the hands of justice. She called upon Dr. Duncan, a
rich planter and a magistrate, and offered to guide him to the spot
where Jack Shadow, the daring rebel, was concealed.
Within a couple of hours after the magistrate received the welcome
information, he was on his way to the mountains, accompanied by Marie
and a guard of soldiers. They entered the thicket on the side of the
mountain, where Jack Shadow had taken up his abode. They came to a
precipitous ledge of rocks. "Move gently, now," said Marie, in a low
voice; "we are close upon his hut."
The soldiers could see nothing resembling a hut. With their muskets
loaded, and bayonets fixed, they with difficulty made their way through
steep, rugged, and crooked passes, and, after a toilsome march, stood by
the side of Jack's habitation.
The sergeant was now quietly arranging his men in such a manner as to
insure the captivity or death of the outlaw, when one of the soldiers
stumbled, and his musket struck the ground with a ringing noise. Jack,
who had just awakened from his drunken nap, heard the ominous sound.
He had no weapons, but relied on the security of his retreat and his
activity and strength. He cautiously opened the door, in front of which
stood a soldier with his musket pointed towards him. The sergeant cried,
"Surrender, or you are a dead man!"
Jack made one last desperate struggle for life. He sprang down the
ledge, turned aside with one hand the bayonet which was thrust at his
bosom, and felled the soldier with the other; but ere he could clear the
guard, his shoulder was transfixed by another bayonet, which disabled
him, and in a few minutes he was stretched at the feet of the soldiers,
a wounded, pinioned captive. Before the sun had set that afternoon he
was securely lodged in the prison at Guayave, heavily ironed, and the
prison was guarded by a detachment of soldiers.
The trial of Jack Shadow soon came on before a bench of magistrates.
His identity was proved; also the conspicuous part he had taken in the
insurrection, and the bloody acts which he had committed. The outlaw was
condemned to death. His deportment was sullen and dogged to the last. He
refused to see his wife, who, when too late, regretted the steps which,
prompted by anger and a short-lived desire for revenge, she had taken
for his arrest. He was hanged on a gallows, about a quarter of a mile
outside the village of Guayave.