§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN (Worcestershire, E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the House any information as to the reported disturbances at Nassau, Bahamas?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThe following telegram was received from the Governor of the Bahamas on the 19th April:—
Disturbance began in coloured quarter on night of 15th, when a prisoner was rescued and a murderous assault made on police, whose station was wrecked, and the Inspector who was sent for was seriously injured. Mob in quarter in question truculent, and an attempt to arrest ringleaders would hazard lives, and might fail, leaving community at mercy of coloured infuriated mob. On the 17th one of the Constabulary in open day and in town was felled to the ground and seriously injured. This unprovoked act led his comrades to break out of barracks without authority, and they rushed into the streets fully armed, having got ammunition by stealth. They refused to obey the orders of Commandant, and I was obliged to interfere personally to compel their return to barracks. Matters are now in abeyance, but on arrival of gunboat on 22nd we shall proceed to arrest ringleaders, and hope to accomplish objects without serious difficulty.We have to-day received this further telegram—Partridge arrived 24th April. No further disturbances. Proceeding with execution of law, and hope its temperate assertion will soon result in restoration of normal conditions.