BARBADOS-ANTIGUA EXPEDITION 233 
at times been accompanied by frightful excesses. Still the Po- 
lice and Defense Force stood with stones coming more and more 
frequently. Many had already been struck and blood was 
running from a wound in Colonel Bell’s face. Night was com- 
ing on and it was evident that the blacks would be beyond con- 
trol in the darkness. 
Colonel Bell quietly moved among his men, telling each one 
to keep track of some one of the more aggressive negroes and 
when ordered to fire to be sure to get his man. In order to get 
rid of the black women and boys who were swarming among the 
men, urging them on in a perfect frenzy of hate, the order was 
given to fire over their heads. This resulted in a great scatter- 
ing of the women and boys, while most of the men held their 
ground. Immediately after this the order was given to fire to kill, 
and a number of the leaders were stretched out either dead or 
wounded. This ended the affair, as the mob was thoroughly 
cowed by the slaughter of their leaders and scattered at once in 
the dusk of the evening, running in terror to their homes where 
a number were arrested without further trouble. 
The next day two French war-vessels, summoned by eable, 
made their appearance and a French Admiral came ashore and 
offered to clean up the island with machine guns. The affair 
was over by this time, however, although the prompt appear- 
ance of the allies had an excellent effect and the blacks have 
since been quiet. 
His Excellency, T. A. V. Best, Acting Governor of the Lee- 
ward Islands, proved his friendship and goodwill toward the 
expedition in every possible manner. He approved the conces- 
sion granting the use of the Dockyard for quarters and labora- 
tory during our stay, and recommended that all of our effects 
be passed free of duty without being taken to the customs house. 
They were, as already stated, trans-shipped unopened to the 
‘sloop ‘‘Resolute’’ in the Harbor and immediately sent around 
to the Dockyard. The Defense Force also gave us the use of 
such furniture as was at its disposal for fitting up the quarters. 
Governor Best was occupying his official position by one of 
the accidents of war. It seems that a new Governor, Sir Ed- 
ward Merewether, had been appointed about the time of the be- 
ginning of the great war. He was then serving in Africa; but, 
