I 1848 havde politiet på de vestindiske øer forbudt dansen, kaldet Gumbée andre steder end i udkanten af byen, i forbindelse med jul og nytår: "proceeding with drumming, dancing, singing, and all kind of noise are hereby forbidden!" Begrundelsen var at det støjende og forstyrrede folk om natten. Dette forbud blev gentaget de følgende år. Efter en ny guvernørs tiltræden kom det imidlertid til sammenstød i julen 1852. Nedenfor først artikel fra St. Croix Avis, og dernæst en dansk gengivelse fra Kjøbenhavnsposten - som havde den fra Berlingske Tidende (26. januar 1853, 2. udgave):
The "AVIS."
Christiansted, Tuesday the 28th of December 1852.
That want of respect for the Authorities, and particularly for the Police, of which some of the lowest class of the inhabitants of this town, have repeatedly given examples, has, on Christmas-Eve last, caused a melancholy catastrophe, of which we, with the profoundest regret, have to inform our readers.
A part of these people, as is well known, spends the Christmas Season in amusements, which, partly, consist in parading through the streets with a kind of noisy, discordant music and singing ; and, partly, in dancing. As we have learned, the case does not stand as some have supposed, that the Police had prevented these processions through the streets; but it was fixed as a rule, with regard to the places where these dances could be continued, in accordance with an order from the Government, that the so-called Gumbee dances should not be held in such places in the town, where it might be supposed, that the neighbours would be disturbed by the noise ; neither in such places wherefrom complaints, on this point, were made.
In a house or yard, situated about the middle of the town, by the Sunday market, they had already, on the day before Christmas-Eve, yea even for many days previous, begun with Gumbee drumming, and on these persons being called up at the Police Office, they were informed, that they should choose some other place in the outskirts of the town for this purpose, while, on the other hand, it was plainly intimated to them that no objection was held to the processions through the streets. Notwithstanding this, the Gumbee dance commenced at the same place on Christmas-Eve, which caused the Police to appear on the spot, and as no one owned himself to be the owner of the drum, the skin of the same was immediately cut, and the noise thus in this usual and practical manner stopped. Some hours after, about 10 o'clock, as the Police patrolled the streets, while the processions undisturbed went along the streets with all sorts ofmusic, it was discovered that the drum-dance had again commenced in this same place. Accordingly, the Police again repaired to the spot, and the place was immediately vacated by all present. As the Police-servants came out in the street from this place, they were assaulted with stones thrown at them, and were obliged, after two of them had been rather severely wounded, to retire to the Police Office, the gate of which, luckily, was hastily closed by the Police-servant there on duty, after the other Police-servants had come inside, so that the mass could not force in; which precaution prevented what would, without doubt, have taken place, viz: the destruction of the Archives and Protocols of the Island, in the same manner as took place in Frederiksted on the 3d July 1848 This large mass of people, which remained outside the Police Office, and which, at the same time, must have swelled larger by the accession of others, who formed part of the processions, then threw at the building a quantity of stones of great size, until Military assistance arrived, when they gave way In one of the hy-strects, by the Catholic Church, a military patrol was assaulted by a shower of stones, and after a few shots had been fired in the air, without intimidating the mob, who still continued to throw stones with renewed vigor; and as some of the soldiers (we are told 8) were wounded by the stones, the command was given to fire, from the effects of which, according to the information that we have been able to obtain, 1 man fell dead on the spot, 1 man and a woman were wounded in such a manner that they died on the following morning at the Hospital, and seven other persons were, more or less, dangerously wounded.
The same excited tone, however, still pervaded the mass, and outside the Government- House a patrole, being under an attack with stones, was obliged to fire, by which, however, as far as we know, no one was wounded.
After this the different gatherings kept at long distances, wherever the patrols showed themselves, and by one o'clock in the following morning there were no others to be seen on the streets but the Military and the Police.
During the tumult were heard exhortations from the women to the men ; that they should hasten for their muskets, and two militia drummers even began to roll their drums, who were, however, quickly silenced by those present. The following morning at 6 o'clock, it was perceived that the Militia officers were summoned to appear at the Government-House, where the Government officials and the commander of the military forces, along with some other officers were previously gathered together until 3 o'clock in the morning. At the command of Ilis Excellency the Governor, three divisions, consisting of a couple of militia officers, 1 officer of the royal troops and a detachment of soldiers and troopers, (which last had before dawn of dry been summoned to the town from the military station at Kingshill,) likewise an officer of the Police, pro- ceeded to the different quarters of the town and received the arms from each member of the militia corps singly, at their residences. By ten o'clock all the muskets were deposited in the fort.
We cannot but repeat the call to tire Inhabitants of this town, contained in the proclamation of the Government, which we, judging from the general quiet which, since this occurrence, has reigned in the town, believe to have had the desired effect ; as likewise we must state that the precautionary measures taken, seem to have met with approving acknowledgment from the welldisposed inhabitants of all classes.
It is certainly sorrowful that human life should be sacrificed on such an occasion as this ; but it was to be expected that that particular class of the inhabitants of our town, sooner or later, might learn, that neither the Authorities nor the Military force can be insulted and attacked without serious consequences.
(St. Croix Avis 28. december 1852).
- Angaaende de omtalte Uroligheder i Christansted paa St. Croix indeholder den der udkommende Tidende følgende Beretning.
Christiansted den 28de December 1852. Den Mangel paa Agtelse for Autoriteterne og især for Politiet, hvorpaa nogle af den laveste Classe Indbyggere heri Staden flere Gange have givet Exempler, har Juleaften fremkaldt en sørgelig Katastrophe, som vi med den dybeste Sorg maae underette vore Læsere om. - Endeel af disse Folk tilbringer, som bekjendt, Juletiden med Forlystelser, som for en Deel bestaaer i Optog gjennem Gaderne med støjende, uharmonisk Musik og Sang, og deels i Dands. Som vi have erfaret er det ikke Tilfældet, hvad nogle have meent, at Politiet havde forbudt disse Optog gjennem Gaderne; men det blev med Hensyn til de Steder, hvor disse Dandse kunde fortsættes, fastsat som Regel, ifølge en Befaling fra Gouvernementet, at de saakaldte Gumbee-Dandse ikke maatte holdes paa saadanne Steder i Byen, hvor det kunde antages at Naboerne vilde blive forstyrrede af Støjen, eller paa saadanne Steder, hvorfra der var indledet Klager desangaaende. - I et Huus eller en Gaard, der ligger omtrent midt i Byen, havde man allerede Dagen før Juleaften, ja endog mange Dage i Forveien, begyndt med Gumbee-Trommen, og Vedkommende bleve da opkaldte paa Politikammeret, hvor det blev dem betydet, at de maatte vælge et andet Sted i Udkanten af Byen, medens det paa den anden Side blev dem tydelig tilkjendegivet, at intet var til Hinder for deres Optog gjennem Byen. Desuagtet begyndte Gumbee-Dandsen paa samme Sted Jule-Aften, hvilket foranledigede Politiet til at møde paa Stedet, og da Ingen vilde erklære sig som Eier af Trommen, blev Skindet paa samme strax skaaret itu, og Støjen fastedes standset paa denne sædvanlige og praktiske Maade. Nogle Timer efter, henved Kl. 10, da Politiet patrouillerede gjennem Gaderne, medens Optogene uforstyrret droge igjennem Gaderne med al Slags Musik, opdagedes det, at Tromme-Dandsen atter var begyndt paa samme Sted. Politiet begav sig derpaa atter til Stedet, som strax blev rømmet af alle de Tilstedeværende. Da Politibetjentene kom ud paa Gaden fra dette Sted, bleve de angrebne med Steenkast og nødte til, efterat to af dem vare blevne temmeligt haardt saarede, at trække sig tilbage til Politikammeret, hvis Port heldigviis hurtigt blev lukket af den vagthavende Politibetjent, efterat de andre Betjente vare komne indenfor, saa at Mængden ikke kunde trænge ind, og denne Forsigtighed forebyggede hvad der upaatvivleligt ellers vilde være skeet, nemlig at dens Archiver og Protokoller vilde være blevne ødelagte, saaledes som det skete i Frederiksted den 3die Juli 1848. Den store Mængde Folk, som forblev staaende udenfor Politikammeret, og som forøgedes ved Tilstrømning af dem, der deeltoge i Optogene, kastede derpaa store Stene paa Bygningen, indtil en militair Hjælp kom til, da den trak sig tilbage. I en af Sidegaderne, ved den katholske Kirke, blev en militair Patrouille angreben med en Steenregn, og efter at nogle faa Skud vare blevne affyrede i Luften, uden at skræmme Pøbelen, som endnu vedblev at kaste Stene med fornyet Kraft, og da nogle af Soldaterne (efter Sigende 8) bleve saarede af Stenene, blev der givet Kommando til at fyre, hvorved, efter hvad vi have erfaret, 1 Mand faldt død paa Stedet, 1 Mand og en Kone bleve saarede saaledes, at de døde den følgende Morgen paa Hospitalet, og syv andre Personer bleve mere eller mindre farligt saarede. - Samme ophidsede Stemning herskede imidlertid endnu blandt Mængden, og udenfor Gouvernements-Bygningen blev en Patrouille, som blev angreben med Steenkast, nødt til at fyre, hvorved dog, saavidt vi vide, Ingen blev saaret. - Senere holdt de forskjellige Hobe sig i lang Afstand, hvor Patrouillerne viste sig, og Kl. 1 den følgende Morgen saaes ingen Andre paa Gaderne end Politi og Soldater. - Under Tumulten hørtes Opmuntringer fra Qvinderne til Mændene, at de skulde hente deres Geværer, og to Milice-Trommeslagere begyndte endog at røre deres Trommer, som dog hurtigt bleve bragte til Taushed af de Tilstedeværende. - Den næste Morgen bemærkedes det, at Milice-Officiererne bleve tilsagte til at møde i Gouvernements-Bygningen, hvor Embedsmændene og Chefen for den militaire Styrke tilligemed nogle andre Officiner tidligere vare samlede til Kl. 3 om Morgenen. Paa Hr. Excellence Gouverneurens Befaling begave 3 Divisioner, bestaaende af et Par Milice-Officiner, 1 Officin af de kongelige Tropper og et Detaschement af Soldater og Ryttere (hvilke sidste før Daggry vare blevne indkaldte til Staden fra Stationen i Kingshill) samt en Politi-Embedsmand, sig til de forskjellige Qvarterer i Byen og modtoge Vaabnene fra alle Medlemmerne af Milice-Corpset enkeltviis i deres Boliger. Klokken 10 vare alle Geværerne henbragte i Fortet. - Vi kunne ikke andet end gjentage det Opraab, som indeholdes i Gouverneurens Proclamation, som vi, efter den almindelige Rolighed at dømme, som siden har hersket i Byen, troe har havt den forønskede Virkning, ligesom vi ogsaa maae erklære, at de Forsigtigheds-Foranstaltninger, der ere blevne gjorte, have mødt Bifald og Anerkjendelse hos de velsindede Indbyggere af alle Klasser. - Det er vistnok sørgeligt, at Menneskeliv ere blevet offret ved en saadan Leilighed som denne; men det var at vente, at denne Klasse af Indbyggerne i vor Stad tidligere eller sildigere vilde komme til at løre, at hverken Øvrigheden eller den militaire Magt kan blive fornærmet og angreben uden alvorlige Følger.
Gouverneuren har som en Følge af Ovenstaaende udstedt følgende
Proclamation :
"Det er med den dybeste Smerte, at jeg har seet Byens Rolighed forstyrret ved Uordener, det ere udartede til Angreb paa den offentlige Magt, og herved have ledet endog til Blodsudgydelse og Tab af Menneskeliv. - Enhver tro Undersaat maa erkjende, at Øvrigheden skal adlydes, og at Angreb paa dens Officianter eller den militaire Magt maa standses ved de Midler, som i saadanne Tilfælde staae til Raadighed. - Hvorvidt Nogen maatte være gaaet videre i Brugen af sine Vaaben, end Omstændighederne krævede, vil uden Ophold blive Gjenstand for lovlig Undersøgelse. - Fremfor Alt maa den offentlige Rolighed haandhæves. - For at forebygge den Fare for den almindelige Sikkerhed, som kan opstaae af de hos Milice-Tropperne omkring i Husene beroende Vaaben, naar disse faldt i Hænderne paa Ildesindede og Urostiftere, har jeg foranstaltet dem henbragte i Fortet, hvorfra de i fornødent Fald, naar Milice-Tropperne skulle blive udkaldte, kunne udleveres til de Vedkommmende. - De i Helligdagene brugelige Optog giennem Gaderne, saavelsom andre Samlinger af Mennesker paa Gaderne eller offentlige Pladse forbydes fra nu af og indtil videre. - Christiansteds Indbyggere! I Hans Majestæt Kongens Navn opfordrer jeg Eder til at bistaae mig i Overholdelsen af Byens og Øens Rolighed. Lad de faldne Offere for dette det første Brud paa den offentlige Orden under mit Gouvernement være en Opfordring til at afværge nogensomhelst Gjentagelse af slige beklagelsesværdige Optrin.
Gouvernementshuset, St. Croix den 25de December
Feddersen.
W. Birch."
(Berl. Tid.)
(Kjøbenhavsnposten 28. januar 1853).
Hans Ditmar Frederik "Fritz" Feddersen 1805-1863) var guvernør over Dansk Vestindien 1851-1855. Han var uddannet jurisk, senere auditør ved Livjægerkorpset, og skrev om asylerne. I Dansk Biografisk Leksikon fik hans indsats følgende ord med på vejen: "det lykkedes ham ved Aandsnærværelse og Konduite at dæmpe en alvorlig Negeropstand paa St. Croix, i hvilken Anledning han fik Kommandørkorpset af Danebrog 1853, hvortil i 1855 føjedes Kammerherretitlen." Han blev senere indvalgt i Folketinget 1860-63. I "Dannevirke"
15. marts 1853 omtales et karneval i København hvor en baronesse L. havde bedt sin bror på de vestindiske øer om at sende en fundstændig "negerindedragt", og blev overrasket over at få tilsendt et koralhalsbånd og en Gumbee-tromme. Bestyrelsen afslog hende at møde i det kostume.
Publication.
By order of His Excellency the Governor it is hereby made known, that public dances or gumbee dances in town will no more be permitted during the approaching holidays than at other times, without special permission from the Police Master.
Christiansteds Police Office, 16th December 1854.
J. A. Stakemann.
I St. Croix Avis 8. februar 1853 klagede en læser over at en erstatning for Gumbee-trommen var endnu værre: "sounds of a bull-horn accompanied by a Violin and a Tambourine", og han bad myndighederne om at forbyde denne form for musik.
Bekjendtgjörelse.
Efter Gouvernementets Ordre bekjendtgöres herved, at der ikke i de forestaaende Helligdage, saalidet som til nogen anden Tid af Aaret, maa holdes offentlige Dandse, eller nogen Trommedandse i Byen, uden dertil indhentet Tilladelse af Politiet.
Christiansteds Politiekammer den 16de December 1854.
J. A. Stakemann.
(St. Croix Avis 19. december, 29. december 1854 m.fl).
Lignende bekendtgørelser blev udsendt 18. december 1856. Forbud var der også mod affyring af raketter (1856), men man måtte godt hænge tændte lygter ud.
Nedenstående indlæg viser skribentens afsky for trommen, og en slet skjult foragt for de sorte. Dette bliver dog tæmmet ved at han tager afstand fra at de således forøder deres penge:
The Gumbee Troupe!
On Wednesday afternoon last their Sable Majesties the King and Queen of a country Gumbee Troupe made a triumphal entry into this town, accompanied by their retinue, and presented themselves before His Excellency. A large concourse of servants and others were present to witness this absurd exhibition of mock royalty. The Troupe were richly attired in silks and satins,- the cost of which, no doubt, was defrayed from the hard earned savings of a whole year.
We doubt much the propriety of encouraging such needless extravagance on the part of these people. Ignorance is very apt to mistake toleration for commendation; and being aware of the well-known characteristic of the negro, engendered through slavery - we mean their improvidence - we think less inducement ought to be given to them thus to squander their earnings in such senseless mockery. Where is the use of our Savings' Banks, if we uphold and encourage that class of the people, who could be most benefited by such an Institution, to waste their earnings in such ridiculous amusements ?
We certainly mean to leave to each individual the right to amuse himself in the manner suited to his taste. But their are certain tastes which, although we cannot prevent their manifestation, still are so repugnant to common sense and even to decency, that we are justified in showing our disfavor, and in endeavoring, consistently with the individual right of the parties, by all the means within our power, to suppress.
The Gumbee we regard as the manifestation, par excellence, of such a taste !
(St. Croix Avis 4.januar 1856).
I de følgende år omtaltes dansene fx som "scenes of rioting and disorder" (St. Croix Avis 1. januar 1858). Gumbee dansen var udtryk for afrikansk kultur, og forblev en torn i øjnene på europæerne. Ved århundredets slutning blev den erstattet af Bamboula, som europæerne anså for åbenlyst seksuel, med krænkende lyrik. Traditionen blev ikke desto mindre holdt ved lige helt indtil 1950'erne. Og i moderne tid genoplivet af Mary Ann Christopher og Ayesha Morris.
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