Ulrik Peter Overby (1819-1879) - De Fattiges Digter. (Efterskrift til Politivennen).

Vor meningsfælles digteren U. P. Overbyes

jordfæstelse fandt sted søndag formiddag kl. 11 fra kapellet på Assistens Kirkegård og overværedes af henved tusind mennesker, blandt hvilke der fandtes repræsentanter for alle demokratiske afskygninger. En halv snes fagforeninger havde givet møde med deres faner. Derimod glimrede desværre de socialistiske sangforeninger ved deres fraværelse som sangere. Men grunden må vel søges i den slette årstid og den korte tid der lå mellem meddelelsen om Overbyes død og hans begravelse. Men trods dette er vi overbeviste om at Overbyes socialistiske digte vil leve på arbejdernes læber i mange år.

(Social-Demokraten, 14. januar 1879).

Ulrik Peter Overbyes gravsted på Assistens Kirkegård. På stenen står: "De fattiges digter Ulrik Peter Overby. Født den 17. januar 1818, død den 7. januar 1879. Flugt gaar tiden over livet bølge. Dette minde sattes af sociale sangere." (Foto Erik Nicolaisen Høy).

U. P. Overbyes 100 års mindedag.

I dag afholdes der flere partisammenkomster i anledning af hundredårsdagen for digteren Ulrik Peter Overbyes fødsel.

Enhver socialdemokrat kender navnet U. P. Overbye. Det har utallige gange stået under sangen "Socialisternes Marsch", arbejderklassens gamle kampsang, det sociale gennembruds revolutionshymne, og det er navnlig denne sang, som har skabt digterens popularitet.

Overbye fødtes i København. Hans fader var snedkermester. Sin skoleuddannelse fik han i Hillerød Borgerskole, og det var hans ønske at blive skolelærer, men forældrenes små kår tillod ikke at skaffe sønnen den hertil fornødne uddannelse. Han blev da beskæftiget i handelsvirksomhed og fik ansættelse ved kontorforretninger i omegnen af Trondhjem, i Bergen og Kristiania. Her droges han til scenen og var en kort tid skuespiller.

Der var udvé i U. P. Overbyes sind, og i nogle år for han til søs på Amerika. Da han endelig slog sig ned i sit fødeland, opnåede han en beskeden plads som kopist i Krigsministeriet.

I denne periode, som strækker sig helt op til 1870, havde Overbye syslet stærkt med litterære emner, og under mærket Johannes Barner havde han udgivet digtsamlinger, eventyr, fortællinger og skrevet skuespil Han udgav bl. a. en børnebog, som var meget anvendt i sin tid, og hvori der fandtes en i mangfoldige hjem populær lille sang: "Søren Top stod tidlig op".

Af Overbyes skuespil blev vaudevillen "Karens Kæreste" opført på det kgl. Teater og gjorde straks lykke men blev efter få opførelser henlagt. Man mente, at fru Heiberg, digteren og teaterdirektøren Johan Ludvig Heibergs hustru var forfatteren. Som kunstart var "duftvaudevillen" kommet i miskredit, og et yngre kådt publikum peb så ad Overbyes skuespil. På den måde søgte man at protestere mod den Heibergske kurs, og resultatet blev i al fald, at Overbyes "Karens Kæreste" kom til at afslutte vaudevillernes æra. I 1860 fik han iøvrigt et syngestykke "Cyprianus" til opførelse for det kgl. Teater. Den udmærkede Komponist Henrik Bang skrev musikken til Overbyes lyrik. 

Det blev dog ikke dette forfatterskab, som gjorde Overbyes navn kendt. Hans fattige kår og stærke retfærdighedsfølelse drog til socialismen, da denne I 1870-71 rejste sin stander i Danmark. Men derved mistede han også sin plads som kopist. Da var det, han skrev "Socialisternes Marsch", som blev uhyre populær i arbejderkredse. Melodien, der komponeredes af musikeren Joseph Rasmussen, passede fortræffeligt til teksten. I sangens strofer udtryktes proletarernes vågnende kraft, deres harme over den uret, de har lidt, deres håb for kommende dage.

Adskillige af den berømte arbejdersangs vers passer ikke på vor tid. Men til gengæld maler den så meget desto bedre den tid, i hvilken den fødtes og forklarer arbejderklassens kamp for bedre kår.

Til Trælle i Sind og til Slaver af Guld
den voksende Slægt fostres frem,
og Jorden saa aldrig saa usselt et Kuld,
som det, der paa den nu har Hjem

Således var det i kapitalismens gyldne år, da arbejderne stod uden værn, prisgivne deres udbytteres luner, selv nedsunkne i ligegyldighed, frygt og fattigdom. Hvem regner med disse uorganiserede og magtløse proletarer, hvem digteren lader synge:

Vor Arne er kold og vort Hjem kun et Skjul
for Trængsler, for Tvedragt og Savn,
vor Idræt man lokker i Bur som en Fugl
og kaster Foragt paa vort Navn.

Lønarbejderen var kun skabt til slid i en lang arbejdsdag og for lav løn. Bøjede han sig ikke lydigt under svøben, mødte han autoriteternes vrede og præsternes fordømmelse:

Rigmændene fodres ved Arbejderslid,
og Præsterne fører os frem
til Pøle af Svovl paa den yderste Tid
vis ikke vi ofrer til dem.

Men der er en lysning i øst, håb for de forskræmte. Magt at vinde. Gennem broderskabet, organisationen, skal arbejderne vinde frem til bedre kår og moralsk kraft, som skaber nye vilkår for slægten. Digteren med det profetiske blik stirrede ind i fremtiden og så masserne troppe op under fælles fane. Han talte i et af sine andre digte om "den ny samfundsbygning":

Vi ser den i Aanden, den rejser sig frit
paa Piller af Malm og med Mur af Granit,
mod Lyset sig Bygningen højner.

Og de, som lyttede til digterens krav, følte mod til at tage fat, skønt bjerge af hindringer tårnede sig op på den unge bevægelses vej.

Med store historiske begivenheder som baggrund for sin arbejderdigtning kunne U. P. Overbye digte "Proletarens Vise", hvori linjerne:

naar Sulten og Kulden ham hærdet bar,
da vokser han op som en Proletar,
at han skulde være
Jert Samfund til Ære,
det kan I ej vente af ham!

Men det var alligevel ikke på barrikaden, at regnskabet skulle opgøres. Proletaren har et lyst humør, når han stiller som deltager i kampen for et nyt samfund:

nu afgøres Trætten,
han møder paa Pletten
i straalende Solskinshumør!

Og i langt mildere stemninger end den, der karakteriserer slagsangen "Socialisternes Marsch", lader Overbye i sangen "I Flugt går Tiden" sin tillid til folkets selvstyre komme til orde, thi denne frihed 

gav min Stand et panser
mod Uret og mit Brød en bedre Smag.

Af andre Digte, der vidner om Overbyes store kærlighed til samfundets små, nævner vi "Gamle Arbejdere" og "Fiskerdrengen fra Lynæs".

Overbye levede sine sidste år under trykkende forhold. Pensionen var yderst lille, og Arbejderpartiet kæmpede med store økonomiske vanskeligheder. Med rette kunne man kalde forfatteren af "Socialisternes Marsch" for "De Fattiges Digter".

Han døde den 7. januar 1879 og blev således knapt 61 år gammel. Fr. A. Hertz og Saxo W. Wiegell, der begge havde været knyttet til vort arti som ansvarshavende redaktører af "Social-Demokraten", ofrede ham mindeord i vers.

I Wiegells digt hed det:

Han slog ej Harpen for Geds og Guld,
han var en Sanger for Folket;
naar han er smuldret i mørke Muld,
vil Sangens Tone saa frisk og fuldt
dog melde, hvad han har tolket.

Og således er det. På denne dag, hvor partifæller samles i mindet om U. P. Overbye, vil de kendte ord til Joseph Rasmussens taktfaste melodi lyde med samme kraft som førhen. Meget kan tiderne forandret sig, siden sangen lød for første gang, men "Alt dages det, Brødre" er endnu kampsangen, der varsler en gammel Verdens Undergang:

Det knager i Samfundet Fuger og Baand,
lad falde, hvad ikke kan staa!
Men ræk mig, o Broder, din barkede Haand.
før i Løgn og af Sult vi forgaa;
en Bygning vi rejser til Skærm i vor Nød
til Arbejdet! Liv eller Død!

"Ræk mig, o Broder, din barkede Haand" er devisen, under hvilken arbejderklassen i alle lande lægger ud for folkefrihed, verdensfred og social retfærdighed

A. C

(Social-Demokraten, 17. januar 1918).

I Fyns Social-Demokrat 19. januar 1929 skrev underbibliotekar Chr. Behrend under overskriften "Socialistmarchens forfatter U. P. Overbye" en lang artikel, hvoraf nedenfor bringes nogle udvalgte afsnit som korrigerer og/eller supplerer artiklerne ovenfor:

Da Th. H. Erslew samlede stof til sit litteraturleksikon, bad han forfatterne om at sende ham meddelelse om dem selv, og han modtog da fra Overbye en egenhændig skrivelse (som endnu findes i det kgl. Bibliotek), hvis indhold i det væsentlige blev optaget i lexikonet. Han opgiver her selv at være født den 17. Januar 1818, men senere kirkebogsundersøgelser har vist (se Historiske Meddelelser om København 1917-18) at den rigtige dato var 17. Januar 1819. Hans fader var snedkermester i København Steffen Peter Overbye (staves også Overby), hans moder Maria Kirstine var datter af en gårdbruger Jørgen Knudsen på Frederiksberg. Han, der var den ældste eller næstældste af 9 søskende, skulle have været skolelærer, 

Hele sit liv interesserede han sig for læsning og bøger, og han selv begyndte allerede i Norge at skrive digte og fortællinger til blade og tidsskrifter (bl. a. til "Morgenbladet" i Oslo). I 1847 udkom hans første bog, "Blomstrende Tomekviste", og i 1848 udsendte han flere smådigte i anledning af krigen. Det er måske ved denne sin forfattervirksomhed, at han er kommet i forbindelse med den højtansete finansembedsmand Jonas Collin, der synes at have hjulpet ham privat og skaffet ham noget arbejde, sagtens med afskrivning, som det fremgår af følgende brev fra ham:

Deres Excellence

Dette Arbejde, som jeg herved har den Ære at aflevere, burde for lang Tid siden have været færdigt, og jeg maa derfor, som jeg saa ofte forhen har gjort, bede om Tilgivelse. Betalingen for nærværende Arbejde, saavel som for alle tidligere afleverede Arbejder, har jeg ... forlængst erholdt.

Min Gæld ser jeg mig desværre endnu ikke i Stand til at afgøre, og jeg vover at bede om Henstand endnu nogen Tid. Jeg boer, som Deres Excellence bekendt, fremdeles i Valby og har mit lille Bibliotek her; men det gaar kun tarveligt med Indkomsterne.

Ethvert Bud, det maatte behage at sende mig, vil komme til mig under Adresse: Jernbanestationen ved Valdby.

Valdby, den 1. Maj 1848.
Med inderlig Højagtelse og dyb Ærbødighed
U. P. Overby.

Når Overbye boede på jernbanestationen, må han enten have haft en underordnet stilling som assistent eller lignende eller været lejer. Stationsinspektør var nemlig dengang en kaptajn Hoffmann, og da denne indkaldtes til krigstjeneste, en banemester Weber.

Også med grevinde Danner havde Overbye en tid forbindelse, og det er vel indflydelse fra hendes eller Collins side, der skaffede ham en kgl. understøttelse til videre uddannelse på den litterære bane og siden (1848) en lille fast stilling. Selv skriver han: "Efter et bevæget ungdomsliv blev han ansat som kopist i krigsministeriet, og kun gode venners bistand og velvilje har styrket og opretholdt hans mod efter mange ulykkelige livstilskikkelser og tilintetgjorte forhåbninger."

Han havde den 2. april 1848 ægtet Ane Sophie Petersen, enke efter en dyrlæge Madsen i Middelfart, men stadig synes han at have måttet kæmpe med mismod og trange kår. Da han således havde tilegnet H. C. Andersen sit lille eventyr "Lærkefamilien" af Johannes Barner (under dette navn udgav han nogle af sine bøger), skriver han til ham:

Hr. Andersen! 

Min lille Bog sender jeg Dem i det Haab, at De vil modtage den med Venlighed. Den indholder et af de Lysglimt, Vorherre kaster ind i mit paa mørke Udsigter saare rige Liv.

5. Decbr. 1852

Med Højagtelse ærbødigst
Johannes Barner.

Foruden Andersen har han også kendt digteren Carl Bagger, til hvem han har skrevet et digt 1844.

- Overbyes forfatterskab strakte sig over flere områder: han skrev en ABC (1854), en Læsebog (illustreret af Lorentz FrøIich), det omtalte eventyr "Lærkefamilien" og digte, som han udgav samlede 1858 heri findes bl. a. det bekendte: "Har man ungdomskræfter, er en lystig Fyr"; det smukke lille digt "Fiskerdrengen fra Lynæs", "Paa Gaden Juleaften", "Lille Karen", hvortil J. P. F.. Hartmann satte musik, "Naar Solen skinner" (musik af N. W. Gade). "Stæren sad paa Kviste ..", den smukke sang "l Flugt gaar Tiden", hvori disse Linjer:

Thi en Gang lettes Byrden, som har tynget 
paa mangen Kreds og mangt et Samfunds Magt,
og eu Gang vil de alle genforynget
gaa op i et: en mægtig Broderpagt.

Mange af disse vers er kønne, men når de ikke vakte stor opmærksomhed, har det vel været, fordi de i meget føltes som efterligninger af andre samtidige (Chr. Winther, H. C. Andersen); desuden viste de undertiden nogen ubehjælpsomhed i udtrykkene.

 I 1860 opførtes et stykke "Cyprianus" (i en akt med musik af Henrik Rung); det var anonymt, og Overbye antoges af mange for dets forfatter; det kan dog anses for sikkert, at det ikke skyldtes ham, men forfatterinden Ida Nielsen.

1871 mistede han sin hustru, den 1. April 1875 sin lille stilling i ministeriet; til sidst fremlagde han en lægeerklæring, at han i nogle måneder skulle bruge elektrisk behandling (ondet synes altså at være af nervøs natur); dette tillodes ham også, men han søgte nu selv sin afsked, måske fordi han følte sig for svag til at virke længere i denne stilling, hvori han havde været ansat i 27 år; at han skulle være afskediget af politiske grunde, foreligger der ikke noget om i ministeriets papirer. Om hans dårlige økonomiske forhold også på dette tidspunkt vidner flere ansøgninger om forskud, pekuniær støtte og lignende.

Overby fik en vej opkaldt efter sig i Den røde by i Valby (VOB), et boligområde med oprindeligt arbejderboliger i Valby. Kvarteret er anlagt af Valby og Omegns Byggeforening, der blev grundlagt 16. februar 1898 af bryggeriarbejdere. Kvarteret består af 100 enkelthuse, der ligger på Christen Bergs Allé, Overbys Allé, J.P.E Hartmanns Allé samt Traps Allé i Valby. Arkitekt var Julius Bagger.

Sankt Croix: Efter Oprøret The Fireburn, November 1878. (Efterskrift til Politivennen)

 En ulykkelig Stjærne hviler over St. Croix. Øen har i en Række af Aar staaet under et økonomisk Tryk paa Grund af Høstens utilfredsstillende Udfald; i Aar tegnede Alt fortræffeligt, og saa gribes Negrene af en ustyrlig Ødelæggelseslyst, der ikke blot kuldkaster de gode Forhaabninger, men styrter Befolkningen i Nød og Elendighed. Det er grueligt at læse de Beretninger, som i disse Dage ere indløbne til os fra Vestindien. Vilde Negerhobe føre i djævelsk Raseri hen over Øen og afbrændte den ene Plantage efter den anden. En Trediedel af Frederiksted er forvandlet til en Brandtomt, og Halvdelen af dets Formue er gaaet tilgrunde. De ulykkelige Beboere af Byen og af Plantagerne maatte for at frelse Livet flygte bort uden at medtaget Andet, end hvad de gik og stod i. Kvinder og Børn skjulte sig i Sukkermarkerne, medens de ventede paa, at Negrene skulde drage videre for at fortsætte deres Hærværk, og bleve paany grebne af Dødsangst ved at se, at der ogsaa gjordes Forsøg paa at sætte Ild i Sukkerrørene. I Frederiksted, hvor Excesserne begyndte, bestod den hele Besætning, som Politimesteren havde at raade over, af tre Soldater og syv Politibetjente, der maatte indeslutte sig i Fortet for at redde deres eget Liv. Hvilken Lykke var det dog ikke i al den Ulykke, at Brandstiftelserne ikke ledsagedes af et almindeligt Blodbad! Negrene, som vare fuldstændig berusede, lod sig næppe af humane Hensyn lede til at skaane de Hvides Liv; men de vare saa opflammende af Begjærlighed efter at ødelægge og afbrænde Eiendomme, at de ikke havde Sans for Andet, og indbyggerne fik Tid til at flygte.

(Illustreret Tidende, november 1878 (uddrag)

Nedenstående artikel fra The New York Herald bragte også en "boks" med oplysninger om St. Croix.

Oprøret på St. Croix nåede også til udlandet, og bragte mange artikler. Fx. bragte The New York Herald, 28. november 1878, næsten en hel side. Artiklen begrundede oprøret i de slavelignende arbejdsforhold for befolkningen, og konkluderede at det nok ikke ville blive ændret. Her i uddrag - overskrifterne først i artiklen er medtaget, fordi de antydede indholdet. Afskriften af Labor act er udeladt, men i den oprindelige artikel er denne brugt til som bevis på de umenneskelige arbejdsforhold befolkningen levede under:

ST. CROIX.

Causes Which. Led to the Recent Outbreak.

EVILS OF THE EXISTING LABOR SYSTEM

Thirty Years of a Freedom Little Better than Slavery,

WHAT HAS FOLLOWED EMANCIPATION.

Business Interests of the Island. Paralyzed.

ADDITIONAL TROUBLE FEARED.

St. Thomas, Nov. 31, 1878.

The beautiful island of St. Croix. so recently .rendered desolate by the torch of the incendiary black laborers, is quiet on the surface, but the causes which led to the trouble have not been removed, and there is plenty of evidence that a very bad feeling still exists, which, if not  allayed, may lead to a repetition of the horrors already experienced.* Since its occurrence there have been many speculations as to the cause of the outbreak, and any number of theories have been advanced by those who have taken only the most superficial view of it. These theories have been but little better than ridiculous, and show how wilfully Mind men are to the wrongs of any system by which they prosper. The outbreak was in fact nothing more than a servile Insurrection by men who have been practically Slaves under the so-called "provisional" labor law which has been in existence for thirty years, and from which all the disadvantages of slavery have accrued to the laborer and none of the advantages. While it lias been and is still admitted that labor laws or vagabond acts of a stringent character have been found necessary in all those islands where slavery formerly existed, yet experience has clearly shown that good results have followed them only as kind treatment and a fair remuneration have been accorded the laborer.

DIFFERENT LABOR SYSTEMS.

In Jamaica the sentimentalisin which had its origin at the time of Wilberforce prevented the enactment of any laws for the regulation of the manumitted blacks, and so they were left to their own inclinations, which were to bask in the sun and eat the spontaneous products of nature, and as the result that once beautiful and thrifty island became little better than a desert. In Martinique the Vagabond law enacted by the French following emancipation in 1848 kept the negro at work, while having respect to his freedom as a man and the pleasures of his semi-barbarous nature, and giving a fair remuneration. The result, as is known, has been one of entire satisfaction to the employer and the employed, and Martinique is one of the most prosperous Islands under the sun. I refer to these cases as they constitute the two extremes in the treatment of the labor question following tbe abolition of slavery.

Herefter følger over flere spalter en komplet afskrift af St. Croix' Labor Act. Artiklen konkluderer følgende:

PRESENT CONDITION OF THE ISLAND

The evil effects of the outbreak have not ended with the destruction of the estates. The manufacturing and agricultural interests of the island are paralyzed by the want of confidence resulting from a knowledge of the fact that the cause of the trouble still remains and may, and not unlikely will, lead to further troubles. Men sit despairing amid the ruins of their estates, seeing no way to recover from their losses. The negroes - and they are comparatively few - who are willing to work for the wages prescribed by law are naturally regarded with suspicion, fears being entertained that they only seek an opportunity for revenge or additional destruction. The course which has been pursued in suppressing the insurrection and punishing the insurgents has not been characterized by wisdom. It has had the effect of practically establishing a color line, placing every negro in antagonism to the whites. It has resolved itself into a war of races, in which the governing class are only protected by their arms, of which the negroes are entirely destitute. The latter are peaceful for the time because they are powerless, but there are not wanting evidences of the feeling which controls them. Only last week a negro who had been instrumental in saving property belonging to Mr. Fintaino. the planter who was killed at the post, was murdered in his house, and this is but a sample of what is occurring. What the end is to be no one can tell. In the present condition of affairs it is evident no attempt will be made to conciliate the laborers and, without this, only the strong urni of military power and the practical reestablishment of slavery can induce them to return to their work. Meantime, business is prostrated and no attempt is being made to restore the destroyed estates.

(New York Herald, 28. november 1878)

(Af læsbarhedshensyn har jeg indsat afsnit på steder hvor de ikke forekommer i den originale artikel).

REPORT

to the Governor of the Danish West India Islands, concerning the events which took place in Frederiksted the 1st October 1878 and the night following, rendered by acting Policemaster in the Jurisdiction of Frederiksted. R. Petersen.

Udsnit af New York Heralds kort over Sankt Croix som gengiver navnene på plantagerne. Frederiksted er angivet på vestkysten (til venstre), Christiansted på nordkysten, længst til højre.

On Tuesday, the 1st October 1878, after breakfast time, say a little before noon, when I returned from my house in Dronningensgade to the police office in Frederiksfort, I met only a few estate-labourers in the street. From 8 o'clock a.m. to half past 3 o'clock p. m. that day there was a good deal of passport business in the office, all of which, however, was settled without difficulty; and when at the last-mentioned time the business in the office appeared to be over, I asked the Police Assistant, Overkrigskommissær Gyllich, to join me in a drive through the streets of the town, in order to see how matters stood, seeing that the day had passed quietly in comparison with the 1st October of other years, and hardly anybody had been taken into custody for disorderly conduct in the streets. 

Accordingly we drove out, and reached as far as the Apothecary's Shop on the corner of Dronningens and Kongens Tværgade before we met any larger number of estate-labourers; the Judge, Councillor Sarauw, was standing in the street, and requested me to send out some policemen, as people were being killed at the corner of Prindsensgade and Kongens Tvergade. I drove up to the place thus indicated, where however, I found only one man, Henry Trotman, of Est. Mt. Pleasant and Plessens, lying in the gutter in a state of drunkenness; he had cut his foot on a stone or a piece of glass, in such a manner that it was bleeding. This man was brought to the hospital. I then drove back to the Fort, in order to call out the whole police force, and intendirg to cause the two mounted orderlies to ride slowly through the streets, which, I hoped would have some effect on the populace. 

On my way to the Fort, and close to the Apothecary's Shop, I met two policemen, who had arrested Joseph La Grange (who afterwards proved to be one of the chief ringleaders,) and were endeavouring to bring him to the Police-office. I drove immediately behind them, got out of the carriage, and spoke to the Iabourers, but they were noisy and threatening, and effected by main force the rescue of Joseph La Grange, who ran away. 

- I then drove to the Fort, called out the rest of the policemen and two mounted orderlies, and followed them with the Police Assistant to the carriage. At the corner of the Apothecary Shop one of the rioters threw himself upon one of the orderlies, and threatened him with his stick, upon which both of the orderlies drew the sable and cut about them, but without striking anybody. As, however, the mob was increasing, and shouted and yelled, and as I judging from the number and manner of the mob, could foresee that by using violence I ran the risk that my force, the greater part of which was unarmed, would be struck down, and that thus the Fort might fall into the hands of the populace - I caused the orderlies to follow slowly behind my carriage back through Dronningens Gade, the Policemen following a little further back, forming a line across the street. The mob followed us, and I was in hopes that the boldest among them would follow us into the yard of the Fort; in which case it was my intention to have the gates promptly closed, and thus endeavour to restore quietness when the leaders were caught. The mob threw stones at us in the street, but I restrained my men from attacking them; and we got into the Fort, while the mob stopped in Kongensgade 

Gade i Frederiksted. Licenseret under en Creative Commons Navngivelse-IkkeKommerciel-IngenBearbejdelse 3.0 Unported Licens. Det Kongelige Bibliotek.

I then left the three orderlies and the policemen in the Fort, and went, accompanied by the Police-Assistant up in Kongensgade, in order to speak to the rioters and to learn what they wanted. While we were on our way thither the Public Physician, Dr. Hansen and Comptroller Birch joined us; the British Vice-Consul, Revd. DuBois, was already on the spot, in the midst of the mob, seeking to pacify them. We went singly about amongst the rioters, proceeding up-street, preventing them from fighting amongst themselves, and trying to speak with them, which was not easy, on account of their being very noisy; they were willing enough to talk, but nobody wanted to listen. Our intention was, to lead them on to the Southern outskirts of the town, and there to persuade them to go home. At length we succeeded partly - that is: we got them on to the outskirts of the town, and several of them promised to go home quietly and get the others to go with them; amongst those who gave me their promise to that effect was Joseph La Grange whom I met again here. Thus going along with them, we learned also from them, that they were dissatisfied with the pay fixed by the Labour Act, and wanted 20 to 25 cents per day in money. 

Suddenly all our endeavours were frustrated: a woman, Felicia James, from Mount Pleasant and Plessens, came running and told the mob, that Henry Trotman of the same Estate, whom the police had caused to be lodged in the hospital, had died there in consequence of the blows inflicted upon him by the police. Now there ensued such a noise and throwing of stones that I went away in order to write to the Presidency for assistance; but on the way I met Dr. Hansen near the Apothecary's Shop, and with him I went first to the hospital, in order to see if anything was the matter with Henry Trotman. We found him lying on a mattress in one of the rooms in a state of utter drunkenness, having suffered no further bodily injury, except that one of his feet was bleeding, and in the same state as when I found him lying in the gutter. When we were in the gallery fronting Strandgade, intending to leave by the chief staircase, the mob which I had left at the outskirt, ol the town came rushing, headed by Felicia James, shouting that they were going to see if Henry Trotman was dead, and tried to force the gate fronting Strandgade. The gate, however, withstood their attack, and from the window of the gallery I called out to them, that I had seen Henry Trotman just now, and that nothing was the matter with him, except that he was quite drunk. 

At this juncture, Dr. Hansen and I ran down into the street to the mob, and Felicia came at once running up to me; I explained again that nothing was the matter with Henry Trotman, and told them to go away quietly without disturbing the sick; Dr. Hansen also did everything in his power to get them away. It was all to no purpose; from Kongens Tværgade they rushed up the main staircase, and both of us ran up also to keep the door; but they pushed it open at once, and we went away, Dr. Hansen homeward, and I, taking the way of Kongensgade, to the Fort. When I arrived there, the Police Assistant had already distributed our Minié-rifles, 9 in number (one of which, however, broke at once) to the policemen, who stood by the outer gate, while the three orderlies were holding on horseback in the yard. I was just going to write to the President, in Christiansted for assistance, when I saw the mob coming shouting up Strandgade from the hospital, in increased number, and take up their stand in front of the Fort, between the Customhouse and the wharf. A couple of minutes after, a rain of stones was sent down upon us in the fort yard, and when this was repeated, I gave order to fire.

As far as I am aware, no one was hit; but the whole mob stormed under savage cries against the fort, pulled down the outer gate, which consisted of palings only, and threw it into the sea. We hurried into the inner fort yard, barred the gate under the Judge's office, and got the orderlies, who promptly stabled their horses, in by a back-door fronting the stable-yard. Now began a murderous fire of brickbats, stones, couch shells and cannon-balls - which latter from old time were piled in the outer yard, - in such a manner that the entire inner fort yard and the bastions were covered by the missiles, and we had great trouble in delivering one fire without getting crushed; in several places whence we might have fired, the prison-cells were occupied by prisoners. The mob surrounded the Fort; they were in front of the Judge's office and in the stable-yard, and threw their missiles at us with great violence, so that I failed to understand that, only one man, nightguard Fossett, was hit by them (in the side). The three soldiers and the policemen present (some had been out off from us in town), and two men from town, who had followed with the Police-Assistant into the Fort, Mr. Tolderlund and Mr. Adolphus Joseph, exhibited great courage and coolness, and fired on the mob so effectively, that after the expiration of half-an-hour, about 5.30 p.m., especially because they had not succeeded in forcing the inner gate of the fort (which, however, nearly gave way) - they drew away from the Fort and went down to town. 

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Considering what had happened, I dared not assume the responsibility of leaving the Fort and attacking the mob in the streets, seeing that the number of the rioters was very considerable, and increased in the course of the evening and the night (if was reliably estimated at 600 800), and I had only 8 mozzle-loaders and 3 breechloaders; but I wrote at once to the President for an assistance of 20-25 soldiers, and despatched my coachman, John Mcintosh, on one of my horses with the letter at 5.45 p.m., through the stable gate by the Northside road, seeing that he could not pass through town on horseback; I dared not send an orderly, who in all probability would have been murdered by the rioters. I learned afterwards that a good many people were in motion on the Northside road; they pursued my coachman to such a manner that he had to seek refuge with Mr. Ramsay, manager of Estate "Punch " This latter sent, by another messenger, the letter to Mr. Foster, manager of Estate "Mon Bijou"; this messenger also was stopped on the road by great numbers of estate-labourers, but succeeded in reaching "Mon Bijou," and Mr. Foster despatched a third messenger, who reached Christiansted at one o'clock a.m. Wednesday morning, and delivered the letter to the Vice-Governor. 

We knew nothing about all this in the Fort; we hoped that the military might be on the spot about 10 or 11 o'clock in the evening, and that thus we would be enabled to save the greater part of the town, which as early as 7-8 o'clock p.m. began burning in some places, seeing that the mob broke open some shops, threw the goods into the street, poured kerosene over them and put fire to them; from the burning goods the fire in most cases caught the roofs of the houses, which thereupon burned down. In this manner the fire spread more and more; at length they put fire to the Customhouse. 

We were expecting every moment a new attack on the Fort, as we heard the rioters constantly saying that it was all of no use, so long as the Fort was not burned down; but there was no unanimity on this point, and one half of them thought it, was more safe to destroy the stores and houses, seeing that not a few of them had got wounded in the first attack on the Fort - Several times they advanced, gesticulating fearfully and striking together the cane-bills which they had robbed from the stores; but as we fired whenever any one came sufficiently near, they generally preferred keeping their distance, and retired again. It should be observed, that we were obliged to save our ammunition as much as possible, to provide for the eventuality that my messenger had been intercepted by mobs in the country, or that no assistance could be sent us from Christiansted; the streetmob declaring eagerly that that town was burning also. 

Arbejdere på St. Croix. Uden Årstal. Det Kongelige Bibliotek. Creative Commons Navngivelse-IkkeKommerciel-IngenBearbejdelse 3.0 Unported Licens.

- At 2.30 a-m. the 2nd inst. I got a black man, Charles Thomas, who had come to us in the Fort in the course of the night, to ride up to the Vice Governor with another letter, and he, after encountering much difficulty, reached Christiansted at 6 o'clock a.m., but when he arrived, the military had left 3 hours before 

- Between 3 and 4 o'clock a.m. the second attack was made on the Fort - this time from the stable-gate and from the sea-side by the bathing house; but as we gave fire whenever a head peeped out, the rioters broke into the garden behind the table-yard, through a small wicket fronting the public road, and from the garden put fire to the roof of a small house, Which is used for storage of petroleum from town, and at the time contained 840 gallons petroleum and about 2,000 squibs; at the same time they sent volleys of stones at us in order to prevent us from extinguishing the fire and shooting. We now got a small fire-engine up from the yard, by means of which we threw water on the shingled roof of the small house (commonly called "the birdcage") in which I have two private office rooms; we also, by directing the hose through the windows shove and below, poured water over all the wood work in the stable yard, - at the risk, of course, of being crushed by the stones thrown by the rioters, who understand throwing stones with correctness of aim and at a great distance. In view of the danger that the fire should spread, we had also to loose the horses in the stable-yard. 

The rioters endeavoured, by throwing stones, to prevent us from extinguishing the fire, but some well-aimed shots kept them at a distance; a few who came too near were shot down; and we succeeded in limiting the fire to the kerosene house, of which the roof and the contents burned, so that only the shattered walls are left. From the kerosene-house the fire caught the wooden shed between the kerosone-house end the stable-yard; but police-writer Henderson, under-corporal Petersen, and one of the drivers with some active prisoners, went down in the stable-yard and extinguished the fire. This attack lasted till 5 o'clock a. m. In an examination which I held a few days after, it was explained, that the purpose of this last attack was to get into the stable-yard, and when this failed, to burn down the kerosene-house, so as to make a wide gap, through which the mob should then rush in under a lean to which, fronting the stable-yard, is attached to the Police office; from this point a door should be forced, and 2 or 3 bottles of burning kerosene thrown into the room thus opened (the former guard-room), in order to cause the burning of the men upstairs. 

- A little before 6 o'clock a.m., when a part of the rioters had left town, and most of those remaining had gathered to the north of the Moravian establishment, and were most probably preparing a third attack on the Port, Lieutenant Ostermann arrived with 19 military by the Northside road, and was admitted through the stable-gate. I now had the flag hoisted, and, I immediately after the arrival of the military, went out in the town with the Lieutenant and 30 soldiers. The first thing was to fire on the rioters assembled at the Moravian establishment; after dispersing this mob we marched through the streets, which the Lieutenant cleared by firing some volleys; at the same time we effected some arrestations. We succeeded in being just in time to save the large house belonging to Comptroller Birch, situated on the corner of Kongensgade and Toldbodgade (formerly the residence of Policemaster Egg. ), which the mob had commenced firing; they had poured kerosene over the furniture, but luckily only a door fronting Toldbodgade had caught fire, which I caused to be extinguished at once. 

After our return to the Fort, we had a brass gun - which was offered us by Major Moore, and was lying in his burned-down property in Strandgade - moved up on the bastion, mounted on an old gun-carriage, and loaded with a charge of grape shot, some of which had, luckily, been left behind when the military last year was removed from the Fort, but which up to that moment had been of little use to us, seeing that no gun had been left to the police. About 9 o'clock a. m. Lieutenant Ostermann and myself got a report of what had occurred sent off to the Vice-Governor, by the hands of Mr. Thomas Elliott from Christiansted.

(St. Croix Avis, 30. november 1878)

Sankt Croix: Kolonirådsmøde 6. november 1878. (Efterskrift til Politivennen)

De danske kolonilove (1863) bestemte at der skulle være to koloniråd på de danske Vestindiske Øer: Et for St. Thomas-St. Jan og et for St. Croix. Stemmeberettigede til sidstnævnte var mænd med formue på over 500 vestindiske dollars eller som besad ejendom som producerede en årlig indkomst på 75 vestindiske dollars (150 på St. Thomas). Kolonirådet bestod derfor altid af en lille, privilegeret elite. Det interesserede sig på intet tidspunkt for infrastruktur, sundhedsvæsen eller uddannelse. 

På mødet onsdag den 6. november 1878 var til stede guvernøren, viceguvernøren, formand Rosenstand, Sarauw, Branch, Farrelly, Elliot, Hvid, Kalmer, Skeoch, Moore, Latimer og Faber. St. Croix Avis bragte den 13. november et udførligt referat. Man drøftede genopbygningen efter oprøret og støtte fra Danmark. Rådsmedlemmer havde kritiseret militærets indgriben. Det afviste guvernøren pure. I en bisætning nævnte han at måske de skulle se på landarbejdernes forhold, så man ikke stod i samme situation næste år til oktober, men udover diskuteredes landarbejdernes forhold ikke.

I det hele taget illustrerer kolonialrådsmødet meget godt hvor den hvide magtelite lagde fokus - og det helt op til 1916 (se senere afsnit): Den danske regering burde sende flere penge som erstatning for tabene, og mere militær for at holde kontrol med landarbejderne i tilfælde af at de protesterede alt for meget over forholdene. Efterfølgende kolonirådsmøder fulgte stort set denne linje.

Samtidig (23. november 1878) blev guvernørens redegørelse offentliggjort i St. Croix Avis, næsten en måned senere end i Danmark.

Referaterne har af hensyn til læsbarheden fået indsat flere afsnit som ikke var med i de oprindelige artikler.

1st Crown member ( Branch) could not see the use of a Committee, nor could he see any good to delay. He scarcely thought there could be any opposition to the Communication, which is clear and lucid in its contents and ably got up. There is only one point to which he would wish to call attention, as he did not think the Council should commit itself, nor did he suppose his Excellency wished that the Council should commit itself, to the remark in question; at all events he and several Members, besides many in the Community, could not join in that remark, he referred to the part of the communication where it is stated that the Military force, viz. that which had been sent out on Wednesday night in the Northside Road and had halted at Montpellier, had been obliged to retreat. The Community were at a loss to see or to find out the causes of the retreat. Anyhow to that fatal retreat is due all the burning and destruction that took place on Thursday, except those fires that were set in distant places. The bands of rebels who destroyed Morning Star, Montpellier, Windsor and Glynn were not in existence before Thursday morning. when the gangs of these and other estates completed a junction, a junction which would not have been possible if the soldiers had not on Wednesday night retreated from their positions at Montpellier. In fact that retreat did the greatest harm, and it made a sad impression to see brave soldiers turn their backs to Paris and his hordes.

The Governor: When, the day after the revolt had broken out, he came here with a few men from St. Thomas, he had not expected, after doing his best, to be blamed, and blamed in such an unjust manner. He did not now address himself as much to the honourable Member, to whom he was thankful for having brought forward the opinion in the Colonial Council, as to many others who had expressed the same opinion elsewhere. It was very unjust to blame a handful of men in that manner. It will be remembered that the night on which those 20 men were despatched to the Northside, was very dark and rainy; the men had just arrived front a garrison where there were many cases of fever, nobody here could give any information as to whether the rioters offered armed resistance or not; to fact with but very few exceptions everybody here was full of fear. The officer in command of the men from St. Thomas, Lieutenant Baron Eggers did not wish to lose time; he applied for permission to go out with a detachment of troops along the Northside Road, to reconnoitre and gain information as to the actual slate. The Governor warned the Lieutenant, that it would be difficult to do anything, as the cane pieces are so high, that even at day time, it was not possible to see far ahead, much less in the dark of the night; as an instance of this, he would mention, that when on the following day the troops were out, rioters were from the top of Kingshill seen putting fire to cane pieces at the foot of the hill, but on reaching the spot, not one was to be found or seen; this was in broad daylight; it was impossible at present to search the cane fields, how much more so in a dark rainy night.  Such accusations could only contribute to cool the interest and attachment he had always felt for this Island. 

Heinrich Franz Alexander von Eggers (1844-1903) officer, botaniker. Det Kongelige Bibliotek. Creative Commons Navngivelse-IkkeKommerciel-IngenBearbejdelse 3.0 Unported Licens. Deltog i krigen 1864. Rejste herefter til Mexico og indrullerede sig i the Imperial Mexican Volunteer Corps Österreichisches Freiwilligenkorps. Blev taget til fange af meksikanske republikanere. 1867-1885  løjtnant, senere kaptajn i den danske hær på de vestindiske øer. Som pensionist botaniske studier på øerne.

Now, to resume, if there had been some courageous men here to join the military on that expedition, the result might have been otherwise; but there were none such, it was even difficult to get a few carriages to convey the men. The rumours spread with regard to the movement in question, and the conclusions based thereon are wrong. The 20 man were sent out in the dark of the night; they had not gone very far when they were fired on at the Estate Golden Rock; to ascertain something about this firing, enquiry was immediately made at the Central Factory where some armed men were stationed, whether there had been any firing; but not a gun had been discharged from there, still there were witnesses of firearms having been discharged. There was this good reason to believe that the rioters were armed; the Officer in command of the detachment was obliged to adhere strictly to his orders: to pass tho Northside Road and join Lieutenant Waage at Kingshill, but by all means to avoid being surrounded by the rebels or cut off from Christiansted. There were in all about 100 soldiers in the island; if they had been scattered round about, with 20 men here, and 80 there, and the rioters had made a vigorous armed resistance, the lives of the inhabitants in this town would have been exposed to the greatest danger. 

Some time after his departure, Lieutenant Eggers reported that its men were wet and tired, as could be expected, and therefore had been obliged to remain at Montpellier; at the same time, Lieutenant Waage reported that the rioters were burning Estates at the foot of Kingshill, and that they were in such large numbers, that he had not considered it warrantable to remain there with his 20 men but had retreated to Sion Farm. Under these circumstances, as the men of both detachments were over tired and as there was no possibility of sending reinforcement from here, it was necessary to order both detachments to town, to rest till the following day. Now if the Colonial Council should not be satisfied with this, the Council ought to complain to the Home Government; but the Governor would remind the Council of the consequences.

He was happy to say that the loss of life has been strongly exaggerated; according to official information obtained with regard to labourers on the Estates, 58 persons were shot in the open fields, and 12 by sentence of the Court Martials: 14 women were burned at Grove Place, making in all 84 lives lost; nothing is us yet known about the porters particularly in Westend Quarter; but he did not think the total would exceed 100 lives. As for the amount of Damages done, the Government has received from the Presidency a report based on estimates drawn up by the respective Quarter Officers and Estate Owners, according to which all the damages done in Estates works, inventory, produce made and canes in the fields are estimated at $670,500, to which will come the loss occasioned by the delay of the crop. For Frederiksted no estimate has as yet been obtained. The Colonial Treasury's loss is put down at 10.000 by destruction of buildings, and $90,000 on loss of revenue; the Central Factory c. $1,800 and several other losses $5,000; thus the loss at present estimated may be put down at c, $700.000. In the same manner the most necessary repairs to the Estates' works have been estimated to cost $264,000.

This is of course the question most pressing at present, at least on his mind, viz: how to bring the estates as soon as possible in working order. 

There is no doubt but, that many planters are unable to help themselves; and we can expect help from no other source than the State Treasury. He had desired some time since to see the Colonial Council on this matter, but the state of siege existing in the Island, delayed the meeting. He had however on his own accord informed the Home Government of the necessity of coming to the assistance of the Island, and had inquired if the colony could expect to get such assistance. He had however as yet received no final reply. With the last mail, he had received a letter from the Minister, according to which the Home  Government entertains an idea similar to his that the Colonial Treasury should assist the planters through a loan from the State Treasury. No doubt the Home Government will add some conditions; and he could only hope that honorable Members will from several reasons see the necessity of making changes in several respects, so as not to have a new 1st of October soon again. 

He had hoped before to-day to receive a telegram from Copenhagen containing further information on the matter; on the other hand, he did not, wish to act any longer on his own hand for this island, but would prefer that the Colonial Council joins; it will of of course depend on how he is now personally met here, whether he will at all continue to work personally for the Island or not. He would propose that the Council appoints a Committee to draw up the Council's remarks on Government's communication about the state of siege, and he intends to propose another one to cooperate with the Government, in order to consider and decide what amount it is necessary to procure to relieve the distress in the island to propose to the Colonial Council such petitions as the Committee might recommend to be addressed to Home Government, with regard to the future and particularly the financial position of the community, and to consider upon which amounts the Colonial Treasury should lend to the sufferers.

The Chairman vacated the chair to the Vice Chairman (Sarauw)

2nd Member for Christiansted's Country District [Rosenstand] should have had no objection to defer making any remarks on the communication, at all events till it had passed in the Committee; but as the discussion had been opened, he would have to make some remarks. He must confess, he rather regretted having encouraged the 1st Crown Member (Branch) to come forward with his remarks; he was never more surprised than by those remarks. It never struck him that the Council just at the time it received a communication regarding the great calamity that has befallen the Island, would pick out small points or parts of the whole sad drama, and make them the object of criticism which in this moment could scarcely he exercised with sufficient calmness and justice. He would most strongly advise the Council not to follow this course. He would, to show how difficult it was to form an opinion on affairs or to make any fair criticism afterwards, refer to what had been said by the Governor of the impossibility of getting information if the rebels offered any armed resistance, or not ... [The Governor: It was not even known that there were 7 or 8 gangs of rebels; but from communications received and what could loosely be gathered here, it was  supposed they were moving in one large mass; it was only the next day any certainty was obtained] . . . . we all in town believed the same thing, and much uncertainty prevailed as to the whole state of things. In the course of the day such information should have been sought and obtained here, as could have guided the military movements in the evening, through patrols, but we had no force available for patrols; in the forenoon several planters applied for authorisation from the President to go out in a body and meet the rioters; they got the desired permission but the expedition did not come off; in the evening, be happened to meet one of these planters; he had been out, but alone with his manager and another gentleman. He would not criticise this. Let the movement in question be an error, others would find other movements equally as wrong In West End the complaint was, that no detachment were sent out on the North Side on Thursday Afternoon, when applied for; all this might be wrong but this is not the moment to search for errors. 

We have other things now to do; and if the Council appoint Committee to draw up the remarks, it would bo a shame if there should be nothing else than backings and bickerings at the communication. We have first to examine whether the Governor was justified in declaring martial law or putting the Island in a state of siege, and to suggest what is best to do to raise the island from the efforts of the calamity. The latter part may now after the Government is going to propose the appointment of a second Committee not fall under the reply to the communication. Unity makes strong; we cannot expect sympathy from the Danish Diet, if we are here governed by faction. What faults or errors we find, can be reserved for comment, on another occasion, but our first act should be one of unity and to show that we are ready to do our best to raise the Island from its prostrated state. It was reassuring to see that on the introduction of the Financial Law in the Diet the Minister of Finances had alluded to that the state of St. Croix would lay great claims on the State Treasury. (To be continued)

(St. Croix Avis, 23. november 1878)

Kvinder ved hytte på St. Croix. Uden årstal. Det kongelige Bibliotek. Materialet er muligvis beskyttet af ophavsret.

Rådsmødereferatet fortsatte i næste nummer:

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COLONIAL COUNCIL

for St. Croix.

(Conclusion af Meeting of 6th November.)

(Discussion on Government's Communication concerning the state of siege.)

4th Member for Christiansted's Country District (Farrelly) complained of the Island having been left without, sufficient protection. Westend with all the Estates round there was left only to the protection of 5 policemen and 5 rattans, If Westend had had some sort of military protection, the whole thing might have been avoided. Attention to this had been called during the discussions on the military ordinance, and fears were expressed. Now has come to pass what the Authorities and some Members would not believe; he and almost all the other planters have been ruined, and have lost everything, because it was thought fit to have no military men located in Westend.

The Governor: Who was it said who did not want any military force?

4th Member for Christiansted' Country District (Farrelly): There were 6-7 Members who voted against doing away with the forces.

The Governor would beg Members to be just enough to remember the history of the military ordinance. For the first 9 years after his arrival here, he opposed retrenchments in the public expenditure, for which many voices were raised; he held that the Administration could not be had cheaper, and that those reductions which here and there might be made were so trifling, that they would lead to nothing. In fact, he had heard constantly a great deal about  retrenchments, but could not find any key to a plan for their execution. In 1872 we were comparatively rich; then came 1873 which found us a little poorer. In 1873 or 74 while on a visit here, he was addressed by a so called Deputation, that asserted that $500,000 were requisite in order to continue the business of the island. Government procured them a loan of $150,000 from the Statetreasury. This loan has not since been fully repaid, because the one drought followed the other, and the crops went down as low as 3.00 hogsheads in one year, there was no money in the Treasury, and no sufficient revenue to be expected; what was the use of the Council saying we wish to maintain the military, but we have no money to pay for it. 

Later, on the 4th January in 1875, he in this Council had frankly declared that he was not bound to fulfil the promises made by former Governors, and that he would not undertake to support vague proposals of retrenchments, but must demand that those who voted retrenchments, should show how such were to be effected. In 1876 he left here for Copenhagen for the purpose of promoting the Central Factory, he would not speak of what he had done in that respect; but If he had not gone, the Factory would never have been here; perhaps some may say it would have been better it had not come; the future will show. The Diet gave another loan of 600.000 Kroner to the Colonial Treasury besides supplying one half of the Factory's Capital through a loan from the State. The Diet made however certain conditions, among others that we should curtail our expenses as much as possible, and as the military expenses was the only item where reduction of any significance could be effected, the last military ordinance was submitted. 

Now, a great deal might be said for and against the military; he would here refer to a simple but striking remark he had heard sometime ago: it is simply absurd to expect to grow canes with rifles. He would beg to ask, was there any man here who would before the 1st of October could or did suppose that a danger of the kind could be expected to occur on this Island? He had spoken with 3  gentlemen, who have lived a long life here in i the Island, intimately acquainted with the labourers an animated by a strong feeling of justice and humanity, one of these viz: Reverend DuBois, he would take the liberty to mention and publicly pay him this compliment on account of the zealous and courageous manner in which he had endeavoured to prevent the riots in Frederiksted; he had asked each of those gentlemen, if they had ever thought such a fearful, dreadful calamity possible; they replied all that if they had been asked the question on the 30th September, they would have answered it was utterly impossible: a little disturbance or a strike might be possible; but such a serious rising was beyond the conception of every one. This Is the secret of the military question: we have all fell secure, we have slept with our doors open, but we have suddenly seen that we have been mistaken. This may be called the moral sense of the question: the pecuniary view of the matter is that the Island was unable to bear the former military expenses, they had necesarily to be retrenched.

1st Crown member (Branch) had felt it would seem an incidious thing to incite the remarks he had had to make on the Governor's communication. But he had to a certain extent been misunderstood. He had spoken on one point, which he found to be wrong and which was much commented upon by the public, but he would not join in any wholesale condemnation. As regards to the insurrection itself, it was too true that it could not have taken place if a military force had been in the Island; but for its real causes, he must go further than the removal of the military force from West End and Kingshill. The planters have for many years been driving their labour power at high steam pressure; Ihe engine has now burst, Until the whole body of planters have learnt to feel more for and with labourers than they do now; until they feel that labourers need something else beside being well fed and housed, - in fact that they are not merely so much working power, then the Island, though it may be made safe, will not be what it ought to be, not if you put all the military force you like into it.

4th Member for Christiansted's Country District (Farrelly) believed that nowhere in the world would you find a class of labourers better clad, better fed and enjoying a better life than here in this Island; foreign clergymen have come here and seen it and commented on it, and a proof of it is afforded by the people leaving here and afterwards returning even from their native land. No planter considers a labourer Iess than what he is, or treats him otherwise than he ought to do. As for the remarks from the Governor that no one expected this outbreak, he would observe that for some time it was plain the labourers were driving at something, had something in their heads, especially as they did not cultivate their provision grounds; a strike might have been looked for, but this general rising was not expected; for no earthly reason could be supposed for those labourers wanting to ruin the whole Island and to drive out the white man.

The Chairman vacated bis seat to the Vice Chairman.

2nd Member for Christiansted's Country District (Rosenstand) would shortly reply to the remarks from the honourable Member (Branch) about the planter's treatment to labourers. The honourable 4th Member for Christiansted's Country district (Farrelly) had already replied; but be might be considered too interested in the question to take an unbiased view of it. He (the speaker) though having no personal interest in the question had through many years and in different positions closely observed and become well acquainted with the relation between planters and their labourers ; and he thought that on the whole - exceptional cases were always to be found - such accusations as were brought against the whole class of Planters by the honorable and reverend member were unjust and unwarrantable, and be would most earnestly repudiate them, that they should not pass over the whole world uncontradicted.

1st Crown Member (Branch) was sorry that the Chairman had again somewhat misunderstood him. What he had intended to say in connection with the labourers was, that unless a feeling of mutual confidence be established between employers and labourers, the latter could be kept down only by terror. He should certainly not wish the island to be without military assistance; he would himself have voted against the removal of the troops if he had been in the Council at that time; but he does not wish it to be overlooked, that there are affairs here which need to be adjusted in a suitable manner; he meant the relation between employer and labourer, which must be put on a footing somewhat like similar relations elsewhere; for, as justly observed by His excellency to day - we cannot grow canes with rifles.

The Governor, would as he had touched on the labour question in the communication, add a few words with special reference to what the honorable 1st Crown member (Branch) had stated. He [the Governor] concurred with the honorable Member in his principles for the adjustment to the labour-question. All relations between two classes of people, who wish to live in peace together, ought to he regulated according lo these principles. The labourers must be treated with humanity, and it ought to be made possible for the employers to encourage good laborers by rewarding them with a higher pay than the rest, but the present labour-regulations do not allow this. The labourers have Iately committed a crime by trying to bring about a change in the Law in an Illegal manner; it has therefore been necessary to force them back under the provisions of the law; but we must be prepared to make a change for the future, and to show that we are willing lo settle the labour-question with justice to all. It will be noticed from the Newspapers, that although they had scanty information about the riot here, they have all guessed that, the Labour-question is not regulated here as it ought to be; if we wish to obtain the sympathy of the outer world, we must try to meet its opinions.

After a respite of 15 minutes, the Council resumed.

2nd Crown Member (Kalmar) fully concurred with what had fallen from the Chairman during the first part of the discussion, and thought the first feeling that should pervade the Council alter the sad calamity in the Island, should be to try to do everything to remedy the effects; to pat shoulder to shoulder to work out a good result. He did also feel convinced that this would be the ultimate result of the Council's action; and withal, it will take a long time before the island can recover from the effects of the dreadful calamity. At the same time it was very cheering to see both from the Government's remarks as well as from elsewhere, that there is a readiness on the part of ihe Home Government and the Nation to come to the assistance of the Island; not only a readiness to yield mere material help, but there is a sympathy, which makes our cause a national cause, so that one could feel more than ever before convinced, that the Mother Country will not consider us as a colony, but embrace us as a province, he could not allow these discussions to be closed, without giving expulsion to the joy he felt on that account, and he held the expeciation that that national feeling will become stronger and stronger, and ultimately lead to our being admitted in all respects as a part of Denmark. As for the Council's remarks to the communication, the proper way would in his opinion be to have a Committee to prepare them, and he would like to know if the same Committee could not attend to the other purposes, for the Governor desired to have a special Committee,

The (Chairman) did not think it possible that one Committee could serve for the two different

purposes, He would refer the question to the Governor.

The (Governor) would propose a special Committee to be appointed to confer with him on several questions.

3rd Member for Frederiksted's Country District (Moore) proposed a Committee of 3

Members to be appointed to prepare the Council's remarks to the Government's Communication.

4th Member for Christiansted's Country District (Farrelly) proposed a Committee of 5 Members. Moore withdrew his proposal, and Farrelly's proposal was unanimously adopted. The Governor handed in his proposal as already reported.

(St. Croix Avis, 27. november 1878)

Herefter fortsatte forhandlingerne og forslagene om en komite.

Lars Peter Elfelt (1866-1931): søfolk på gaden i Christianssted. Materialet er fri af ophavsret. Det Kongelige Bibliotek.

To the Editor of the "St. Croix Avis"

Mr. Editor!

I was very much pleased on Friday to hear at the meeting of the Colonial Council allusion made to the Press in this Island.

You cannot be entirely unaware of the great disatisfaction which has of late been very freely expressed as to the unfairness which has been shown towards a very large proportion of our community, by, as they have in my opinion justly considered it, a want of free access to the Avis, and on the very subject which it so happened was the cause of the said allusion on Friday, vix., the Central Factory.

The general opinion has been that any expression adverse to that unfortunate institution would not have been admitted to the columns of your paper, or, to speak plainer yet, that we have no free press in this Island. A certain state of things has been going on too long, and it is time that there should be a change.

Will you, therefore, Mr. Editor, in an early issue, let the Public know if we have a free press or not, bearing in mind that we fully understand the distinction between a free press and alicentious one.

Yours truly

X

(St. Croix Avis, 13. november 1878)

I en artikel om landskolerne St. Croix Avis 20. november 1878, lød en del af konklusionen således:

While our labouring population lies under disgrace, we feel that views such as we have stated, although their abstract truth may be admitted, will not meet with much sympathy. It remains for the people themselves to alter this state of public feeling towards them by perseverance in good conduct and the performance of their daily duties, and we hope that those of them who can read and write will use their influence among them to show that such a course will be the best for all interests concerned.

En læser havde plæderet for at landbefolkningen ikke skulle uddannes, og at situationen skulle udnyttes til at fjerne dette privilegium. Diskussionen gik mellem om den sorte landarbejderbefolkning skulle fastholdes i "barbari" uden uddannelse, eller de skulle lære gennem uddannelse at opføre sig som lovlige og gode arbejdere.

Den 28. december 1878 udstedte Christian 9. en befaling om at Johan Frederik Schlegel, Martin Levy og Carl Madsenius Vilhelm von Tvermoes skulle udsendes for at undersøge årsagerne til oprøret, skader og tilstå et midlertidigt lån. 

Janus August Garde,

Gouverneur for de dansk-vestindiske Øer,

Kammerherre,

Commandeur af Danebrog og Danebrogsmand

GJÖR VITTERLIGT: Da det er anseet for nödvendigt, at der uden Ophold træffes Bestemmelse om Lettelser for Eierne af de under Opstanden paa St Croix i October Maaned 1878 ödelagte Bygninger og Sukkerværker med Hensyn til disses Gjenopförelse og Istandsættelse, saa bliver herved i Kraft af den mig ved Coloniallovens §4 overdragne Myndighed, foreløbigen fastsat og anordnet som fölgor.

§1

Alle Materialier, der fra 1ste October 1878 at regne og inden 31ste Marts 1880 indföres til St. Croix og som beviisligt anvendes til Gjenopförelsen af de under Opstanden i October Maaned 1879 Ödelagte Bygninger i Byen Frederiksted og paa Landet samt til Istandsættelsen af de ved samme Leilighed beskadigede Værker og Indretninger samt Brugsgjenstande m.m., bestemte til Tilvirkning af Sukker og dettes Biproducter, ere fritagne for den ved Lov angaaende Handel og Skibfart paa St. Croix af 30te Juni 1850 §6 foreskrevne Indförselstold, saaledes at denne godtgjöres vedkommende Eiendomsbesidder, under saadanne nærmere Bestemmelser med Hensyn til Controllen, som blive at fastsætte af Gouvernementet. For de i nævnte Öiemed alt tidligere indförte Materialier vil den erlagte Udförselstold kunne tilbagebetales, naar de fornödne Beviisligheder for Anvendelsen ere tilstede.

§ 2

Alle Gældsforskrivninger der i ovennævnte Tidsrum udstædes for Pengeforstrækninger til Gjenopförelsen og Istandsættelsen af de som nævnt i §1 ødelagte Bygninger og Værker, ere fritagne for Brugen af stemplet Papir. Forsaavidt de allerede forinden denne Anordnings Kundgjörelse maatte være udstedte, er den, der har bestridt Udgiften, berettiget til at erholde den godtgjort af Colonialkassen. 

Hvorefter alle Vedkommende sig have at rette.

Gouvernementet for de dansk-vestindiske Öer,

St. Thomas den 24de December 1878.

Under min Haand og Gouvernementets Segl

AUG. GARDE

(L. S.)

(St. Croix Avis, 1. januar 1879)

Til

HERR W. H HEYLIGER.

3die Marts, 1879.

Ved under Dags Dato at overlevere Commissionen en Gjenpart af nogle paa et Möde i Frederiksted den 1ste d. M. vedtagne Resolutioner har De i Forbindelse med flere andre Herrer anmodet om at maatte möde for Commissionen for at udtale Dem angaaende Aarsagerne til det 1 October f. A, stedfundne Oprör m, m. 

Commissionen tillader sig i den Anledning herved at meddele Dem til videre Communication for Medundertegnerne af de ovennævnte Resolutioner, at man, efterat Commissionen har taget sin Bestemmelse med Hensyn til de Personer, hvis Forklaring den har anseet det af Vigtighed for Udförelsen af det den allernaadigst ovordragne Hverv at erholde, saameget mindre findes Anledning til at elterkomme de Herrers Anmodning som der alt er givet en stor Deel af Undertegnerne af de nævnte Resolutioner og navnlig, paa en enkelt Undtagelse nær, samtlige de Herrer Medlemmer af Comiteen, Leilighed til at udtale sig for Commissionen.

(St. Croix Avis, 22. marts 1879)

Siliane Marie Christensen. (Efterskrift til Politivennen)

Den 6. november 1878 afsagde Øster og Vester Herreders Extraret for at have skilt sit barn ved livet til forbedringshusarbejde i 2 år. Den 16. december 1878 afsagde landsoverretten i Viborg dom over Siliane Marie Christensen med forbedringshusarbejde i 5 år. Højesteret nedsatte den 17. marts 1879 dommen til 2 år. Sagens akter som følger:

Højesteretsdom Nr. 74.
Mandagen den 17de Marts.
Etatsraad Buntzen

contra

Siliane Marie Christensen (Defensor Levinsen), der tiltales for Overtrædelse af Straffelovens § 194, eventuelt tillige af § 192.

Øster- og Vester Herreders Extrarets Dom af 6te November 1878: Arrestantinden Siliane Marie Christensen bør hensættes til Forbedringshusarbeide i 2 Aar, samt udrede. alle af sin Arrest og denne Sag samt hendes Henbringelse til Straffeanstalten lovligt flydende Omkostninger, hvorunder i Salair til Actor, Sagfører Vorck, og Defensor, Procurator Smith, 10 Kr. til hver. At efterkommes under Adfærd efter Loven."

Viborg Landsoverrets Dom af 16de December 1878: Tiltalte Siliane Marie Christensen bør hensættes til Forbedringshusarbeide i 5 Aar. Saa udreder hun og Actionens Omkostninger og derunder i Salair til Actor for Underretten 12 Kr., til Defensor sammesteds 10 Kr., samt til Actor og Defensor for Overretten, Procuratorerne Isaacsen og Fasting, 15 Kr. til hver. At efterkommes under Adfærd efter Loven."

Høiesterets Dom.

I Henhold til de i den indankede Dom anførte Grunde kjendes for Ret:

Landsoverrettens Dom bør ved Magt at stande. I Salarium til Etatsraad Buntzen og Advocat Levinsen for Høiesteret betaler Tiltalte 40 Kroner til hver. 

I den indankede Doms Præmisser hedder det: „Under denne Sag tiltales Siliane Marie Christensen for Overtrædelse af Straffelovens § 194 og eventuelt tillige § 192.

Ved Tiltaltes egen Tilstaaelse og Sagens øvrige Oplysninger maa det anses tilstrækkelig godtgjort, at hun, der efter sin Forklaring en Dag i Ugen efter Helligtrekongersdag d. A. havde havt Samleie med en hende iøvrigt saagodtsom ubekjendt Karl, og som senere saavidt hun troer i Februar Maaned havde mærket, at hun var frugtsommelig, ligesom hun i den paafølgende Tid oftere følte, at Fosteret var levende, har fattet den Beslutning uden at hun har kunnet opgive, naar Tanken herom først opstod hos hende at dølge sit Svangerskab, saagodtsom hun kunde, samt at skjule Fødselen og lade Barnet, saafremt det maatte komme levende til Verden, døe af Mangel paa fornødne Livsbetingelser, medens hun ikke vil have dannet sig nogen bestemt Plan for, hvorledes hun, naar Tiden kom, da hun skulde føde, nærmere vilde bære sig ad hermed. I Overensstemmelse med denne Beslutning, som hun senere uforandret fastholdt, nægtede Tiltalte, der i Marts Maaned d. A. kom til at tjene i Lundtang Kro, paa sin Madmoders Spørgsmaal desangaaende, at hun var frugtsommelig, og aabenbarede ikke sin Tilstand for Andre end for sin Moder og en i Kroen tjenende Karl, med hvem hun fra Pintsetid d. A. jevnlig har pleiet legemlig Omgang, idet hun dog for begge disse gav det Udseende af, at hendes Svangerskab var en Frugt af hendes Forbindelse med den Sidstnævnte.

Tiltalte vil ikke have ventet sin Nedkomst førend 8 Dage efter Mikkelsdag, men Natten mellem den 25de og 26de September henimod Kl. 2, medens hun og en anden Tjenestepige, med hvem hun delte Natteleie i Pigekammeret, laae til Sengs, mærkede hun, at Fødselsveerne indfandt sig, og da det som meldt, var hendes Hensigt at føde i Dølgsmaal, og at Barnet ikke skulde leve, undlod hun at kalde paa den i Sengen ved Siden af hende liggende Pige, der sov, ligesom hun for ikke at vække denne afholdt sig fra at skrige, og efter 1 a 1% Times Forløb fødte hun, liggende paa Ryggen i Sengen med Dynen over sig, et Pigebarn, som hun efter Fødselen, der foregik hurtigt og let, lod blive liggende under Dynen imellem sine Laar. Et Øieblik efter Fødselen satte Tiltalte sig op i Sengen og overrev med sine Fingre Navlestrengen, hvorpaa hun, da hun kunde mærke, at Efterbyrden vilde komme, flyttede Barnet længere ned imellem sine Ben, idet hun tog det med Hænderne om Livet, og efterat hun derpaa var bleven skilt ved Efterbyrden, som hun lagde fra sig paa Gulvet ved Siden af Sengen, lagde hun sig igjen tilbage i Sengen, idet hun fremdeles lod Barnet, som hun efter sit Udsagn ikke ønskede at see, men vilde lade passe sig selv, forblive liggende mellem sine Ben. Tiltalte har vedgaaet, at hun vel vidste, at Barnet der iøvrigt efter hendes Udsagn hverken har rørt sig eller givet nogen Lyd fra sig, saa at hun ikke af egen Erfaring vidste, om det har levet efter Fødselen ved at forblive liggende under Dynen nødvendig maatte døe, hvis det var levende født, men at hun desuagtet ikke noget Øieblik tænkte paa at tage Barnet op til sig for mulig at redde dets Liv, idet det netop var hendes Ønske og Villie, at Barnet ikke skulde leve, medens hun paa den anden Side ikke selv vilde tage Livet af det. Efter nogen Tids Forløb som Tiltalte antager Kl 5 a 5½ stod hun ubemærket af den anden Pige, der vedblev at sove, op af Sengen, i hvilken hun laae yderst, tog Barnet, der da var dødt, men endnu varmt, frem af Sengen og indbandt det i et Skjørt og et Tørklæde samt lagde Pakken med Barnet ned ved Fodenden af Sengen, og efterat hun derpaa havde baaret Efterbyrden udenfor paa Marken og dækket den til med noget Jord, gik hun atter til Sengs. Da hendes Medtjenerinde noget efter var staaet op og gaaet ud i Stalden for at malke, fik Tiltalte Leilighed til at bringe Pakken med Barnet over i et Kammer ved Bageriet og gjemme den i sit der staaende kab, hvor det hen paa Formiddagen efter hendes Anvisning blev fundet af hendes Madmoder og Jordemoderen, hvem det var lykkedes at faae Tiltalte til at tilstaa, hvad der var foregaaet.

En af Fysikus og Distriktslægen, der den 28de September d. A. obducerede det heromhandlede Barnelig, afgiven Beskrivelse af Obductionsfundet, gaaer blandt Andet ud paa, at Barnet var fuldbaaret og altsaa levedygtig, at det har aandet og altsaa været levende født, og at Døden maa antages indtraadt suffocativt paa Grund af Mangel paa tilstrækkelig Luft, da Barnet efter Fødselen henlaae i flere Timer under Dynen mellem Moderens Ben.

Idet det nu efter alt, hvad der saaledes er fremkommet, maa antages, at det af Tiltalte fødte Barn er kommet levende til Verden og derefter er bleven kvalt ved at blive liggende under Dynen mellem Tiltaltes Ben, maa Tiltalte der som meldt har tilstaaet, at hun ifølge en forud fattet Beslutning om at lade sit Barn, hvis det blev levende født, døe af Mangel paa fornødne Livsbetingelser, har i dette Øiemed ladet Barnet blive i Sengen under Dynen, og at hun var sig bevidst, at Barnet, hvis det ikke var dødfødt, nødvendig maatte blive berøvet Livet ved denne Fremgangsmaade anses forsætlig at have skilt bemeldte Barn ved Livet, uden at navnlig den Omstændighed, at hun ikke vil have vidst, om Barnet var levende, da det kom til Verden, vil kunne komme i nogen videre Betragtning, og hun, der er født i Aaret 1852 og ikke tidligere har været tiltalt eller straffet, vil for dette sit Forhold være at ansee efter Straffelovens § 192, 2det Led, hvorefter der ikke bliver Spørgsmaal om at idømme hende en særlig Straf for Barnefødsel i Dølgsmaal efter § 194. Den Straf, som Tiltalte efter det Anførte har forskyldt, findes efter Sagens Omstændigheder passende at kunne bestemmes til Forbedringshusarbeide i 5 Aar, hvorhos Tiltalte vil have at udrede Actionens Omkostninger og derunder i Salair til Actor for Underretten 12 Kr., til Defensor sammesteds 10 Kr., samt til Actor og Defensor for Overretten 15 Kr. til hver."

(Højesteretstidende. Højesteretsåret 1879-1880)

Lundtang var på daværende tidspunkt sognets materielle midtpunkt og samlingssted: Ejeren Søren Chr. Carstensen (gården Lundtangvej 50) fik krobevilling, byggede mølle, drev købmandshandel og indrettede bageri – alt sammen i eller på gården. Her blev holdt møder, licitationer og afholdt valg til kommune og rigsdag. Det kaldtes også ”Lille København”. Kroen flyttede i 1903 pga. jernbanen og blev til Lunde Kro.