does not tell us. We can only infer that the number must have been great,
from the statement he incidentally makes, that "during the day _nineteen
more were_ taken, tried, and executed--some that turned State's
evidence were transported." "Eight or ten whites had been murdered," and
many more wounded.

It was a terrible event, and remembered by the present inhabitants with
horror and dismay. To the little handful occupying the point of the
island, it was a tragedy as great as a riot in New York to-day would be,
in which was a loss of 5,000 or more on each side.

Many middle-aged men, in 1741, were young men at that time, and remembered
the fearful excitement that prevailed, and it was a common topic of
conversation.

The state of things, therefore, which we have described, was natural. This
was rendered worse by the arrival, in the winter of 1741, of a Spanish
vessel, which had been captured as a prize, the crew of which was composed
in part of negroes, who were sold at auction as slaves. These became very
intractable, and in spite of the floggings they received, uttered threats
that they knew would reach their masters' ears. Still, no evidence of any
general plot against the inhabitants was suspected, and things were moving
on in their usual way, when, on the 18th of March, a wild and blustering
day, the Governor's house in the fort was discovered to be on fire. Fanned
by a fierce south-east wind, the flames spread to the King's chapel, the
secretary's house, barracks, and stables; and in spite of all efforts to
save them, were totally consumed. The origin of the fire was supposed to
be accidental, but a few days after, Captain Warren's house, near the
fort, was found to be on fire. Two or three days later, the storehouse of
Mr. Van Zandt was discovered on fire. Still, no general suspicions were