Dr Gail Saunders

Inagua, among the Out Islands, was unique in that it had a Labour Union - the only one outside the capital. It had been organised in 1934 by Theodore Farquharson, merchant and son of an Acklins Islanders who had migrated to Inagua after spending about 15 years in the United States. Farquharson was perhaps instrumental in causing several work stoppages, but was not the instigator of the violent incident which occurred in 1937.

Prior to the disturbance, there was considerable unrest among the local inhabitants. More cosmopolitan than most Out Island communities, the Inagua population comprised a "queer mixture of Turks Islanders, a few of Haitian stock and the remaining members of the community, Bahamian stock." This made for increased tensions. Before the arrival of the Ericksons, several uninhabited houses were maliciously destroyed by fire and a strike had occurred.

The impoverished population was dependent on stevedoring. Arthur L. Symonette, a local coloured merchant, was the agent for the Royal Netherlands Steamship Company. His employment of the Truck System, by which he kept the men indebted to him at his store, and his endorsement of wages, paid to them by the steamship company, caused much resentment and a strike for higher wages in 1936.

Aware of Symonette's power and influence, a number of Inaguans, calling themselves the 'Rulers' or 'Rock' of Inagua, united against him and forced him to co-operate with them.

It was into such an atmosphere that the Ericksons made their debut at Matthew Town in 1936. Beginning in mid-January to revitalise the salt industry, employing about 50 men and a few women, the Ericksons, however, soon encountered hostility from the local people. In December of that year, Nehemiah C. Alexander, a Baptist minister and shopkeeper, along with other Inaguans went on strike again for higher wages. The Ericksons, already disliked by many of the inhabitants, thereupon retaliated by importing unskilled labour from Acklins, Long Cay and Mayaguana. Hostility towards them further intensified after they took over the steamship agency from A.L. Symonette. The local population, held no brief for Symonette but felt it could control him.

Shortly after the strike in December 1936, a fight occurred between Charles Kaddy, a white American truck driver for the West Indian Chemical Company, and a local stevedore, George Duvalier. The

latter, when not employed, usually loitered near A.L. Symonette's store. He and his brother, Willis, were the acknowledged leaders of the young men at Matthew Town, and were believed to be among the so-called 'Band of Inagua Terrors.' The latter, a gang of lawless, reckless young men, was said to have been led by Reginald Alexander, son of the Baptist preacher Nehemiah Alexander. The ensuring fight very quickly developed into a brawl, involving Duvalier's supporters, including his brother Willis, against almost the entire white staff of the company. All the participants subsequently appeared before Commissioner Fields for disturbing the peace. Four members of each faction were convicted and fined two pounds each. From that date it appeared that the Duvalier brothers continued to harbour a grudge against the Ericksons.

For the next six months, Matthew Town was fairly orderly. In June 1937 however, the leader of the 'Band of Inagua Terrors', was found guilty by Commissioner Fields and fined five pounds for using obscene language against a female friend. This resulted in her house being destroyed by fire and charges against the perpetrators. After a preliminary hearing, Commissioner Fields committed both of the accused to stand trial in Nassau.

Soon after, George Duvalier, a friend of both the accused, was arrested for assaulting Daniel Bain - the last witness to give evidence in the arson case. While trial was in session, Duvalier escaped from the courtroom. Corporal Edey who gave chase was attacked by Willis Duvalier, George's brother. Commissioner Fields, while attempting to leave his office was also attacked by Willis but luckily escaped injury.

Fields eluded Willis Duvalier, and hurried to the Wireless Station to telegram the authorities in Nassau. Meanwhile Willis' brother George had acquired a gun and he followed Fields to the Wireless Station. After forcing the operator to leave, he then, at close range, shot the Commissioner in the left forearm. Believing Fields to be dead, Duvalier, still armed, ran to the Ericksons' store and fired at Josiah Erickson. Fortunately for Erickson, the gun misfired. While Duvalier reloaded the weapon, Josiah and his younger brother Douglas escaped to their home.

Hearing of the attack on the Commissioner, the Ericksons, securing arms, proceeded to the Wireless Station along with two American employees. On leaving the station with Fields, whom they were surprised to find not fatally wounded, the whole party was attacked by Willis Duvalier. Both the Ericksons, and their employee, Kaddy, received minor injuries. In fear of their lives, the Erickson party and the Commissioner spent the night at the Erickson household. Meanwhile, the Duvaliers had sought out an employee of the West Indian Chemical Company, John Munroe, and shot him dead. They also set fire to the Commissioner's residence, the Wireless Station, the Ericksons' store and the Company's salt house.

The next morning, 20 August, the Ericksons, three of employees, Dr Fields, and Corporal Edey fled Inagua in the Ericksons' motor boat. Their intention to contact an ocean liner in order to relay a message to Nassau was frustrated when engine trouble developed. Drifting southwards, they landed in Cuba, and having no means of identification, were promptly arrested for possession of arms.

Left in control of Matthew Town, the Duvaliers terrorised the inhabitants for two days, though causing little further harm. Neither the 'Band of Inagua Terrors' nor the rest of the inhabitants actually abetted them. However, they had not made an effort to stop their rampage either. On Sunday, 22 August, after commanding the town for the weekend, the Duvaliers left Inagua in a small sailing boat. When the long overdue police detachment of eight arrived two days later, all was quiet.

By 12 October, 1937, both Duvaliers had been arrested in Haiti and brought to Nassau to trial. Found guilty of murder in the Nassau Supreme Court on 3 November, 1937, they were executed less than three weeks later.