It began with firing the cane-fields.

A signal was given by a man setting fire to a pile of trash on an elevated spot, when instantly the fires broke out in every direction, and in less than a half hour, more than one hundred estates were in flames.

The planters and their families, in the utmost alarm, either fled into other parts of the island, or seized their arms and hurriedly mustered in self-defence.
Meanwhile the negroes, who had banded themselves in numerous companies, took advantage of the general consternation, proceeded to the deserted mansions of the planters, broke down the doors, battered in the windows, destroyed all the furniture, and carried away the provision stores to their own houses.
These ravages continued for three days, during which, the slaves flocked together in increasing numbers; in one place there were several thousands assembled.

Above five hundred of the insurgents were shot down by the militia, before they could be arrested.

The destruction of property during the rebellion was loosely estimated at many hundred thousand pounds.