Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-06-09
POSTSCRIPT.
From NEW YORK, Jure 3.
MASSACRE OF ALI. THE WHITES
AT ST DOMINICA

| ~ - - 0OM1ESNTO
by the Pilot Boat Grey Hound, Capt,
oandtord, IN l6 days from Cape Francois
we have confirmation OF the massacre
| and piitaSe at that and other places of the
Island by Gen. Dessalines' troops, which
| commenced on the 10Th Of April, and was
continued, without intermission till the
i4th OF May.-All the French Inhabitants,
including men, women and children, to
The number oil between 1000 and $500
were put 10 the sword or bayonet at the
Cape during the above period. On the
l4th inst. after the work of destruction
was completed, Dessalines left the Cane
ON his way to his head quarters by way
OF Port-de-Paix and Gonaives.-On the
22d oil April, Fort Dauphin was piilagrd,
aud all the whites, to the number of about
ninety men, women and children, we're
massacred, and part of the town des-
troyed. A few days after, the French in
habtanls OF st. Jago and other parts orthc
interior, were escorted to the Cape, and
there destroyed in the most wanton man
ner.
On the 18th of May, Dessalines issued
proclamation calling upon the Spanish
inhabitants of the City Of Santo DOMINGO,
to declare themselves for or against him,
allowing them fifteen days to determine.
II his proclamation was made in conse-
quencc,;it was said, of his having received
dispatches from Port au-Prince, informinp
him OF the arrival OF a Reinforcement OF
French troops at Sanio Domingo.
To enter into full detail of the parti-
culars OF the massacre and plumber OF the
Cape, would be a painful task, and affotd
no pleasure TO our readers but we are
assured that from the beginning to the end
OF the hellish work, the most uDraraIlcls
ed cruelties were inflicted upon whites
in manner too shocking TO relate.
Men, women and children were hacked
down with swords and plunged with bay
onets. Women with children in their
arms, were seen aging thro' the streets to
avoid their parsucrs and being overta-
ken by them, one thrust OF bayonct has
pierced both mother and child
Alter this dreadful massacre the dead
lay in the streets for lhree days, when the
inhabitants were ordered 10 remove those
within Certain distance oil each dwelling
which were afterwards dragged CT and
thrown into ditch 1T the foot Of "a noun
tain.
Previous to the massacre, certain The
blacks IN order to obtain the property OF
the whites, which was stcreted, called on
them individually, and promised 10 spare
their lives if they would give 1t up; which
having obtained, not one of them was ex-
empted srORa the genetal massacre The
property thus peTfidiously o5,ained, ICON
sist'ng OF 9otd, Jewels and plate) was said
to be immeuse. Gold WIS bro't To the
town in hatiuis by the blacks, and offered
III exchange for silver for less than habits
value.
We are informed that Dessalines has
decGeed, that any Frenchn.an hencefor-
ward who shall arrive in St. Domingo
shall be put to death.
To shew further the vindiGive cruelty
or the blacks, and their inveteracy against
the whites, we shall mention the following
fact: Just before the massacre took place
Danish schr. belonging to ST, Thomas,
having Oh board number of French pas.
sengers, after sailing was pursued by arm
ed boats, overtaken and brought back, s.
the Danish captain, crew and passengers
were all put TO death.
The few Americans that were at the
Cape, remained unhurt. With the ex-
ception of the printer, and few mechan-
les at the Cape, whose services were too
useful 10 be spared, not one Frcnchman
survived the general wreck.
AT the date of our adyices. Dessalines
was erecting strong Gortihcations 10 the
mountains. His force is said 10 consist
Of $4,000 men.
KINJC M I,NrCY ANTVN