New-York daily tribune., 1866-04-09
SAN DOMINGO.

'iDestruetion OF Port np Frtnce by Ftrs-I no
Whole Town in Ashe.-Tbou-auds OF
Families sHouseies.-Work II Of Iucendi-
arisrn.
A correspondent writing from Port au Prince
undsr date of March 25. says:
forward 20 YOU copy Of L. Ben Pabiic. from which
you will gather a correct account of re disastrous he
S the 18Th and 20h Instant hy which the entire town
Of Port su Prince has been laid in ashes and thousands
offsmlies rendered hOuseess and helpless IL is not
20 the power Of pen to picture this occurrence that one
"a stranger 10 this conniry and it, people conceive
its horrors for the Wild savage excitement OF the
scene is due to the people. who are pOweres 70 act M
capable Of realizing the event. and knowing ON yeis
and pillage and plnbder The hTe was BIS, 1isc"Y
cred in the quarter of the white wholesale merchants
and from the fact but year ago hrr oecnrred
jn the vicinity OF the white retailers ana their cease
cause the natives to feel they have reason 10 nate e
whites growing out OF the Bull DOG affair II is strongly
suspcioued that this las likewise been Tie "ok o in
oeDdisrisn. -,
since the 10TH been made to lire the three rem iplng
fire proofs. occupied by white de lerS Inc vc.nltv
as also the bnrned quarter Is sirontly paroeO hsht
and day by both whites and blacks but the ceuer' in
difference the blacks have man'frs ed, ana the mae
fyity of the Government 10 interfere III the matter Is
subject Of comments at least II the suspicion Is not
iustif ble measures have been taken to Danish H. as
effort put forth 10 prevent the imes Or suOuue
strong indication, peiha OF the res state oi
feeling in this matter, as can vel be expressed.
The Government has been quiet during all this affair
The President left the Palace lew moments on the
18th inst t. view the scene but advised 70 retire,
lest his presence might incitc the Iopnace e. rebellion
lie rapidly losing favor, aud outbreak at any time
would surprise no one.
A sky of calmer blue studded with brighter stars,
looked down heartrending scenes than
the night Of the 18Th Of March, as IT formed the only
canopy for hundreds of women snd children whose bed
was the dried and smoked turf of the Champs de Mars
the only available place Of safety just the limits of
the town
As natural consequence Of such an event in such
country all business at an end, and the met kets
we're closed the bakers either burned out or fright
ened from their labor and neither meat or bread ere
sttainable The utmost hospitality of the few whose
houses uudisturOed unable TO minister 10 ali,
though the residents both native and foreign did al
that was possible to alleviate the distress Of tie suffer
ers Several American gentlemen deserve great credit
for their ncessant efforts 10 subdue the hames and al
foreigners ready aud octlVe.
Another account SAYS:
"a great fire broke out in Port-au Prince on the
18th u and half the Capital OF Iayti is in ashes In
no city in the world could fire extend more rapidly
than here where the houses being built oil wood. rap
idly become prey 10 the d,youring element No en-
gines have been bought TO ex'ingush fires, not
withdrawing the calamity of Feb. % 1868 when
very nearly half the city burned. and great mum
bers OF fauies were ruined. The people. Instead OF
helping to stop the progress OF the fire either ran about
half wild in the streets or tried 10 rob aud pr er
The educated classes and tho foreigners did their best
the city The Government and the troops did
nothing: but what could few 60 when they ouly
had ut their disposal few buckets and but scanty sup
pes Of water
" rbe fire burned for 30 hours. The cause Of tits
known but II is fact that efforts were made by some
men 10 set on fire the houses that had luckily escaped
Thirty-three BLOCKS completely burned down, en-
bIaeing about LOO houses. Eight nine thousand
people are now without home. many not being able
to clothes for themselves and children There
Is great distress in consequence"