The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-04-17
THE GREAT SLAUGHTER.

Domingo.
The city of Cape Francias, or as it is generally
called, "The Cape," was, during the colonial
times, probably the most elegant city in Ameri-
ca; 1t was surpassed in size by several others,
1t is true, as it never contained more than forty
thousand inhabitants; but, while in population
1t could not vie with Mexico or Lima, neither
of those prond capitals could compare with it in
high civilization. Its theatres and churches
were magnificent, and its society most Intelligent
and refined. The houses of many Of its great
merchants were palaces, and its whole appear
ance was that of city of wealthy mobiles. 1t
was the boast Of the Queen of the Antilles, and
was proudly called by its inhabitants the "Paris
of America"
Toussaint, at the head of twenty four thou
sand negroes, began his march upon the Cape
There we're many ships 10 the harbor, and num-
bers Of the inhabitants took passage in them for
America-of whom many cane to Norfolk,
New York, and other cities in America. A
multitude took refuge also in Cuba and the 9TH
er islands of the West Indies A large portion,
however, staid behind, thinking that the access
to the city was so difficult and so easily defend
ed tha: they could remain in safety.
The road by which the negroes advanced
wound round the base of a mountain, and at
every turn were blockhouses, we'll provided with
cannon and small arms. The negroes, never
theless, pressed forward and reached the city at
last, after they had lost half of their number
The infuriated savages entered the town, and
for hours there was hand dtohand fighting in the
streets. Finally the French were entirely over
powered by superior numbers.
The army was quartered upon the wretched
inhabitants, and their behavior such as
might have been expected from oarbarians in
their position without control. Murders were
perpetrated at their pleasure, and violence and
,rapine were of constant occurrence.
Toussaint bad resolved to butcher the whole
population, but he did not at once carry out his
bloody plans. He preferred to kill the French
by piece meal. Wishing to torment the hated
whites, he ordered a certain number Of the prn.
cipal Inhabitants, male and female, to be taken
every morning down to the beach IN front of
the city, and there beheaded Every day these
executions horrifed the survivors, who were
each expecting to be led to. death on the NOR
row. The headless bodies of the victims were
cast into the sea, and we have been informed
by an eyewitness that the places where the
poor wretches had been slaughtered were mark
ed along the beach for hundreds of yards by the
dark brown spots where their blood had been
absorbed by the sand.
What must have been the feelings of this
doomed population Every day they saw their
number rapidly diminishing; escape was now
Impossible, and each man expected his turn to
be dragged down to the beach and slaug ghtered
The savage general, having amused himself
for many days in this manner, at last caused the
murders to cease for a time. This, however,
brought no hopes to the survivors; they saw
their fate hand, and looked forward with
certainty to general massacre. They awaited
their doom in silence. For days no one was
seen III the streets, and no noise was heard save
the shreks Of some one whom the savages were
numbering in the houses.
At last the dreadful day came. On given
signal the brutal soldiers were, turned upon the
city, which was fred at once in hpndred places,
and the people tried to escape from their
burning dwellings,, they we're slaughtered.
a mid all the bloody scenes recorded in history,
there is none more bloody than this Out of
several thousand Inhabitants, but very few es-
capped; all the rest were butchered.
Our informant was then young man, and
his life was saved in this manner: A negro |
general told him that the massacre was to take |
place the next day, and by some means conveyed |
him few miles from town, where be hid him
in cave, WHENCE lie had full view of the |
burning city.
Another was saved by one of our own citizens,
whom We we'll remember to have seen in our
youth-Captain Quarles. The brave Captain |
vessel which was in tie harbor
just before the massacre took place. A French |
gentleman told him that he expected they |
would all be murdered. The gallant Captain |!
replied "Come with me, | will save you"
They locked arms, and as they were going down |
to the beach, Dessalipes rode up and apgrly |
asked the Captain ~hom he had with him? Our |
chivalrous old friend answered: "Do you |
touch him If you 6aref T am al A merican sir'D /
and he marched him off in triumph to his boat |
by faithful negro by being hid in a. hole dug I
in the ground, where he fed the little fellow till
The massacre was oveE, The negro then watch |
I'd his chance, carried him to another port, and I
got him on board an American vessel
An infant was saved few days before the I
massacre by British officer. He went to visit
4 lady in the city, who told bim that they all
expected to be massacred; but she implored
him to save her daughter, then few months
Did. He took the little creature, wrapped it in /
/ roll of carpeting, put the roll on a sailors
shoulders and went 10 the beach. His boat I
vas waiting, and put off for his ship They !
had moved but a few yards from the landing, I
when the child cried. Thc'seBtiDeI fred, but |
luckily missed them. The babe was left at one I
'f the West India islands, whence it was carried I
% Baltimore. The little girl was adopted by I
shiiaess lady, of great wealth, and grew. up one
II the leaders of fashion in the Monumental /
,ity. She died about twenty years ago, beloved /
md honored BIZ all who knew her.
There may have been others who escaped,
put We never heard Of aoy, and our informant
would probably have known it, had others been
'ayed.-No.foH Erginia".
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