The Shasta courier., 1868-05-16
SHASTA COUR RIER
THE ST. DOMINGO REFUGEE.

A somewhat romantic Incident which
grew out of the revolution, at st. Domingo,
is not unworthy of being recorded. 1t may
not, however, be unnecessary to refresh the
re ider'r memory a. to the existing state of
public ataIIs at The time of the narrative
The cry uf liberty and equality which re
sounded in revolutionary France was respon-
ded to nowhere more warmly and vehemently
than in the beautiful. and hitherto peaceful.
island of St. Domingo. The slave popula
,ion, which exceeded that of the white ten
fnld, were quickly imbued by revolutionary
agents and emissarieS, who poured into the
minds OF the benighted, vet ardent people,
the new born ideas of perfect equality and
the largest liberty" which prevailed at home.
The explosion was sudden and terrible );
all the beautiful plains were covered with
fire in an hour, and the labor of century
was devoured in night while the negroes
like unclaimed tigers, precipitated them
selves on their masters, seized their arms,
massacred them without pity, or threw them
into the flames. Those who escaped from
this scene of horror on board of ships, were
lighted in their passage over the deep by
their burning hdbitations. They almost all
took refuge in America, where they were
welcomed with generous sympathy and kind
hospitality.
The subsequent history of this beautiful
island forms another melancholy attestation
to the truth that they are at least not fitted
to rule who cannot be ruled, self govern.
ment and justice in the governors being no
less essential than subordInation, order, and
respect for superiors in the governed the
bondage from which they emerged being
little more oppressive in comparison to the
bondage to vice. Incidence and anarchy into
which they rushed. The champions OF liber
ty are looking on with sad interest in her
fate, and may well weep at her unhappy
state.
During the massacre at Cape Town, when
thirty thousand wretched beings persisted
with atrocities unparalleled even in the long
catalogue of European crime. gentleman of
standing and wealth wa hurrying back from
his place of business, where he had just
rescued cum nts of impo tance, to the
outskirts of tile town, where he had concealed
his little family, but recently deprived of the
tender cares Of mother. with al old negro
woman. who was still faithful to the master
that had ever treated her kindly here
both he and his children were he hoped, safe
from the search of the insurgents for q time.
He was just turning the corner of street.
which he had watched till it appeared to be
free from the rioters, when on a sudden two
negroes emerged from the portico of a house.
and placed themselves in his passage. They
were armed with huge clubs. Il d being half
intoxicated and maddened with fury, their
aspect was ferocinus and dreadful. They
held but a short parley, when they com
menc-d stripping the prisoner of every arti.
Gle of value, pnuring forth the while the
high sounding words Of liberty and equality
right and fieedom-yet desecrating them at
every breath.
Their unresisting victim pleaded at length
for life. His little ones, who were visiby
brought to his mind at that terrific moment,
were in despair named in his appeal to the
rufhans-but in vain: with dew eyed pity
what had they TO do? They laughed fiend-
ish laugh. The hand of the more savage of
them-couli there be such distinction
was raised to do the murderous deed-it was
about to fall. when piercing cry rent the
air. 1t issued from a ne'ghboring balcony,
and arrested the uplified arm In a moment
the utterer of that cry of despair rushed
toward them. A young lady had. from her
own place of concealment-where,p perhaps.
she had been hidden from the roters-heard
the pleading W, ris-had seen the murderous
arm upra d. Horror. struck and agonized
she was impelled to attempt rescue, al.
though she knew not the victim. Personal
safety was unthought of. Precious fruit of
humanity
She took from her finger jewel of great
value, and held out a purse.
Here" she exclaimed in a falterinp
voice. yet earnest in its tone of entreatyE
here is rare jewel of great value, and in
the purse are thirty pieces of gold. Thev
are all have, hut they are all yours, if YOU
spare your victim !"
Plunder was even dearer to the wretches
than revenge, and after ..n instant's parley
they gave up their captive upon the condi.
tim of his Immediately quitting the island
forever; and they had no sooner received
tue reward of their compulsory mercy from
the hands of the fair com mpassionator--who
shrank again into the shade of her house
than they hurried him to the seaside, when
he was made to embark in ship which was
to sail for America in an hour.
We may imagine, though it can scarcely
he described in language truthful and vivid
enough. the feelings of a parent in leaving
10 the tender mercy of rebel slaves-in bl,ud
thirstness, cruelty, and revenge fends
incarnate-his little, innocent, motherless
children, dear to him as his hearts blood
As he leaned against the vessels side, and
| watched the shores of the island fast rece
ding from his sight, the thought of their soft
endearments and winning ways, so fresh in
his memory-iheir helplessness, bafled
inquiry. and fruitless search after them
wrought so powerfully upon his frame that
bis resolution failed him and the strong man.
hut for one consultation that He who had
spared his lie would doubtless restore his
children to him at some future period, would
have sunk under the deepness of his attic.
ton. But the ship was swiftly bearing him
away from all that made life dear-its
sweetest tie was rent. For what had he
fed
He landed in America hut. although a
rich man-having, independent of his prop
ertv in St. D"mineo, large amounts invested
in foreign securities--he went about heavy
hearted man in strange land-f,r all com
munication with ST. Dnmingo were for the
time cut of, and the vessels that touched for
II II l. -