The New York herald., 1869-08-03
ST. DoMlNoo.
"The American Gibraltar of
the Antilies."
History, Geography and Local Importance
to the United States.
Samana Bay, American Trade and Military
and Naval Positions.
ST. DOMINGO, W. l., July l2, 1899

ST. DOMINGO, W. l., July II, 1899.
The presence OF Luperon's pratical craft the Tee-
grafo IN the waters OF this bay not only excludes
the commerce under the Dominican nag, but also
anterferes with the pursuits OF yesses OF other
tons. The fact Of Luperon having no papers, ex-
cept those which he obtained from the late American
Consul at st. Thomas aud by virtue OF which, after
several failures through other sources he was ena-
bled to depart his Illicit mission under the Amer
Jean nag, was in itself Sufficient warning against
trusting to the caprices of this unrecognized bege
rent Individual 1t was, therefore, deemed prudent
not to venture beyond the Cay Levantado. 1t was
hardly presumed that Luperon would dare to take
absolute possession Of an American vessel but 1t
was certain that he would not hesitate to detain
her.
Ny despatch, written in advance of this gives de-
tails of the brilliant little engagement between the
Dominican war schooners Capotllla and Alta Gracia
and the pirate Teegrafo and the defeat Of the latter
At the same time have been able, through actual
observation ana from various sources, to obtain
much information respecting this magnificent bay.
The pirate lying far in the bay succeeded in reach
ing that part stretching from the headlands at the
entrance to the Cay Levantado. This portion con-
sttutes the main bay, ana in event Of the United
States becoming the fortunate possessor Of this
powerful aud convenient naval station. would form
tho anchorage OF the heet, and the islands and the
adjoining shores the sites OF the government forti
cations docks, warehouses, magazines, workshops
and other necessary buildings and improvements.
M THE BAY OF SANTANA.
Standing In a northwesterly direction from Cape
Engaho. the most eastern point OF the island OF
st. Domingo, and passing Cape Raphael, distance
about fifty miles, we arrived of the entrance to tho
Bay of samana The coast Is bold, ana In many
places rises perpendiculariy ont Of the sea. The
approach is well defined by high headlands on the
coast, and mountain ranges prolific with vegetation,
In the Interior On the north side the concal crest
or Azucar de Plou, or sugar Loaf Mountain, nearly
1000 feet in height, and La Montana del Diablo,
with altitude Of 400 feet, form excellent land.
marks to the approaching navigator. The entering
channel lying on the north. along the peninsula
OF Samana vessels bound into the bay move up
close to the north shores.
At the eastern end OF the peninsula are two capes,
the most northern Cape Cabron, conspicuous
white cliff, and Cape Ssmana, bold, rocky promon-
tory near the channels Between these two capes
stretches high perpendicular curtain Of red cliffs
with blue watsr iaiiaer their very shadows. Pene.
tratlng The entrance between two less prominent
projections-vaca Point and Balandra Head-the
shore sti bold and rocky. The latter Head Ia OF
red formation, apparently sandstone. Passing Cape
Samana the main bay has the appearance OF q
Shore Upon closer examination, however, this
sheet OF water Is well encrced by land and perfectly
protected Between Cape Samana On the north and
twenty-one miles north, west thrce-fourths north,
recKoDed from Cape Raphael. From this line. In
cudmg the inner harbor, as we may term 1t, the
bay extends thirty miles to the mouth Of the Yuma
river. This stream of the largest the island
Of St Domingo and enters the bay at the extreme
western shore. The breadth OF the bay
about midway its depth from the towns OF Sarnana
on its northern TO Savannah Ia Mar on Its southern
hnr q m a.
phael, near Punta Jtcaco, begins reef which
stretches northwestward to number Of islets or
rocks, called Gays (Keys} Pascuai, Levantado and
Carenero, better Known as the Bauisler Gays. This
reef protects the basin Of the bay against the heavy
would send into it. The passage Tor the entrance
and exit OF vessels 10 thus contracted TO one mile be-
GcsS marked On On the Oaf
and called Jean Bart having three and tnreeourths
fathoms or twentyfour feet OF water This could De
six fatHoms, as or tHirty.x feet, & water is found,
while o channel exists, well defined on the
or forty eight feet The reef Jean Bart lies north
west sax cable lengths from the north point OF Cayo
PascuaL which would make It hazardous for sailing
breeze. II is advisable to stand out by the land
breeze only. Beside the principal bay. there are
tending into the land the principal OF which s the
Bahia de San Lorenzo, or De las perlas, on the
This bay forms an excellent port From its east.
ern point q shoal stretches about half cables
length: The entrance 70 the bay presents from SIX
ana the republic Of Boninca in relation to the ac
peninsula, General then Captain) George b. McCeI-
Ian was sent out by the United States To
make some preliminary surveys. In regard to the
result he wrote the following lerter:--
I .:s.s.y UNITED Stairs SHIT CoLuMnrA,(
wu, BAY .sd 1s sss.Ass1 A.. s.s ASsSs itA
sIR enclose herewith sketch Of the entrance Of the
0 bs
that NECESSARY possess are marked with red crosses
Csrenero and Clara well ali the
o. In p9 sna nd S
highly desirable to obtain the whole peninsula Of saran
!s: sapnos 8 done .. + ao eeussmp'asss By in.
She sketch The next best thing that css be cSsaiaed Vita
regard this cannot too strongly the nscessy OF OBJ
10 ertcd and held "a time the
that s.m sssS POSITION ~oSd ss os sg's
tsnsbls while With them we sholS be entirely secure The
We hold tho gays and m Casnero POn highly desirable
andins points necessary to the depo. sinst
1:r'Asr Ior he
Should worst come 70 worst the Lcvanado Gays afford
aoss ar sons dslsnss posor and
aSss
tGEo b. MocLEILAN,
Brevet Captain Engineers, U. !. A.
L. Howard Newman, passed plidshpman, United
States Navy, on board the Columbia, at the same
time having recaived orders TO cooperate in the
survey by taking soundinRs, in n communication oi
August ., 1854, made the following reports
In obedience order from Commodore Newton dIrcc,
Ing me 10 ascertain, by sounding the sitd
seccted Captain Mcclellan. United Army,
coal depot &c and TO report thereon have the honor
inform that entering the small bay between Points
and Carenero from the eastward you have and
fathoms at tho entrance and then about six fahos
he middle Of the bay gradually shoang the beach
norhwsrd and to the .ouhward keePmg about the same
there ANAL coral reef shoa with from six 20 nine
u water upon H. and around about Gve and six athoms
This might be seryeeable In constructing wharf
The water at Tits end Of the bay deep enough for
OF the largest clage and wharf of between 200
900 feet in length would allow vessels TO lay
alongside 10 -four fathoms water There is also
passage into this bay from the southward between
The small Island Of carenero Chquo and the western poin
Of the reef This entrance has from thirteen fahom
OF water To the westward OF Point Lrio In the Bahia de
Clara there also anchorage and convenient place fo
building wharf, alongside OF which might lay
security.
On the northwnrd Of the larger Bannser Cay there 10
very good anchorage the smaller tho
me Gays and mainland forming good breakwater against