The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-22
4 .l.as rizabI fhai bafoff

ENGLISH AND FRENCH OPINIONS OF SANTANA.
II IL somewhat remarkable that shortly before
General Mcclellan selected SANTANA as a suitable
naval station sir r. Schomburgk. who was then
British Consul at st. Domingo had forwarded 20 ms
government q communication descriptive OF the
same spot, ana pointing out Its importance as
place for the erection OF an arsenal and naval depot
British Foreign O1ice to the Royal Geographical So
ciety OF London, and was published In its Journal
for 1853, Sir X. SchomburgK concludes with these
remarks:-
have purposey dwel long and in detail this narrow
strip of land the Peninsula OF samana and upon ~
greatest is Centred The Fertile soil 4 6 for the
81 10 Ss VI the
It's creeks afford facilities for the erection Of asenas and
for naval architecture st its chef advantages
e o@s @ principal
istnmus of Central America and to the adjacent Gulf OF
Rs%y ms ~s .
vey Of the wo sam.n" is 70 Gulf of
what Mayotte to the Indian Ocean. 4 no. only the
latter !. Of infinitely greater under the pacific
placed 10 the winaward jamaica the Gulf d
Mexico and lying, moreover, about due northeast Of the
Of the world the French author jus. quoted may well call
Il "s ese dupont" to the highway from the Atlantic to the
These English and French opinions are important,
inasmuch as they define the value which practical
ana far-seeng men place upon our new acquisition,
a value which must be very much enhanced when
the lsthmus OF Darien Is pierced and opens cnan-
bean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, which will become
the highway from Europe and the Atlantic States TO
Australia and the Pacific coast OF South America.
INCIDENTS IN THE HISTORY OF SANTANA.
Historically speaking, SANTANA is place OF no little
interest 1t was visited by Columbus on his first
century and 200 years later it became from Its
defensive position, the rendezvous OF pand OF buc-
cancers. We will narrate both these incidents, as
the first shows the antiquity oil It's discovery, While
the second proves great natural advantages a8
naval depot while both may be useful to Mr.. Sumner
to introduce into his address to the Senate when the
ratification OF the purchase comes before that body.
When Columbus was returning to Spain, alter his
first discovery oil the New World, he passed on the
18th OF January, 1898, high and beautiful headland,
to which he gave the name OF Caco del Enamorado or
the Lovers Cape lat present called Cape Cabron';
named CabO san Feramo lat present known as cape
Samana), the most eastern point OF the peninsula OF
the same name and doubling TINS neadland ne saw
posed 1t to be arm OF the sea separating hispani.
ola from some otner land Here ne anchored, and
having his boats ashore, they found the natives
quite diferent from the mild and pacific people the
Spanlards had hitherto met In the New World. They
ousy IN various colors Some OF them carried war
clubs, while others were armed with bows OF more
hard wood or with bone. One OF the natives hav-
ing ventured to visit the ship, Columbus supposed
him to be OF the Carib tribe and resolved to
act cautiously. He regaled his visitor and then
sent him ashore, when, upon the boat approaching
the land, upwards OF nifty armed natives rushed
peased by the native in the boat. The boats crew
having then landed they endeavored TO bargain
from some unexplained cause, mistrust arose.
whereupon the natives seized their bows and clubs
nma W ns Tne aer IN ss sne
defence, attacked the natives, woundlnR two OF
them and putting the rest to flight This" says
Washington Irving. IN his Life and Voyages Of
Columbus" "was the first contest with the Indians
and the first time that native blood was shed by
white men In the New World" Alas how
many streams might have been filled, ere the cen.
fury closed, with the blood Of the unfortunate
natives that fell victims TO Spanish cruelty This
.unpleasantnessn was q cause of great grief to
Columbus, but he eventually succeeded IN reestab.
fishing good understanding when the Cacique
called Ciguayens visited the AdmiraI's ship, where
his frank ana bold manner won him many admirers.
TINS Caciques name was Cayacoa and not Mayo
bonex, as Irving supposed 1t to be. After his death
his widow became Christian, and was baptized
under the name OF Donna Inez Cayacoa. The
natives called the land SANTANA, and Columbus
chrlstened the bay De les Fechas IN consequence OF
the skirmish. After remaining four days the span
iards sailed upon their home ward voyage to Portu.
gal, which they reached IN little more than SIX
Reels, isets and rocks form natural defences to
the entrance OF the bay OF Samana and are so stu
ated that II properly fortified, any hostile vessel
that attempted to enter might be placed under de-
structve cross fire. The favorable situation OF some
OF these islets Gays for preventing the approach
OF an enemy was signay proved at the close OF the
seventeenth century, by that noted English pirate
JACK Banister, who, with his bold buccaneers at
that time infested the neghborhood. He had just
arrived at SANTANA accompanied by another vessel
commanded by Frenchman named Lagarde, when
the commanders OF two English rigates, hearing
that Banlster was anhored there prepared TO enter
the bay The pirate Immediately caused
upon one OF the Gays, and defended the entrance
with his own crew and that OF the french
more than I2o OF the assaiants were Killed ana the
frlgates forced to retire. Banisters own ship was,
however, disabled during the engagement, and the
smaller French vessel only remaining for embarka-
ton, general rush was made towards 1t and
large number OF the pirates were drowned IN their
endeayors to get on board. IL was in consequence
OF this engagement that the name Of Banlsers Gays
was given TO the isets
REGARDING ASSExAT!9N-THE BAEz AND SEWARD
Since the announcement OF the acquisition OF
SANTANA by the United States government
ns been made a opinions 40 nave
is commended thatit is only the preliminary move
ment towards the possession OF the whole island
IL is the belief OF many well informed persons that
the anne xation OF the whole island Is only brief
distance of. Were the wishes OF the people OF 81.
Domingo thoroughly canvassed there Is little doubt
that the universal desire would be found favor OF
annexation to TINS country. The numerous disturb
ances the quarrelsome propensltes Of rival chief.
and agricultural pursuits would all pass away by
such an arrangement. and peace and the results OF
peace would supply their place, Tue people, too,
had ample means OF ascertaining their
views IN this respect, assure us that
TINS Is really the case. Before the retirement OF
Secretary Seward from the State Department he
ceved a proposition from President BaeZ for the
establishment OF an American protectorate over the
Island, OF al least that portion OF 1t OF winch Bae2
was President Mr.. Seward regarded ineproposl.
ton favorany, and the assurances OF President Bae2
that the Dominican people were anx GUS for sucn an
undertaking contributed In no small degree 10 IN
crease his ferv0r. The matter was anay Drought
before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs,
where majority OF the committee decided
on accepting Baez's proposition ior the , es-
Enlistment OF protectorate The resolution, now
ever, was defeated IN Congress not because Oh any
opposition to the measure but on account OF tue
scant Information then IN the possession o. tue
government IN relation 10 Dominican Affairs. There
Is little doubt but the resolution ol the committee
the basis for the present course OF the government
and the sending OF the commission when mas Just
returned may he traced directly 10 the overtures
made by President Bacz to secretary seward.
INTEREST FELT IN the SANTANA PURCHASE BY THE
rt.ntN