The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-19

Baez, his two most prominent antagonists Oeing
able to maintain merely sort of guerilla war
fare, to the terror and disaster of the unhappy
people living in the sections frequented by their
bands.
Such is brief outline of the history Of the
so-caled republic which 1t is proposed to annex
to the United States perusal of It will not
incline the taxpayers to the belief that the
acquisition will prove desirable one. The
project for the annexation of the entire repub-
lie to this country originated In the negotiations
for the lease by the United States of
The Bay of Samnnn.
The Bay of Samana Is situated on the south
side of the peninsula of that name which is
projected from the northeastern coast of the
island. The peninsula, which is also included
in the negotiations which do not look to the
acquisition of the entire country, is thirty-two
miles long and eleven miles across at its greatest
breadth. 1t comprises an area of about 225
square miles. But what is now peninsula was
formerly an island, there having been at Its
western end a water communication which Is
now filled up but might be easily reopened.
The soil Is extremely fertile, its surface to
great extent being covered with timber suitable
for ship-building and for cabinet work. Its
mineral productions comprise iron, copper,
gold in small quantities. and bituminous
peak called Sugar Loaf Hill, 1886 feet high, while
another eminence La Montana del Disblo, is
1900 feet above the level of the sea. The popu-
lation in 1851 was 1871. The bay, which is
bounded on the north by the peninsula and on
the south and west by the mainland, is about
forty-three miles in length by eight In breadth.
The Yuma, the longest river in the island, emp
ties into it at the west end, and 1t has great
natural advantages for careening or repairing
the largest vessels aloat. The harbor is un-
questionably one of the finest In the world, and,
moreover, occupies a most important position
with reference to the various interoceanic routes
to the West Indies, Central America, and the
Gulf of Mexico 1t commands the Mona pas
sage, which is the principal entrance to the
Caribbean Sea for vessels from Europe being
not more than sixty or seventy miles distant
from this important strait, and not more than
two hundred miles from the windward passage
between Hayti and Cuba.
Historical Incidents.
From the historical standpoint the Bay of
Samana is of considerable Importance. Two of
the leading events in its history are thus mar
rated:-
when Columbus was returning to Spain, after his
Arst discovery Of the New Word, he passed, the
18th OF January, 1893, high and beautiful headland
to which he gave the name OF Cabo del Enamorado,
or the Lovers Cape at present called Cape Cabroni
and further eastward observed another, which he
named Cabo San Feramo lat present known as Cape
samana), the eastern point OF the peninsula OF
the same name and doubling this headland he saw
before him nne gulf Of such an extent that he sup
posed 1t to be an arm OF the sea separating Hspan-
lola from some other la1d. Here he anchored, and
having sent his boats ashore, they found the natives
quite different from the mild and pacific people the
Spaniards had hitherto met in the New World They
were of a ferooious aspect and were painted hide
clubs, while others armed with bows OF more
than mans length, and with arrows pointed with
vsntured to visit the ship, Columbus supposed him
70 be Of the Carb tribe, and resolved to act eau
tionsly. He regaed his visi ior, and then sent him
ashore, when, upon the boat approaching the land,
rp%arIs q BBttH armed natives rushed towards 1t
the native in the boat. The boats having then
landed they endeavored to bargain with the savages
for some OF their weapons whom, from some unex-
planned cause misrust arose, whereupon the natives
seized their bows and clubs and provided themselves
Spaniards The latter in self-defenes attacked the
natives wounding two OF them and putting the rest
fs and voyages Sf coamSss was 1E the rss
IN ' 9sv' sss ss% sSSd vss Wss snsd 'Z Alas yn'
many streams might have been filled, ere the CEN
tury closed, with the blood of the unfortunate na
pleasantness was cause Of great grief to Columbus,
but he eventually succeeded in re-establishing a
erned over this people, whom Columbus called
Ciguayans, visited the Admlrars ship, where his
ana no
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 ma
| tlves called the land SANTANA, and Columbus
chrstened the bay De las Flechas, in consequence
Of the skirmish After remaining four days the
Portugal, which they reached In little more than six
| weeks.
Reefs islets, and rocks form natural defenses to
the entrance OF the bay and are so situated that
properly fortified, any hostile vessel that attempted
to enter might be placed under a destructive cross
fire. The favorable situation OF some OF these islets
| or Gays for preventing the approach OF an enemy
sgnally proved at the close OF the seventeenth
century, by that noted English pirate Jack Banis.
| ter, who, with his bold buccaneers, at that time
infested the neighborhood. He had just arrived
| at Samana, accompanied by another vessel com.
manded ma by Fre9chman % % ,;nS named Lagarde when
that Banster was anchored there prepared to enter
the bay. The pirate Immediately caused the guns
| OF his vessel TO be placed ashore upon one OF the
Gays, and defended the entrance with his own crew
and that OF the French vessel consisting OF 200
so effectively that more than 120 OF the assalants
were killed and the frgates forced to retire. Banis
ter's own ship was, however, disabled during the
| engagement, and the smaller French vessel only re
naming for embarkation, general rush was mad'
| towards 1t and large number OF the pirates wert
drowned In their endeavors to get on board. 1t wa
In consequence OF this engagement that the name o
Banisters cayswas given to the slets.
Negotiations Con cerning the Bay OF Samana
When Franklin Pierce was President, ant
William L. Marcy Secretary of State, General
then Captain George B. Mcclellan was, il
June. 1854, sent on q Sc cret mission to the Yves
Indies, to look up convenient coaling station
and harbor for the use of our Government Il
his report he recommended the selection of tn
Bay of Samana, and negotiations for its acquisi
tion were opened with the Government the1
uppermost; but, owing principally to the adverse
influence of foreign governments, the negotia.
aons were unsuccessful. But the subject was no