The Placer herald., 1871-01-14
From the Cincinnati COMMERCIAL
The Lots Marked "Grant."

e6teTudy dIteTHOOH one VI our reporters
met and had an interview with gentleman
just arrived from the Dominican Republic
This gentleman is one of the merchants in
San Domingo, and, from his social and polit-
ical position there, has enjoyed special oppor-
tunites of ascertaining the feelings of the peo-
pie on the annexation scheme, and observing
the movements of the parties who are work
ing the job up. AZ he intends to return to bis
business in the course of few weeks, and
does not desire to arouse the hostility of some
of the men whose acts he criticised, he asked
as favor that if anything he had said should
be published, his name should not be used
in connection with it. The reporter promised
that his will in this particular should be
obeyed, and the interview proceeded as fol-
lows:
DO TIE PEOPLE OF SAN DOMINGO WANT TO BE
ANNEXED?
In answer TO this question Mr.. W said
he was sure that seven out of every ten Of
the inhabitants of the island were in favor of
annexation to the United States, but that they
did not approve of Baezs connection in the
matter. 1t was almost the universal belief
among the merchants Of Fan Domingo thatit
was scheme for putting money in the pock-
cts of Baez, his brother Buenventura, Bah
cock, Fabens, Cazneau, Spofford Bros. g.
Co., of New York, and even Grant himself
1t was believed that the debt of the republic
would be assumed by the United States, and
that three or four million dollars would be d.
vided among these parties There was no
doubt in his (NIr. VS. mind that this was
the plan agreed upon.
THOSE SANTANA LOTS.
Reporter-H about those lots on the
Bay of Samana, Mr.. w?
Mr.. W.-They are all there, cir, staked
off with the utmost precision. The bay was
purchased by the United States Government
some time ago, you know don't know for
how much money-smply to please a very
few people there. Fabens is the big man at
Samana. He is second class merchant,
buying cocoa nuts, bananas, &c, and ship
ping them to New York and Boston; but
he's a big man now, | tell you. The ground
staked off is of very little account, nothing
but cocoa-nut trees being upon it, but it is
staked off for some reason or other as sure
as you're born.
R.--How is it marked, Mr. W., with
boards, pasteboard, or leather?
Mr.. W.-The different lots are marked
with boards.
R.-What names are upon the boards ?
Mr.. W.-The names of Grant, Babcock,
Fabens, Cazneau, Baez, and several other
persons. saw them myself Iasked Cap
tain , of the steamer ---, what it all
meant, but he said CIV. don't ask me; I'm
here to run this vessel, and m not supposed
to know anything about matters off ship
board.
R.-Who put up these boards?
Mr.. W.-Old Fabens, suppose.
R.-Has the bay any of the advantages
of Long Branch as watering place that
Grant could be induced to spend his vaca-
tions on his Samana lot instead of at our
more fashionable places of summer resort
Mr.. W.-Well, | can't say that it would
do for watering place very well, but it is
beautiful piece of water, finer than the Bay
of Naples, and pronounce Samana Bay its
superior. Samana Bay is undoubtedly the
finest harbor in the world.
BABcoCK' S LITTLE GAME.
l was there when Babcock came down
lie was very polite and affable, but "busi-
ness all the time. He acted in everything
with as much authority as if he had been
the President himself. Two United States
steamers have been lying off San Domingo
for year past, and whenever Baez or any
of his party wanted to 60 down the coast for
any purpose, be and his black crew got
aboard one Of these vessels and went down
to attend to their business, at an expense OF
eight or nine hundred dollars a day to the
United States. Babcock carried this sort of
thing on extensively. | know that these
steamers were used by Baez as often as he
wished, and, mind you, not only for excur-
sions, but to dictate terms to the Haytien
Government. Sumner states the truth
about this matter know that an Amer-
can commodore, commanding one of these
ships, had threatened the Government Of
Hayti if they dared to interfere in any way
with the Dominican Government. was
there at the time, and know the Haytiens
shook in their boots.
THE BAEz FAMILY.
This man Baez is not half the man he is
cracked up to be. He has no personal means
whatever, and could not raise S5 900 to save
his life. His brother Buenventura is the one
who first started this annexation scheme, and
he did it to get enough money to get away to
Spain or France, he did not care which.
have been to cock fights with him many
time. We were at chicken dispute when
the news came of the rejection of the annexs-
ton treaty by Congress. He said to me,
"Oh, well, it may not be done now, but it
will be-"
said, "Well, Buenaventura, when it does
come suppose you will be good enough to
make me Chief of the Police"
81 wont promise you the office Of Chic"
he replied, "but you may count on being a
policeman.
-e1sA Il ,f,.xr noxka