The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-09

NHNti IsNpi0lt III sun DoHthEOs
For many months pas, the town VI Puerto
Plata on the northern coast Of san Domingo,
has beon the scene OF almost constant tight
ing between the Government aud revolution
arv forces. Since the middle of January the
foreign residents have been subjected to tho
greatest danger and Inconvenience. Their
lives hnvc been continually imperillcdby the
firing across the town from the fort held by
the Government. on one side, TO the suburbs
occupied by the rebels on the other. They
have been compelled for much " the
time 60 take refuge in the few bullct-prOo
buildings which the town contains. The
transaction OF business is interrupted and Is
rcidr rd almost mpo-. - 'r by this state Of
thing.. and tfadr has practically been
stopped. The only relief which the inhabi-
tants obtain Is brought about by the appear
ancc of foreign war vessels. II any man-of-
war comes into the port, the active contest
between the bcligcrcnt parties ceases at
once. quiet is restored, and some degree of
comfort Is attainablc.
Now, on Jan. 90, the United States steamer
Swutara arrived NJ Samann on the north
eastern side of san Domingo. where the
only American resident is the Vice-Consul.
Although almost every one in the republic
must have known what was going on at
Puerto Plata. where American interests
were so much more important and needed
protection SO much, the commander Of the
Swatara does not seem to have paid any at
tention To il. He kept his vessel peacefully
at anchor until Feb. TO- when in response
TO letter from the American Consul at
Puerto Plata he got under way for that
port. The distance is ninety miles, and the
time occupied by the Swatara in making
the passage was only seventy hours.
Arriving about two miles or Puerto Plata,
the Swatara sent a boat ashore. The Amcri-
can residents requested Capt. SICARD to re-
main in port n while i'm order that the pres
cnce of his vessel might pacify the town
The Captain replied that he did not regard
the halbor as SAFE and that he could not
think Of coming in. The Swatara is only
90 tons burden. and merchant steamers
much larger than she il. and some Of them
vice her size, enter the harbor Of Pucr
to Plata every week. Among the much
larger ships which our correspondent men,
tions as having visited the port within n
few years. are the Danish frigate INLAND
$500 tons; the British frigate Eclipse, 800
tons; and the Spanish ships Cortcz and Isa-
bella H., from 1900 to ? 900 tons each. From
these facts our readers can judge how much
reason there was 10 hesitate about taking the
Swatara in. Besides, why could he not have
anchored outside the harborY The British
corvette Blanche has found no difficulty in
remaining at anchor outside for ten days at
a time.
The Captain was determined 10 make a
demonstration. however. which should over
awe the turbulent Dominicans. He called
ON the Governor, and told him that he could
not gain anything by firing cannons at ran
dom in the night. AM he must be careful
about firing on American property. or course
this had a profound effect upon the Gov
crnor. espcciallyas he soon saw the Swatara
steaning away. The Captain next obtained
some horses, and, with the American Vice
| Consul and one OF his lieutenants. went out
side the town to parlcy with the rebels.
About three miles out he met small
| band Of blacks under the command
OF well-known negro carman, who
| in times OF peace Is accustomed to
work about the port. He told them that
they must not fire into the town, and they
promised that they would bookkeeping their
promise, as the Governor kept his, by blaz-
| ing away as soon as the Swatara was out OF
| sight. After this tremendous performance,
the naval party returned to the town,
| having got soaking wet in the heavy tropi-
cal rain which fell during their ride; and
then they proceeded on board the man-of-
war, and departed on their voyage OF cir
COMMUNICATION around the island which will
terminate about next Christmas, If they
make the same rate of progress they made
| in going from SANTANA TO Puerto Plata.
This whole proceeding was not only alb
surd TO the last degree. but also seriously
| injurious to the American residents, who
ought really TO he protected instead of being
afforded only such mock protection. "A
visit like this by the Swatara," says our cor
respondent, writing from Puerto Plata on
Feb. %, " Is much worse than nothing since
II leaves the belligerent Dominicans ON both
sides with the idea that they are of great
| consequence IN the eyes Of our Government,
and that there is nothing in their conduct to
complain Of" Since the mere presence of a
man-of-war will insure peace to the Amcri-
cans at Puerto Plata, ii seems strange in
deed that the Navy Department is unwill-
ing to allow some one of our numerous
cruisers to be efficient, and really valuable
there, now and then rather than idle and
| only ornamental elsewhere.