The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-13
EN0CH ARDEN'S TALE
ny 4 TRUTHFUL STORY

Ofthe Wrongs aud Sufrerlngs of n French
American Cruiser Now III Wheeling. ,
Captain PelIutier,s = Pathetic and
| Nomuntbc and Striking History.
CLOVIS news to.nisht?" quericd San
Harrison, clerk nt the McG.ure House, II
an. 1SrELLloEScER reporter was glancinI
over tho register last evening In search O
II stray personal or two with which to MI
nihllate space In this mornings issue.
"Awfully dull; what do you know"
n can put you on to. good man to in
tervlew il you want-that old gentleman
standing over there"
"Who Is he?" F2.
"Capt. A. pelletlcr, OF Chicago: You've
heard OF him, sure; has n claim OF abou
three million against the llaytian govern
menti was a prisoner there once and wa.
most horribly treated; man Of big inilu
eEcc in Mexico now-l'll introduce you, y
and the clever Harrison suited tho actiou
10 the word. 75FE st =
For the next half hour the reporter sal
and listened 10 the brief recital OF life
full OF startling events and sad memories
Capt. Peileticr's history is ono which
many persons have read about, but com.
ing to Wheelingities from his own lips
through tho medium oftheir iavorite jour.
nal, it will undoubtedly possess new inter.
est.
The Captain is now in his sixty.Gith
year; is rs hale and hearty as though he
had not suffered almost all the tortures Of
the damned rs he has, and. as il to com.
pcnsatc for the many dark years that he
passed through when he almost imagined
that Heaven and earth had forgotten him,
he is now in tho most comfortable circum.
stances, being quite wealthy. IIe is q
trenchman, stout and politc-the bean.
ideal OF an old French gentleman. lie
oame to this country with his parents
when but ten years DID, He followed the
sea for livelihood, married and became
n successful and wealthy West Indian
trader and naturalized citizen OF this
country. ~.
In 1850 he purchased 1t Key West the
ship "Williaa." 1t WAS slave ship that
had been captured aud condemned, and
was sold by IN United States Marshal to
Capt. Pelletier. The Marshal could give
no papers to him except those reciting the
fact OF the ships capture, condemnation
and sale.
A NEARLY FATAL VOYAGE.
In the early part OF 1861 Capt. Pelletier
loaded the ship at Mobile with lumber
and bullion for the United States Of
Columbia in South America. The lumber
was to fill demand for that kind OF wood
and the bullion WINS for trading purposes,
gold dust and other valuables being re-
ceived in'return; enabling the Captain to
make from 80 to 10 per cent on his invest
mcnt each trip.
On his arrival ut the United States of
Columbia he found the country ina state
OF revolution, and not caring to risk his
cargo, he sailed for Porte au Prince, lfayti.
lie arrived there in the early part OF May,
1871. 'sMy arrival there with the rich
cargo that I had excited the envy OF the
authorities, "said the Captain, "and finding
that my ship had been a SLAYER, they sud-
denly pounced down and arrested me, on
the .pretext that was West India SLAYER.
That charge ut that time was ridiculous
one, and my cargoandpapers were enough
to disarm any such arrest, but never
theless was thrown in n dungeon, given
q farce Of n trial and condemned TO death.
The United States Consul protested, but
that did no good. This country had Just
then commenced its civil war and. our
authorities were unable to do anything. !
was subjected to the most inhuman trent
ment. The authorities hardly dared kill
me for fear OF what might follow from the
United States, but one day I was kept
tied to tree. for three hours,
while a squad Of soldiers stood
in front Of mo and every
once in while took aim. Then would
be offered my life-my ship and cargo bad
been confiscated-if | would confess to
the charge OF slavery and beg the authori-
ties pardon. This refused to do. Then
l was thrown in n dungeon under ground,
eight feet square, with one little hole in ii
for air, and out OF which l could see lit.
tie bit Of the jail yard. My feet were
placed in iron stocks. @g ,i5,z
ut was then reported that I had been
shot and that report went over the world.
.7 HE REACHES FRIEND. :
"1t was just about three years since the
time that had been put in there when
one day l saw little niger girl playing
in the Jail yard. ] called to her in Span
ish and she came to my breathing hole. l
asked her ii sine knew OF prof. Acker.
mann, an old German friend Of
mine and tho principal astrono-
mer in Hayti, when l was in.
carcerated. She said she did. asked her
10 come the next day and 10 bring mo n
piece of paperand pencil, concealed in
her hair SO that the guard would not see
them. She promised to 10 SO and | wait
cd, ah !! SO anxiously. The next day, true
10 her promise, she came and brought
with her the coveted articles. Pushing
them through the bars to me, she waited
while l wrote note rs best could to
Ackermann, telling my old friend that
was still alive and begging him to do
something for me. He wrote to this coun-
Try, to England, France and Spain telling
the governments that I WIS improperly
imprisoned. -
The Minister of State in France on
receiving this news, Mt once directed the
Marquis representing France in Hayti to
investigate my; case, England also sent
her representative, Mr.. st. John, to slook
alter the affair. The Marquis on receiving
his orders went to the jail and demanded
to see me; the demand was one, coming
us it did from n m Nnrful cnuntry ,,,b;cE