The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-09-09
NO. So,
In a Cell With. SCORPIONS;

PHILADELPHIA. August Csc. A. Van
Bokclin, of New York, ex-United States
consul. general at Port au Prince, Hayti,
arrived in this city to-day as a passcn-
ger on the American steamer Hdytien
Republic from Port au Prince. He
tells n remarkable story Of an outrage
Gus treatemcnt at the hands Of the Hay
tien Government. Mr.. Van Bokelin is
about fifty years old, and the truth of
his story is vouched by Capt. Compton,
who commands the steamer and also by
the purscr J. b. Stebenne, who made
strict inquiry into the mans statement
before leaving Port au Prince. While
acting as consul-gcneral Mr.. Van Boke-
lin marri: d Hayden woman and at the
end Of his term he took up the business
Of dealing in the paper money Of the
native government. At this he made
considerable money and then desired to
invest part Of his money in real estate,
but this was forbidden by law of
IIayti, which denies that right to any
but II nat;ve-born Hayticn.
" lie cvadrd the law, however, and pur-
chased piece Of property in Port au
| Prince, which transaction, reaching tho
ears Of President Soloman, the chief
magistrate Of the Republic, he caused
Van Bokclin's arrest and had him lock-
cd up in wretchcd dungeon in tho
government prison at Port au Prince.
Here his only companions were negroes
of the most dcbascd type. many of them
being murderers and desperadocs. Very
| often the prison, which is dismal and
wrctched structure built on low, swampy
ground. was crowded with nearly three
hundred prisoners, Mr.. Van Bokelin
being the only white man among them.
His dungeon was q narrow stone cell
which measured but eight feet by four.
and the walls were constantly dripping
with water
Here the unfortunate ex-consul was
forced to live from March, 1884, until
June 81, 1885, the place being infested
| with rats and loathsome vcrmin. He
was often stung by small scorpions,
His health which was robust. when he
was first imprisoned, is now entirely
broken down and he has become q VIC
tim to both consumption and chronic
catarrh, while his face is pale and hag-
gard, and gives every evidence of long
suffering.
Soon after his incarceration Mr.. Van
Bokelin, wrote to the late secretary of
State, Frelinghuysen, stating his case,
and a letter was addressed by tho State
! department to President Soloman, to
which no attention was paid. On re-
newed appeals from the prisoner for
help other letters were sent to the
Haytien Government, all of which were
ignored as completely as the first had
| been.
Soon after President Cleveland was
iraugurated Mr.. Van Bokelin made an
appeal to Secretay of State Bayard,
stating the case in full and imploring
that some steps be taken to save him
| from the slow torture he was enduring.
| \ letter was Mt once sent to the Haytien
| President by Mr.. Bayard, in which Mr..
Van Bokelin's instant release was de-
manded. 1t was also plainly stated that
if this was not promptly done United
| States man-of-war would be despatched
| to Port au Prince with instructions to
adopt severe measures if necessary.
The alliance at that time was at Key
West, and Mr. Bayard stated that if he
was not speedily informed that this
| Governments demands had been COM
piled with the vessel would be ordered
to Port all Prince.
The receipt Of this strong document
had very salutary effect upon the Hay
tien President, who at once gave orders
that the prisoner should be released. Mr..
Van Bokclin stated to day that he would
leave to-mor>~w for New York and
! next day so to consult Secretary Bayard
OH the subject Of damages from Hayti.