New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-30
ILL-TREATED IN HAYTL
THE FIRST OFFICER OF THE STEAMER
HAYTIEN REPUBLIC TALKS.
STORY OF INSULT AND OUTRAGE UPON
AMERICANS AND THE NATIONS FLAG
HELD PRISONERS FIVE DAYS BY
RUFFIANLY SOLDIERS.

RUFFIANLY SOLDIERS.
The steamer Prins Frederick Hendrix Captain
RademalSer reached here yesterday, bringing the
latest news from Hayti, having left POrtau-Prnce
on November 90. after two days stay In that
port The Frederick brought among her pas
sengers William Smith, the chief officer OF the
captured American steamer Haytien Republic
{. K Malcolm, the chief engineer and twenty-five
of the crew of that vessel Mr.. Smith and MIR.
Malcolm with ten of the crew, took the Fall RIVER
boat for Boston in the afternoon but before leav-
ing the city he told the story of the experiences on
board the Hayticn Republic, which does not agree
with the statements OF Captain Ramsey, OF the
United States cruiser Boston, who In his report 10
Secretary Whitney, said that no insult had been
offered to the American flag nor had any Ameri-
can been in danger since the night OF September 20.
Mr.. Smith is good looking young sailor, with a
plain and forcible way of telling his story. lie
said that a small American flag still foated from
the masthead of the Haytien Republic when he saw
her last but that Captain Compton had been
taken to the house of Mr.. Thompson, the American
Minister, who was caring for him. Mr. Smith
was asked if he had been subjected to illusage
on board the steamer
PRISONERS FOR TwENTY-NINE DAYS.
"As far as eating went" said he, we had our
own food on board and did our own cooking, so
that we had enough to eat. But we were kept
close prisoners on the steamer for twenty-nine days
and allowed to have no communication whatever
with the shore. We could not send any letters
or papers or receive any, except when Minister
Thompson came on board. Then. we were sub
jccted TO the greatest indignites at the hands Of
the sixty black marines on board, who often in
suited us in the grossest manner These filthy
1.1r.. all &tran n N
and sprawng about under awnings Their Off
GERS strutted about among them, with their swords
janging, as though they owned the earth
FRENCH AND SPANISH INTERFERENCE.
"We attribute all of our troubles to the inter-
ference of the Spanish and French Ministers.
When the Haytien Republics case was up before
the Prize Court, the judges, after hearing the
testimony were convinced that they had no right
to hold us and going to release the vessel
when the French and Spanish Ministers told them
TO seize the vessel; that she undoubtedly n
privateer and that we ought all to be shot There
upon they condemned her
" There never was a grosser outrage, the
story of the trip will show The first port we
stopped at on our outward voyage was Cape
Hayten thence went to Port PaX; thence
to Gonaives, thence to st .Marc's thence to Aux
again, we returned to St Mares. We knew
nothing Of any blockade though we had heard
rumors of one. AS we dropped anchor at dusk in
the harbor of ST. Mares, just after l rang the
bell to slow down, | noticed vessel of in the fog
on our port bow | also noticed puff of smoke but
took it to be some German steamer and paid no at
tontiou to it. What was our surprise the next
morning when the Haytien gunboat Dessalines
for it was she that we had seen the night before,
ran alongside fired a blank cartridge at us and
ordered the captain to 20 aboard the gunboat.
MR. SMITH SUMMARILY ARRESTED.
captain Compton refused to go board and
sent me in his place. AS l climbed on the deck of
the Dessalines the commander said to me:
50 You're prisoner.
"' What for? asked taken all aback
80 For running the blockade replied the Off
Ger.
Il told him did not know there was block
ade, and that the captain was the man to take
prisoner.
Why didn't your captain come on board
them said the commander.
d" / told him American captains were not accus-
toned TO leave their ships.
Well,' said he, you're prisoner and with
that several Of the black marines hustled me
below, where | was kept all day and that night
as a prisoner. lhe next uay lnc DcsSauNcS look
the llayticn Republic as a prize into the harbor
OF port-au- Prince The iIaytien Republic steamed
ahead OF the man-of-war. When we got TO Port
au-Prince they landed me and took me back on
the steamer. When / landed | surrounded
by a mob of blacks, and but for a strong guard
would have been killed, as they were greatly ex,
cited and enraged Well, they took us on board
and kept there for twenty nine days close prls-
oners Before the IIaytien Republic was con-
demned the blacks stole PORTIONS OF her boiler
and cut OFF sixty fathoms of brand new anchor
bottom
Prince harbor. After she was condemned by the
Prize Court they took the vessel further up INTO
the harbor, where she lies badly strained in the
shallow water. This last place was close to land
and at night the fever-breeding winds blew over
the vessel, and we were terribly uncomfortable
for fear of sickness. On November a, Nelson
Olsen, one of the crew. died of yellow fever This
made US more uneasy than ever.
NOT PLEASED WITH CAPTAIN RAMSEY.
." Our hopes frightened up as tn, Boston steamed
into port, and we thought would be relieved
but Captain Ramsey treated us shamefully. He
came on board the Haytien Republic only twice.
once to take statements and once to look at
the ships log. Worse than this Just before leav-
ing the port a British wars ship steamed up along
side and the captain asked us what he could do
for us in the way OF taking away letters. AS
Captain Compton had sent "a note TO captain KAN
scy by Minister Thompson, asking him TO try to
get the crew released before they died OF fever
while the captain remained behind, ii was thought
unnecessary to accept the courtesy of the Eng
lshman But to cur disgust Captain Ramsey
hauled up his anchors and steamed away, leaving
Us likely to die like rats, and never even answered
Captain Compton's note.
Sir. Smith said that when the Elaytien Repub-
lie was seized she had ten passengers. lie heard
aftcrward that two OF them were Generals IN the
rebel army but of that fact the steamers officers
were ignorant. The largest number OF passen-
gers they carried at one time was 800, between
GonaivcS and st. Mare They were motley lot
OF blacks and as is the custom Of the country,
all wore arms but that they were insurgents was
the efforts OF Minister Thomson the crew OF the
steamer were released at p. N. on November
20 Mr. Thompson had secured permit from
General Legitime TO allow them 10 depart. Mr..
smith saws that he intends to sue the Haytian
Government for S5O,0 ,0u0 for the treatment he re-
ccived at the hands of the officers of the Dessa-
lin s. The interference OF the French Minister,
hc asserts was made the subject of an official
reprimand from the French Government
Among the other passengers on the Prins Freld-
riS General ). Manigat the president OF a