The Portland daily press., 1888-12-08

| eh"s cAO Liuot UO NClltcltu UP W
THE CAPTAINS WIFE
Tells how the Seizure Of the Steamer
was Effected.
BOSTON, Dec. Mrs. Compton, wife OF
the captain of the seized Haytian Republic,
is staying with friends in this city. To a re.
porter last night she said: 81 have no de-
sire to gain any publicity out of this matter,
and was simply by the side of my husband
at the time of the seizure, for you will un-
derstand that have sailed with him for the
past u years. My husband has been plying
between the two countries for the past IL
years. We sailed from New York, October
A, for Haytian ports. and anticipated no
trouble, as their revolutions never interfered
with us. Our arrival at Turks Island in Oc-
toSer, at which place the cargo was dis
charged and laborers taken on, is well
known. My husbands report to the owners
named all the ports we called at with the ex-
ception of Port au Ausaux, which he omitted
somehow.
I'VE had not the slightest intimation that
there was revolution going on when we
entered Port ST. Marc, and for some time
did not understand what was meant by the
firing of guns in the outer harbor. At first
the captain thought that one of the ocean
steamers had run aground, and was firing
the guns to attract attention, but seeing that
the steamer moved on we concluded every
thing was all right.
"On arriving In port the captain called on
the American consul, and was surprised that
there was trouble at Port au Prince but not
AZ that place. The consul stated that he had
afx,fo N
au Prince that there was no blockade at that
place, and as no demonstrations were shown
at st; Marc the captain concluded to sail
we were well under way when our at
which was fired from the Haytian gunboat
Dessalines. AT first the captain paid no at
tentlon to 1t, but soon became convinced that
there was trouble ahead. The gunboat was
slow old tank, and had, so / was told later,
steamlng capacity of from two to 10 knots
an hour, but would average about six miles
an hour for a fair distance
III took but short time for an armed
boats crew to land alongside of our ship
which Dy this time had ceased to make any
headway, as the engines were shut down
They ordered the captain to embark in their
ships boat as their commanding officer
wanted to see him, but to this my husband
would not agree, stating that he would not
ieave MS ship unless 1t was accomplished by
force, as he had been guilty of no misde-
meanor or violation of the law of the port
They then ordered the captain to steam in
side, but to this he would not agree. and
warned them that any trouble would have to
De answered for to the United States govern
ment. The captain took all necessary pre-
cautions after the first intimation of hostil-
ity, and hoisted the American flag to the
peak, where it was flying when they boarded
US: ar,.,
Fort au Prince, to which place the captured
vessels were all sent, but they gave up this
plan later on, as the captain refused to do
anything Whatever towards the removal of
our ship. as he claimed it was an outrage
against our country and flag
They took possession of our ship. and
we arrived at Port eu Prince on the 2lst. at Q
p. M, and again my husband was called up
oD by the Haytlan officer to 90 ashore, which
he spirltedly refused to do until he first had
consulted the American Minister. Our first
offlcer accompanied the Haytian commander
ashore, and pilot boarded us and informed
the captain that 1t was the orders of the cap.
tain OF the port that we up anchor and steam
inside to the inner harbor. command that
Vas met with prompt refusal from Capt.
compton. The fact that our steamer was
boarded by dirty lot of native soldiers who
were nearly starved, was enough to almost
drive us mad. Before the American Minis
ter landed on board our ship, fully "a hours
had elapsed, and during that time you can
Imagine how unpleasant things must have
been for US.
Another attempt was made to move us to
the inner haIbor, but before they could ac-
compllsh their purpose they were obliged to
snip our cable and make fast hawser to the
gunboat, owing to the fact that our fires were
out: The other captured vessels were chiefly
frult boats and almost valueless, and for nv
part could not see what they wanted them
Tor: When the ship that returned home in
arrived In Port-ag,Prince we got permission
10 go on board. The gunner who fired the
shot at US from the Haytian war shin also
came on board and arrived in this country
the same time / did,"
did ne experience any trouble in getting
away from Iayti?"
None whatever, as he mad perfect ripht
TO leave at any time, as it is under those con-
dltlons that Henry Louinstein was hired by
that government"
Where is Mr.. Louinstein at the present
timer" queried the reporter.
Il don't know exactly, and in fact. I don't
care to state where think he ISL
IL was plain, however, to see that the most
Important witness, the gunner, was either at
Washington giving his testimony on behalf
Oh tne owners Of the steamer Haytian Re
public, or that he was on his way to that
place.
Mrs. Compton did not disguise her con-
tempt for the Haytian people, and especially
the oiiicials. According to her story, which
sne told In straightforward manner she
was prisoner from the 21st to the 26th. and
her experience during that time was far from
being pleasant. -'O''
"The company should be we'll paid for its
loss" said Mrs. Compton, "as 1t has been
put to great expense. The crew were dis
charged shortly after our arrival at Port an
Prince, and at the present time my husband
is the only one of the regular crew that is on
board. The American Minister sent the men
home, and before the ship can be brought
back new crew will have to be sent out
Mrs. Compton believes that there is no al
Tentative for our government but to send a
war ship to the scene of the trouble, should
the Haytians fail to reimburse the owner of
the steamer and at the same time apologize
for the insult that has been given to the Stars
and Stripes.
Will Chance the Blockade.
New YORK, Dec. Tt appears that Min
lister Preston received on Sunday last the
decision of the State Department that the
United States regarded as invalid the seiz-
ure and condemnation of the American
steamship Haytian Republic by the Govern
ment of Legitime in Port au Prince.
The steamship Saginaw left Porto Plata
on the Sd, Monte Cristo on the 4th, Cape
Haytien on the 5th, and Port de Paix yester-
day. At least that was probably her route
on the way home, although she has not been
| heard from since leaving Porto Plata, and
| if it was the blockade must be rather imagi-
| nary.
A Haytian merchant in this city, who de-
| clined to have his name published, said that
| he had raaaiuad in nfnrmaffon frnm Cana Hau